If you have high blood pressure medication can you become an airline pilot?

4 comments ↓

#1 ben p on 03.24.09 at 2:06 am

Depends how bad it is, get a test done before you spend ridiculous amounts of money on lessons
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#2 Warbird Pilot on 03.24.09 at 2:13 am

It would depend on the medication. Best way to be sure is go to virtualflightsurgeon.com or get a list of AME's from the local airport and ask the question. Failing that, you can also call the FAA's Regional Flight Surgeon, and depending on the Region, they should answer the question.
References :
ATP, CFIIMEI, married to an AME.

#3 JetDoc on 03.24.09 at 2:28 am

Yes, you can have high blood pressure, within certain limits, as long as it is under control with exercise, diet or some approved medications. You need to do some research on this BEFORE you talk to an AME, because once the condition is reported to an AME. then your options are limited.
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#4 Cherokeeflyer_redux on 03.24.09 at 2:34 am

the condition in its self is not disqualifying.
Centrally acting agents such as Guanethidine, Guanadrel, Guanabenz, Methyldopa, and Reserpine are not acceptable to the FAA.

The following medications are FAA approved on a case by case basis:

Alpha Blockers / Inhibitors

* Cardura (Doxazosin)
* Catapres (Clonidine)
* Dibenzyline (Phenoxybenzamine)
* Hytrin (Terazosin)
* Micardis (Telmisartan)
* Minipress, Minizide (Prazosin)

Beta Blockers

* Blocadren, Timolide (Timolol)
* Cartrol (Carteolol)
* Cibenzyline (Phenoxybenzamine)
* Coreg (Carvedilol)
* Corgard, Corzide (Nadolol)
* Inderal, Inderide, Innopran (Propranolol)
* Kerlone (Betaxolol)
* Levatol (Penbutolol)
* Lopressor, Toprol (Metoprolol)
* Normodyne, Trandate (Labetalol)
* Sectral (Acebutolol)
* Tenormin, Tenoretic (Atenolol)
* Visken (Pindolol)
* Zebeta, Ziac (Bisoprolol)

Calcium Channel Blockers

* Adalat, Procardia (Nifedipine)
* Caduet (Amlodipine Besylate + Atorvastatin Calcium)
* Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac (Diltiazem)
* Cardene (Nicardipine)
* Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Veralan, Tarka (Verapamil)
* DynaCirc (Isradipine)
* Norvasc, Lotrel (Amlodipine)
* Plendil, Lexxel (Felodipine)
* Posicor (Mibefradil)
* Sular (Nisoldipine)

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors

* Aceon (Perindopril Erbumine)
* Accupril (Quinapril)
* Altace (Ramipril)
* Capoten, Capozide (Captopril)
* Lotensin (Benazepril)
* Mavik (Trandolapril)
* Monopril (Fosinopril)
* Prinivil, Prinzide, Zestril, Zestoretic (Lisinopril)
* Univasc, Unitrec (Moexipril)
* Vasotec, Vaseretic (Enalapril)

Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists

* Atacand (Candesartan)
* Avapro, Avalide (Irbesartan)
* Benicar (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
* Benicar HCT (Olmesartan Medoxomil + Hydrochlorothiazide)
* Cozaar, Hyzaar (Losartan)
* Diovan (Valsartan)
* Micardis (Telmisartan)

Diuretics

* Aldactone, Aldactazide (Spironolactone)
* Bumex (Bumetanide)
* Camadex, Demadex (Torsemide)
* Diuril, Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Oretic, Enduron (Thiazides)
* Dyazide, Maxzide, Moduretic (Combinations)
* Dyrenium (Triamterene)
* Lasix (Furosemide)
* Lozol (Indapamide)
* Mykrox (Metolazone)
* Zaroxolyn, Mykrox (Metolazone)
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