Flying while congested

TUCKnTRUCK said:
Always has been to the best of my knowledge.

Anyways, you call call OKC and ask about specific medications. I did back in '02 and it was not allowed in any dose.

Repeated the call last year while having some issues, same answer.
Click to expand...
Just called. It is approved.
 
averettpilot said:
Just called. It is approved.
Click to expand...

Which number?

Anyways- FAA medical guidance for label warnings: Do not Fly list

Label warnings. Airmen should not fly while using any medication, prescription or OTC, that carries a label precaution or warning that it may cause drowsiness or advises the user "be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery." This applies even if label states "until you know how the medication affects you" and even if the airman has used the medication before with no apparent adverse effect. Such medications can cause impairment even when the airman feels alert and unimpaired (see "unaware of impair" above).

Side effects for the active ingredients in Afrin:

Major Side Effects
If any of the following side effects occur while taking oxymetazoline nasal, check with your doctor immediately:

Blurred vision
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness
high blood pressure
increase in runny or stuffy nose
nervousness
trembling
trouble in sleeping
weakness

Notice that they both include drowsiness.

YMMV, but I've been told multiple times by OKC that it's a no go.
 
TUCKnTRUCK said:
Which number?

Anyways- FAA medical guidance for label warnings: Do not Fly list

Label warnings. Airmen should not fly while using any medication, prescription or OTC, that carries a label precaution or warning that it may cause drowsiness or advises the user "be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery." This applies even if label states "until you know how the medication affects you" and even if the airman has used the medication before with no apparent adverse effect. Such medications can cause impairment even when the airman feels alert and unimpaired (see "unaware of impair" above).

Side effects for the active ingredients in Afrin:

Major Side Effects
If any of the following side effects occur while taking oxymetazoline nasal, check with your doctor immediately:

Blurred vision
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness
high blood pressure
increase in runny or stuffy nose
nervousness
trembling
trouble in sleeping
weakness

Notice that they both include drowsiness.

YMMV, but I've been told multiple times by OKC that it's a no go.
Click to expand...
Better ask seggles, I read in another thread that he's the authority on all things aeromedical.
 
TUCKnTRUCK said:
Which number?

Anyways- FAA medical guidance for label warnings: Do not Fly list

Label warnings. Airmen should not fly while using any medication, prescription or OTC, that carries a label precaution or warning that it may cause drowsiness or advises the user "be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery." This applies even if label states "until you know how the medication affects you" and even if the airman has used the medication before with no apparent adverse effect. Such medications can cause impairment even when the airman feels alert and unimpaired (see "unaware of impair" above).

Side effects for the active ingredients in Afrin:

Major Side Effects
If any of the following side effects occur while taking oxymetazoline nasal, check with your doctor immediately:

Blurred vision
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness
high blood pressure
increase in runny or stuffy nose
nervousness
trembling
trouble in sleeping
weakness

Notice that they both include drowsiness.

YMMV, but I've been told multiple times by OKC that it's a no go.
Click to expand...
Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Medicine Division
P.O. Box 92007
Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007
(310) 725-3750
Fax: (310) 725-6835

Also secondary source that gets their info from the FAA: https://www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm

Called both and they both said no restrictions. As you said, YMMV but that's good enough for me. However, like you I'm only using it to get me down and grounding myself until I don't need it anyway.
 
averettpilot said:
Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Medicine Division
P.O. Box 92007
Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007
(310) 725-3750
Fax: (310) 725-6835

Also secondary source that gets their info from the FAA: https://www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm

Called both and they both said no restrictions. As you said, YMMV but that's good enough for me. However, like you I'm only using it to get me down and grounding myself until I don't need it anyway.
Click to expand...

If you read the expanded advice from the FAA- it's approved on a case by case, - do not fly until twice the recommended dosing interval.

Not regulatory, but, if anything happens and they draw blood you'll have to answer for it.

https://www.leftseat.com/camipubcold.htm
 
TUCKnTRUCK said:
If you read the expanded advice from the FAA- it's approved on a case by case, - do not fly until twice the recommended dosing interval.

Not regulatory, but, if anything happens and they draw blood you'll have to answer for it.

https://www.leftseat.com/camipubcold.htm
Click to expand...
Interesting discussion, would love a "final ruling" as the stuff is great when you're stuffed up.
I try to work backwards from the smoking hole on these things. If I'm at the bottom of it, my troubles are over. If they find something in my blood that is not approved, I fear that would be enough for the insurance company not to pay my family. When in doubt, I don't put it in my body.
 
I'm just relaying what I was told in person (phone) today about Afrin by two different sources, one being the FAA. Standard I am not a doctor disclaimer applies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top