Wait
7 days
no-fly ground trial when starting a new blood pressure medication
Examiner
CACI: the examiner can issue when the condition's worksheet criteria are met. Applicants for first- or second-class must provide the worksheet's information annually; applicants for third-class with each required exam
FAA label
ACCEPTABLE
The FAA lists alpha blockers as acceptable blood pressure medication when the certification criteria are met, with a seven-day ground trial when starting, and says the examiner should issue, if the pilot is otherwise qualified, when the pilot is on three or fewer medications.
Track your medicationsCompare FAA documents: Alpha blockersWhat each of the four FAA documents says, in plain wordsOpen
The Guide's hypertension table says the number of medications counts each component (for example, lisinopril/HCTZ is 2 medications), and that with 4 or more acceptable medications the examiner should defer. Its erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia page says alpha blockers are allowed for daily use if there are no side effects, and no minimum wait time is required after use once the airman has successfully passed the 7-day ground trial period required for all hypertension medication. It also says that if alpha blockers are used in combination with PDE5 inhibitors, the airman should not fly until verification that no hypotensive episodes or other side effects are noted.
- 7 days after starting: no flying
FAA rule for blood pressure medication: The FAA's hypertension worksheet (CACI) refers to the antihypertensive sheet for acceptable medications, and allows combinations of up to 3 of the classes it lists -- alpha blockers, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, direct renin inhibitors and direct vasodilators -- and lists centrally acting antihypertensives, such as clonidine, as not acceptable. The Guide's hypertension table says the number of medications counts each component (for example, lisinopril/HCTZ is 2 medications), and that with 4 or more acceptable medications the examiner should defer. FAA, CACI – Hypertension Worksheet
Show the FAA's words: Alpha blockersThe official FAA wording: three passages, each with its document and dateOpen
Seven-day (7) no fly/ground trial is required when starting a new hypertension (HTN) medication to verify no side effects.
AME should issue (if otherwise qualified) if the airman is on 3 or fewer medications
ACCEPTABLE HTN Medications (when certification criteria are met)
Alpha adrenergic blockers
Alpha blockers are allowed for daily use if there no side effects. No minimum wait time is required after use once the airman has successfully passed the 7-day ground trial period required for all hypertension medication.
If alpha blockers are used in combination with PDE5 inhibitors (common examples are listed below), the airman should not fly until verification that no hypotensive episodes or other side effects are noted.
B . Treated with 3 or fewer* acceptable medications .
Follow the CACI – Hypertension Worksheet .
C . Any of the following:
Treated with 4 or more* acceptable medications;
DEFER
Notes: *Number of medications counts each component. (Example: lisinopril/HCTZ is 2 medications.)