Beta blockers

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.

• 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

Among its criteria, the treating physician or neurologist verifies the diagnosis and that the condition is stable, there is no disabling tremor that limits day-to-day functioning, and the applicant does not rely on the medication to be functional. It says gabapentin, primidone (Mysoline) and other potentially sedating medications are not acceptable for aeromedical purposes, and not to CACI. The examiner must note in Block 60 one of its statements, which include CACI qualified, and not CACI qualified and deferred.

The FAA says the list is not all inclusive for individual medications in a noted class, and that a ground trial must verify no adverse effects and effectiveness from the medication before initial consideration.

• 7 days after starting: ground observation

FAA rule for migraine medication: The FAA says migraine relief or rescue medication is acceptable when used occasionally and unacceptable for daily use, and that its post-dose observation time (no-fly warning) is based on the drug's half-life. It says that if several relief medications are needed on a recurring basis to stop symptoms, this is considered a complicated migraine, and the examiner should defer. For relief or rescue medication the worksheet lists, the FAA's CACI – Migraine and Chronic Headache Worksheet says the examiner can issue if the pilot meets all of its acceptable certification criteria, which include no more than one episode per month, no more than 2 outpatient clinic or urgent care visits for symptom exacerbation in the last 12 months (even if symptoms fully resolved), and no history of in-patient hospitalizations for headaches; it says narcotics, Fiorinal, Fioricet and Midrin are not acceptable for relief or rescue. FAA, Migraine Medication