Humira for Ulcerative Colitis - can AME issue?

[Anonymous]

I'm posting because I'm getting conflicting info. Hopefully some of you here can help me understand. Quick background: I'm a 150 hour Sport Pilot and loving it. I went sport pilot in the past, thinking it would satisfy my my goals and I wouldn't have to deal with a deferral and special issuance with my Ulcerative Colitis and Humira usage. But now I'm really wanting to get a medical and transition to a Private Pilot.

I'm fairly sure I'd be able to obtain the 3rd Class medical even after a deferral -- but I'd really rather not go through the process of being in limbo for a good portion of a year awaiting the FAA's decision.

Thanks to your advice, I had a consultation with an AME and to my surprise, he said he could issue my medical even with the Humira usage. So my question is: is that accurate?

I've had Ulcerative Colitis for 11 years and have been on Lialda for 11 years and Humira for 10. It's been 5 years since my last flare. I visit my GI yearly. I'm sure he would write a favorable report for the AME to consider.

My fear is that this AME might get me in hot water if he issues me a medical on the spot via the Colitis CACI -- yet on the form I list Humira as a medication I take. Isn't Humira supposed to require a deferral, or can he truly issue it?

I'm trying to avoid him issuing my medical then having the FAA review the form and say "hey, we need to revoke/defer that pilot's license and review this".

 

[bbchien]

I'm posting because I'm getting conflicting info. Hopefully some of you here can help me understand. Quick background: I'm a 150 hour Sport Pilot and loving it. I went sport pilot in the past, thinking it would satisfy my my goals and I wouldn't have to deal with a deferral and special issuance with my Ulcerative Colitis and Humira usage. But now I'm really wanting to get a medical and transition to a Private Pilot.

I'm fairly sure I'd be able to obtain the 3rd Class medical even after a deferral -- but I'd really rather not go through the process of being in limbo for a good portion of a year awaiting the FAA's decision.

Thanks to your advice, I had a consultation with an AME and to my surprise, he said he could issue my medical even with the Humira usage. So my question is: is that accurate?

I've had Ulcerative Colitis for 11 years and have been on Lialda for 11 years and Humira for 10. It's been 5 years since my last flare. I visit my GI yearly. I'm sure he would write a favorable report for the AME to consider.

My fear is that this AME might get me in hot water if he issues me a medical on the spot via the Colitis CACI -- yet on the form I list Humira as a medication I take. Isn't Humira supposed to require a deferral, or can he truly issue it?

I'm trying to avoid him issuing my medical then having the FAA review the form and say "hey, we need to revoke/defer that pilot's license and review this".

no, he cannot. The AME is misinformed. All the imumabs are special issances.

I suggest you go elsewhere. Lialda yes, Humira no. And it requires a statement from your doc, "no side effects of humira" or it cannot be approved (In addition to the history letter testifying that you are well controlled).

sigh. Dr Bruce

 

[Anon]

That's what I'm afraid of. Any idea what the current timeline looks like for a deferral for a medication like Humira? I'm confident the deferral would turn out in my favor, but I'm a current sport pilot and I dread being out of the game while awaiting a decision.

Dr Bruce, my GI doctor has previously mentioned a "drug holiday" to attempt coming off the Humira. I haven't been brave enough yet, but should I come off, could the AME do a standard issuance if my GI provided a favorable report?