I'm currently 17 years old and off of all prescription medications. I'm no longer taking any ADD meds let alone anything else; I've taken nothing for about 2 months now.
I was about 8 years old and in 3rd grade when I was diagnosed with high-functionally ADD following some IQ exams and an EKG in addition to other typical psychological testing. I was then placed into a gifted program at my elementary school and also placed on ADD medication.
For the past 9 years, I took Adderall regularly, normally daily except during the summer; however, it was not unusual for my mother to pop me a pill during the summer for whatever reason. I took at least 20 MG a day, often 40.
Like many, I feel I was misdiagnosed. To be terribly honest, it is my opinion that my mother used it to gain control over my academics (which were never actually an issue). I was never hyperactive, I simply became bored with school because I was miles ahead of my grade level and the accompanying classwork.
Anyways, when I was 13 I started flying in flight school at a local airport. I logged about 40 hours over a year before my parents and I became aware of restrictions regarding the use of Adderall and other ADD medication and flying. My instructor was notified, and I have not flown since.
After researching a bit back then (4 years ago) I found that the answers were generally the same: find a new passion. However, recently my love for aviation has come back and I've been working alot with VATSIM (the multiplayer FS community) where I also do controlling.
Seeing I'm getting ready to look at colleges, I'd like to know what my current situation is. Now that I've been off all medications for about 3 months and I've had no issues whatsoever, will I be able to get a medical cert to fly? And do the restrictions apply for Air Traffic Control also???
Thanks,
Steve
I was about 8 years old and in 3rd grade when I was diagnosed with high-functionally ADD following some IQ exams and an EKG in addition to other typical psychological testing. I was then placed into a gifted program at my elementary school and also placed on ADD medication.
For the past 9 years, I took Adderall regularly, normally daily except during the summer; however, it was not unusual for my mother to pop me a pill during the summer for whatever reason. I took at least 20 MG a day, often 40.
Like many, I feel I was misdiagnosed. To be terribly honest, it is my opinion that my mother used it to gain control over my academics (which were never actually an issue). I was never hyperactive, I simply became bored with school because I was miles ahead of my grade level and the accompanying classwork.
Anyways, when I was 13 I started flying in flight school at a local airport. I logged about 40 hours over a year before my parents and I became aware of restrictions regarding the use of Adderall and other ADD medication and flying. My instructor was notified, and I have not flown since.
After researching a bit back then (4 years ago) I found that the answers were generally the same: find a new passion. However, recently my love for aviation has come back and I've been working alot with VATSIM (the multiplayer FS community) where I also do controlling.
Seeing I'm getting ready to look at colleges, I'd like to know what my current situation is. Now that I've been off all medications for about 3 months and I've had no issues whatsoever, will I be able to get a medical cert to fly? And do the restrictions apply for Air Traffic Control also???
Thanks,
Steve
