13 replies to this topic

[loseta]

Hi there,

I just wanted to advice to anyone that wants to get his/her private pilot licence in the US that the FAA doesn't allow to fly to anybody that is taking medication for spasticity like BACLOFEN or similar. It turns out that I didn't know that and I spent $100 visiting an aviation medical examiner to get my medical certificate and after 6 months the FAA denied my application. They also said that I needed to quit taking baclofen and after 6 months without taking it go to a neurologist for a complete checkup. So, now I'm trying to quit baclofen. If anyone needs to know more about this issue just let me know.

LOSETA

[endrik]

That's an interesting story. Thank God I am flaccid, still it's good to know. Did they tell you what exactly is the reason, i.e. what are the unwanted effects of Baclofen they are afraid of ? (there must be some if they declined)

[gsp23]

I would be interested also to know the reasons for this. My friend John (many of you know him from these forums) had his pilots license before his accident and was recently talking about trying to get it back again.

[loseta]

gsp23, on Jul 10 2007, 03:31 PM, said:

I would be interested also to know the reasons for this. My friend John (many of you know him from these forums) had his pilots license before his accident and was recently talking about trying to get it back again.

The FAA doesn't want baclofen or similar to treat the spasticity because they are sedative. My Doctor gave me a letter saying that I've been on this medication for 9 years and that I have no side effects. But this letter did not work. The FAA has not published an official list of approved drugs, but this web page www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm show you the most accurate and complete information available on the listed date.

[loseta]

The FAA doesn't want baclofen or similar to treat the spasticity because they are sedative. My Doctor gave me a letter saying that I've been on this medication for 9 years and that I have no side effects. But this letter did not work. The FAA has not published an official list of approved drugs, but this web page www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm show you the most accurate and complete information available on the listed date

[jass1]

thanks for web site im PPL FROM FLORIDA but im from qatar i used to fly her before my accident
but know i lost my log book since the accident and im taking


lyrica- 150mg 3 daily

valoron retard-100/8mg three time daily

saroten-50mg 1/4 tablet daily night

most of the instructor are British and they lokk down at you if you have
american PPL
THANK YOU

[LadyPilot]

loseta, on Jun 19 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

Hi there,

I just wanted to advice to anyone that wants to get his/her private pilot licence in the US that the FAA doesn't allow to fly to anybody that is taking medication for spasticity like BACLOFEN or similar.

Mmmmmm.... Interesting development because Ive been taking Baclofen 60mg daily for leg spasms since my accident 25years ago.
I learned to fly in 1991 at Epps Flight School, PeachtreeDecalb Airport, Atlanta. GA gaining my licence at the end of 10 weeks intensive training. I passed my medical flight test at the second attempt.

I wonder if there have been incidents involving Pilots on Baclofen and now the FAA has decided a blanket ban on its use. I have not flown Stateside for a long while so I don't know whether or not I would be allowed to fly (after passing Medical), since I have proved already that Baclofen did not affect my flying ability.

loseta, if you are able to drive a car without any problem then I would seriously think about challenging the ruling.

Good Luck...

[loseta]

[quote name='LadyPilot' date='Jul 19 2007, 08:36 AM' post='36578']
[quote name='loseta' post='34934' date='Jun 19 2007, 06:11 PM']
Hi there,

.

loseta, if you are able to drive a car without any problem then I would seriously think about challenging the ruling.

Good Luck...
[/quote]

Yes, I drive my own minivan with no problems. What I'm doing now is trying to stop taking baclofen. I visited my neurologist two weeks ago and we agreed in tapering the dosage slowly. Only 10mg per month. So far, I'm doing well with just 40mg and we'll see in the next 4 months. I also think that the FAA is helping me to get rid of baclofen, the only medication that I'm taking

Thanks Lady Pilot

[LadyPilot]

loseta, on Jul 20 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

I also think that the FAA is helping me to get rid of baclofen, the only medication that I'm taking

Well, something good's come out of their ban on Baclofen!
As you will not be flying solo for a while, why not start taking lessons now?

[loseta]

LadyPilot, on Jul 26 2007, 03:44 AM, said:

loseta, on Jul 20 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

I also think that the FAA is helping me to get rid of baclofen, the only medication that I'm taking

Well, something good's come out of their ban on Baclofen!
As you will not be flying solo for a while, why not start taking lessons now?

The reason why I haven't started yet is because I want to make sure that I can "live" without taking baclofen. It would be so frustrated if I spent money and time to fly and then finding out that I couldn't stop taking baclofen. What i can do is to start ground school as soon as i stop taking it and then if i can stay off of baclofen for 6 months i would start flying.

[Alin Steglinski]

loseta, on Jul 28 2007, 02:01 PM, said:

LadyPilot, on Jul 26 2007, 03:44 AM, said:

loseta, on Jul 20 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

I also think that the FAA is helping me to get rid of baclofen, the only medication that I'm taking

Well, something good's come out of their ban on Baclofen!
As you will not be flying solo for a while, why not start taking lessons now?

The reason why I haven't started yet is because I want to make sure that I can "live" without taking baclofen. It would be so frustrated if I spent money and time to fly and then finding out that I couldn't stop taking baclofen. What i can do is to start ground school as soon as i stop taking it and then if i can stay off of baclofen for 6 months i would start flying.

W to the T to the F why do they ban baclofen... FAA is nuts!

[Chrisonwheels]

I was interested in flying and was told about the Baclofen rule before I had spent any money. The idiot medical officer said that it was a 'mind altering' drug. I pointed out that I drove a car and that there was no question about Baclofen being a problem for that; he seemed to think that it was more risky driving a light aircraft of microlight! -Has he never seen the results of a pile-up on a motorway?
It may affect you in the first few weeks, but after years of use?

Absolute tossers, I say.

[loseta]

Chrisonwheels, on Aug 16 2007, 08:24 AM, said:

I was interested in flying and was told about the Baclofen rule before I had spent any money. The idiot medical officer said that it was a 'mind altering' drug. I pointed out that I drove a car and that there was no question about Baclofen being a problem for that; he seemed to think that it was more risky driving a light aircraft of microlight! -Has he never seen the results of a pile-up on a motorway?
It may affect you in the first few weeks, but after years of use?

Absolute tossers, I say.

Have you tried to quit baclofen? I'm taking 30mg. at day and I'm reducing the dosage by 10mg. every month( neurologist recommendation )
The difference between before and after is that I have to do now more exercise than normal to release spasticity in my legs. My spasticity also increses more than normal when I have gases and the day before going to the bathroom. Other than that I'm doing well.

[Chrisonwheels]

Have tried, but get lots of tingles and then it starts becoming a spectator sport as my legs develop a mind of their own. They're quite often a fight to deal with anyway...
Know what you mean about exercise, though -it does help.