Dr. Chen: BP/FAA medical question

[Dave Krall CFII]

Dr. Chien, (sorry for the SIC above):

Had a middle aged prospective flight student call me and ask if there is a list of any borderline high BP meds he can try via precriptions by his family MD that will not need to be reported or be automatically disqualifying for his FAA medical?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[mikea]

http://www.ame-cast.com/2006/12/15/two-inquries-hypertensionatenolol-and-deep-venous-thrombosis/

 

[bbchien]

In a word, No. But!

The FAA is easy on hypertension. He needs to take whatever the family doc prescribes and stop getting his arteries, brain heart and kidneys slammed by hypertension.

The only ones you can't have are form the WalMart $4.00 list of RXs- guanethidine, Reserpine and alpha-methyl dopa, (aldomet). I haven't seen any rxs for these is YEARS.

Any AME can issue with a letter from the primary doc that says: (1) BP weil controlled, (2) No side effects of Rx, (3) Serum Creatinine norma, (4) If on a diuretic, a normal K+ (potassium) and (5) Statement that there is no apparent coronary disease. A One-time EKG is submitted with this statement.

There's no special issuance. The certificate is produced while he waits.

Send him to my podcast at Mike Andrew's link below.