Today the FAA published the newest AME guide and made some big updates to the depression/antidepressant protocol.
In addition to three new antidepressants [duloxetine (Cymbalta) venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)] being added to the 'conditionally approved' (requires special issuance) list, they changed the name of the entire Antidepressant Protocol.
The new name is...drumroll...
"THE ANTIDEPRESSANT PROTOCOL" (it was formerly the SSRI Protocol but the new meds aren't technically SSRI's so here we are).
See the FAA's Conditionally Approved vs Unacceptable Antidepressant Medications below:
This is a huge step in the right direction. In the last year alone, I've had at least 3 HIMS patients that were on one of these 3 antidepressants. Since they were not at the time approved, we had to try to change their medication to one of the other meds that were conditionally approved by the FAA. In all of these cases, the patient never had adequate symptom control on the new medication and ultimately returned to use of their original medication, assuming they could never be a pilot.
But now they have a shot!
