“What anxiety medicine can I take as a pilot?”

I would encourage you to make lifestyle changes that can greatly reduce anxiety. I've treated patients who by making basic lifestyle changes many have reduced their anxiety and depression by 80%. Always start with the physiological aspects first, 7+ hours of sleep every night, physical exercise, greatly limiting caffeine intake, along with learning CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can make a big impact. Medications can be helpful but also can cause multiple side effects and often different medications impact patients differently. I would strongly encourage you to educate yourself by reading books about anxiety, see an outpatient counselor and an outpatient psychiatrist.

Well here a few choices you can consider: Single-use Anti-Depressants such as: Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide), Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate), Prozac (Fluoxetine Hydrochloride), Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) or Wellbutrin (Bupropion)

Thank you for your question! A full psychiatric evaluation would need to be completed before any medication is prescribed. If you are looking for a healthy all natural alternative, herbal supplements can be helpful in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety without being evaluated. Here is a trusted source that may be helpful to you. I encourage you to check out the Nerve Formula. It helps to promote relaxation and contributes to deeper, higher-quality sleep. Please remember that medications and even supplements can take the edge off. Understanding how to manage stressors that are contributing to heightened anxiety is a skill that needs to be learned and that is where therapy can be very beneficial. At any rate, if you are interested in herbal supplements, Just click on this link for more
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FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.

A psychiatrist would treat anxiety with antianxiety or antidepressant medications. Examples of antianxiety meds include benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin) and non-benzodiazepines (Buspar). Examples of antidepressant meds include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs- Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil)/Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs-Effexor, Cymbalta), Tricyclics (TCAs- Elavil, Anafranil, Tofranil), Monoamine-Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs- Nardil, Marplan), and others like Wellbutrin and Remeron.

I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

*Jenna Torres, PsyD*
Pasadena Clinic Director
Licensed Psychologist
New Day Psychotherapy Group
(626) 808-4600 x109

I’m not a psychiatrist and ethically it’s important for me to stay in my lane and respond within the scope of my area of expertise. That said, I can give you my experience working with clients dealing with anxiety over the course of a couples of decades. There are medications that you could take regularly (daily) these medications are typically prescribed for both depression and/or anxiety. These medications are SSRIs or SNRIs. The only medication that I know of that is taken regularly and is exclusively for anxiety is Buspirone. Medications that you would take as needed which is referred to as “PRN” wouldn't necessarily need to be from a class of medication called benzodiazepines, which can be problematic if you’re flying because of the side effects. There are PRNs that are being prescribed that help decrease anxiety that are being used as a-typical out of the box uses such as blood pressure medications and beta blockers such as clonidine and propranolol. You can speak with a psychiatrist to have a psychotropic evaluation and get your questions answered and that way you’ll be able to make an educated decision about what makes sense for you.

Hello and thank you for your question,

It is best that you consult with your primary care provider to determine what medications you can take as a pilot. You may also consult with a psychiatrist to determine the best medication for you.

Thank you,

Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC

There are many fast acting non-benzo type medications like Buspar and Vistaril to mention just two.

See this link..
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety-drugs