Can you be a pilot with anxiety?

 

Yes, Pilots can have anxiety and still fly. And in some cases, it may even be necessary for them to take anxiety medication before they fly.

 

However, pilots are not tested for mental health issues during their regular medical exams.

 

Nor are they routinely screened for depression or other forms of mental illness.

 

That means that if a pilot is taking some form of psychiatric medication and has been doing so for more than ten years, there’s a good chance that the FAA won’t know about it.

 

On the other hand, pilots who feel anxious or depressed (or have suicidal thoughts) can voluntarily report their emotional issues to the FAA to get help.

 

 

 

What anxiety medications can pilots take?

 

1) Alprazolam (Xanax)

 

Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

 

It’s FDA-approved for treating anxiety, panic attacks, and extreme anxiety. It’s also approved in the U.S. for treating insomnia and other sleeping disorders.

 

Alprazolam can help relieve anxiety, but it can also trigger anxiety in some people. That’s why it is sometimes prescribed to help with sleep disorders as well (for example, to alleviate insomnia).

 

2) Prazosin

 

Prazosin is a blood pressure medication approved by the FDA to treat certain types of high blood pressure. Unfortunately, it’s also an alpha-blocker, affecting certain brain chemicals that trigger anxiety and panic attacks.

 

3) Venlafaxine (Effexor)

 

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks.

 

It is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which means it helps improve mood by keeping neurotransmitters in the brain easier to access, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. It’s also used for the treatment of hot flashes.

 

Venlafaxine can increase anxiety or cause restlessness and insomnia in some people. But it’s unclear how much of a role anxiety plays in this effect.

 

4) Buspirone (Buspar)

 

Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine antianxiety medicine approved by the FDA to treat anxiety disorders.

 

It’s also only approved for short-term use to treat sleep disorders (when used along with other sleep medications).

 

Buspirone can increase anxiety and cause restlessness. It may even trigger mania in people who are already manic or have bipolar disorder.

 

5) Fluoxetine (Prozac)

 

Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant drug called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Serotonin helps to regulate sleep, mood, and emotions. So an SSRI like fluoxetine can help to improve mood, anxiety, and depression.

 

It’s also used to treat bulimia and binge eating disorders. But it’s unclear how much of an impact anxiety plays in this effect.

 

 

 

Can a pilot have anxiety?

 

As part of the medical exam, a pilot will be tested for specific medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. But there are no tests specifically designed to screen for anxiety disorders.

 

That means that pilots who have been flying for a long time, who have been taking medication for long periods, or who have experienced addiction in the past may not show up on any psychological tests or diagnoses.

 

And those pilots may continue to fly, even though they have experienced panic attacks or some other form of anxiety.

 

Pilots taking medication for anxiety are unlikely to be at a much higher risk of flying while depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts.

 

 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that pilots with anxiety disorders can always fly if they have been taking medication for long periods.

 

In fact, there’s some evidence that people with mild forms of anxiety disorders can sometimes benefit from getting off their anxiety medication before they go back to flying.

 

 

For example, some research suggests that pilots with mild anxiety disorder can be helped by going off their antidepressants and anxiety medications for an extended period before resuming training or flying again (up to three months).

 

 

 

Can pilots fly with anxiety medication?

 

Many pilots have been flying while taking an anxiety medication in the past. Some of them continue to do so today (using only their prescription medications). And some of them use a combination of their prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

 

But it’s still crucial for pilots to seek medical treatment for their anxiety rather than just treating it in isolation.

 

Many urologists and gynecologists have found that treating anxiety can help alleviate symptoms that may also lead to sexual or erectile dysfunction.

 

 

 

Can pilots take antianxiety medication?

 

Some pilots can use antianxiety medication safely, effectively, and medically responsibly. But they still need to be aware of the potential side effects and risks associated with these medications.

 

Just because you can take an antianxiety medication doesn’t necessarily mean you should assume that medication. Other options for treatment may include therapy or lifestyle changes (such as stress management or physical activity).

 

 

There’s also the risk that taking anxiety medications could potentially interfere with a pilot’s ability to fly a plane safely.

 

Some pilots who have had panic attacks in the past may be able to fly safely, even when they’re not on their medications. But they may be more susceptible to panic attacks while they’re taking these medications.

 

 

 

Can pilots use antidepressants?

 

Many pilots have been flying while taking antidepressants, such as Prozac and Lexapro.

 

And according to sources, including the National Safety Council, pilots who take antidepressants are less likely to experience a fatal plane crash than other pilots.

 

However, like with any other medication, there are potential side effects and risks associated with taking antidepressants while piloting a plane.

 

 

Antidepressants can cause fatigue or sleepiness during the day and may worsen symptoms of depression or anxiety in some people. These medications may also increase impulsivity and insomnia in some people.

 

And they may exacerbate the symptoms of mania in people who are already manic or have bipolar disorder.

 

If you’re on antidepressants, your doctor may want you to take a break from flying for a while.

 

 

 

Are pilots tested for mental health?

 

The FAA does test pilots for mental health conditions. But it’s mainly done as a safety measure to ensure pilots aren’t emotionally unstable.

 

The FAA uses a standardized stress test that is designed to screen for tendencies toward panic or anxiety disorders. But the FAA doesn’t require precisely screening pilots for these issues.

 

 

And like with other medical exams, some pilots may still be able to fly while they’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks (when they’re not flying).

 

However, it’s still crucial for pilots to seek treatment for their anxiety when there are any signs that it is interfering with their performance behind the controls of a plane. Because flying safely requires them to be calm and alert.

 

 

 

In conclusion

 

It’s estimated that about one in every five people in North America will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.

 

You may not have a phobia of flying or know anyone who has a phobia of flying.

 

But it doesn’t mean that your fellow flyers don’t have anxiety. And you should consider that other people around you may feel some pressure while flying, even if it’s not inherently related to flying.

 

 

It is sometimes tempting to blame anxiety on “weakness” or assume that the person under pressure is irrational or overly sensitive to their situation. But it’s important to realize that having an anxiety disorder does not make a person “weak.

 

 

Links:

 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07421656.2012.683748

 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10608-006-9016-y