Oxycarbazepine - he is screwed, right?

[bflynn]

There a new intern at work. Seems like a nice guy and got paired with me because he has a strong interest in flying, seems really serious about it. In talking about the medical, it comes out that he went to counseling for depression over Covid and wound up referred to the university psychiatrist, who prescribed oxycarbazepine. Never heard of it so we looked it and it’s used to treat epilepsy and bipolar?!

Something doesn’t sound right. That seems like a a really bad drug to prescribe to someone who is depressed over being locked in a little prison cell…errr dorm room during Covid lockdowns. I advised a second opinion, but is he already screwed? What does a path to a medical look like?

 

[benyflyguy]

Anti-seizure meds are often used as mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorders in low dosages. Can be used in the prevention of migraines and pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia.

in bipolar odd to use as mono therapy though.

 

[flyingron]

The FAA just put out new guidance to AMEs on situational depression. Obviously, he can't fly on this drug. If he can show that he's off it and that it was only for situational depression that has resolved, then it should be straight-forward issuable. However, there's likely going to be a tendency to want to disprove bipolar (which the FAA rightfully has an issue with, that will not be situational).

 

[bbchien]

Trouble is, though you are permitted one situation and for less than two year's duration. If there's been another situational depression in the life, it becomes a problem (recurrent disease). So you have to document that there is one and only one, and it has resolved and that there has not been another.....