Antidepressants/SSRIs
The FAA announced in April ( see previous post) that its pilots could be permitted to fly while under the influence of certain antidepressants and SSRIs. The reversal of its own long established (70 year) ban against their use shocked pilots, passengers, and psychiatrists across the globe. As antidepressant/SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) use has decreased due to negative publicity, the manufacturers of Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro cheered the move by Randy Babbbitt (FAA Administrator). The FAA, despite an increasing flood of calls to reconsider its ruling, appears to be sleeping through the irritating clamor; tired of hearing about their fatigued, sleepless pilots.
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International / Mental Health Watchdog recently reprinted an article by Evelyn Pringle who described the FAA’s reversal as a “marketing coup” by the drug manufacturers who are “desperate to find new customers.” Her well documented article details the growing concerns of many experts that the “SSRIs Render Unfriendly Skies.”
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights called on the FAA to rethink its policy based on a recent finding by the NTSB that the February 1, 2008 plane crash in North Carolina, killing all six aboard, was caused by “a crazy acting pilot on Zoloft.” The cockpit voice recorder recorded the pilot singing: “Save my life I’m going down for the last time.” He then told his passengers, “If anybody back there believes in the good Lord, I believe now would be a good time to hit your knees.” The pilot descended below the minimum descent altitude, stalled, and crashed while circling after an aborted landing. The pilot, according to the NTSB report, had been on Zoloft for over a year and had been treated previously by other antidepressants for “anxiety and depression” and a history of “impatience” and “compulsiveness.”
The NTSB also blamed a 2003 crash killing two in Kingsport, Tennessee on a flight instructor found with Zoloft in his blood and liver.
Dr. Peter Breggin, a psychiatrist and an SSRI expert, in a Huffington Post article on April 10, 2010 said, “The FAA should reverse its ruling before it’s too late and hundreds of lives are lost when a pilot becomes impulsive, suicidal, or violent – or just loses his sharpness – under the influence of antidepressant medication.”
Bob Fiddaman, author of the website and blog “Seroxat Sufferers,” requested the FAA provide information on its change in policy just after the change in April. In 58 pages of reply the FAA made no mention of any prominent SSRI expert testimony of contrary views. The FAA supported their own views with copies of documents from a variety of sources. One of them actually showed consideration of a 2003 study of aviation accidents where “SSRIs were found in 61 pilot fatalities between 1990 and 2001.” “Psychological condition and/or the drug use was determined to be the cause, or a factor in 16 of the accidents, or 31%.”
Dennis Canfield’s study “Pilot Medical History and Medications Found in Post Mortem Specimens for Aviation Accidents” was totally ignored by the FAA. His study was conducted in 2006 and was published in the “Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine” journal. 4,143 pilots involved in fatal accidents between 1993 and 2003 were toxicologically examined for medications. One hundred of the dead pilots were found “with SSRIs in their systems including forty with Prozac, twenty-six with Zoloft, twenty-one with Paxil, and thirteen with Celexa.”
Matt Thurber, after citing many examples of accidents involving antidepressant usage, suggests that “pilots who use antidepressants without telling their medical examiners are willing to take greater risks when flying.” The FAA believes that SSRIs help “restore the balance of serotonin.” The FAA believes that their approval for use will result in truthful admissions by pilots; more vigilant tracking; and safer use, with fewer side effects than previous generations of antidepressants. The labels on the prescription bottles argue otherwise with warnings of “anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, and akathisia (psychomotor restlessness).
Dr. Breggin asks why pilots shouldn’t give up their airplanes since doctors are supposed to encourage their depressed patients to give away their guns. How can the FAA expect us to believe that we are safer in planes being piloted by depressed pilots on psychoactive drugs? They are dangerous enough when used alone. When combined with alcohol and benzodiazepines to counteract the insomnia side effects of the antidepressants, the elixir will inevitably cause a disaster.
Millions of innocent lives are at risk every day with sleepless and tired, or medicated and drowsy pilots at the stick. It is time for frequent drug testing of pilots. It is time once again to ground the pilots on antidepressants. A pre-flight test for alertness should also be mandatory. It is time for the FAA to turn off the “machine” and to answer the calls for repeal.
For related posts see:
- Sleepless and Tired Pilots Given Okay for Antidepressants on the Job!
- Tired, Sleepless, And Antidepressant Medicated Pilots Spell Human Error Disasters?
- Pilot Fatigue/Sleep Monitoring Program Largely Ignored by FAA/NTSB
- Air India Crash Leaves Smoking Hole at the End of the Runway
- FAA and NTSB Sound Asleep. Pilot Fatigue Screams the Alarm Again!
- Pakistan Air Lines President Blames Sleepless, Tired Pilots for Crash
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved to Ronald Czarnecki.
Attention: Authors, Bloggers, and Speakers!
StargazerSDAnthologies.com offers FREE exposure/advertising for your material. Our new article directory offers quick and easy entry with immediate acceptance. FREE initial publication for the first 50 authors to submit 3 samples.
StargazerSDAnthologies.com
…where authors star and readers gaze…
Currently, there are pilots who suffer from depression, but will not seek help due to the fact they will no longer have a job. Even under the FAA’s new mandate a pilot will be grounded for one year after he/she is stable on medication. To me this is more of an issue of honesty. I would not trust someone who lies about their condition to keep a job. I grounded myself over two years ago when I went on antidepressants.
The one year stabilization time is more than enough time to know how a person is going to react on the medications. This decision was made in order to help pilots who need medical attention. I do not know of other jobs that would prohibit workers from taking antidepressants.
Surgeons can take medications. Bus, taxi and truck drivers can take medications too. Aviation is the only area that I know of that has had such a limitation. It is ludicrous to think that this decision was made so pharmaceutical companies could make more money.
I have had my career taken from me. I have found an alternate form of income. But if I am able to safely perform the duties of my chosen profession why should I not be able to do so?
Perhaps everyone on antidepressants should also not be allowed to drive a car. There is more danger on the roads than there is in the air.
I still have to disagree with you. All of the literature on the side effects of these antidepressants describes how any change of dosage, any combination with alcohol or sleeping pills, or any withdrawal from the medications can easily trigger suicidal tendencies and loss of control. The fact that an aircarft may be carrying hundreds of passengers puts pilots in a different category than other careers, though I do believe that antidepressants and regular testing for their use should be required for anyone engaged in the transportation industry.
The FAA’s mission is to provide for the public’s safety in the skies and they are delinquent in that responsibility in allowing for the use of these dangerous drugs while on the job. Their effects are far more dangerous than alcohol.