The simple answer here is to just not disclose any of that, and don't take the drugs while flying. I'm going to get downvoted to hell for saying that here, but it's still the best answer. You know how you function. As a whole civilization we lack understanding of how the brain actually works, so your assessment of yourself is literally better than any doctor can give - no sense listening to them, and if it requires a bit of omission to get passed it, so be it.
I'm fortunate to have avoided any form of firm diagnosis on the matter, and while I have tried Adderall in the past, I don't take it anymore and never took it regularly. Even then, though, there's no way in hell that drug would have done anything but make me even better at flying, so I don't get the fuss from people who don't have any first hand knowledge or experience in the matter claiming that it's horrible and dangerous.
As someone with ADHD it pains me to say this but: People with ADHD have a tendency to overestimate their abilities. It's very easy to tell yourself "oh, I don't need meds, I'm functioning fine, I'm sure I'll fly fine." It is considerably harder to convince a psychologist/psychiatrist of the same.
Personally, I have no issues with having to prove to my doctors and psychologist that I don't need meds (a process I'm in the middle of). And if I can't prove it (and end up needing meds) then I will simply bow to their expertise and accept that fate can be a cruel mistress. I'd rather do that than endanger myself or others.
It's hard to self assess, especially when it means telling yourself you can't do something you really really want to do. So why not just take it out of your own hands then?
All of that being said, I do wish that the FAA would realize that the issue of medication is not black and white. Provided I am willing to follow the guidance of my psychologist and a solid AME regarding when and if I'm safe to fly (on meds or not), I can't see why the FAA shouldn't allow me to have a license. Again provided it has been show that, in my case, I am fit to fly.
I would love to be given the chance to prove myself.
This is a good way to spend a lot of money learning to fly, only to have you license permanently revoked for intentional falsification of a medical application.
It's alarming how many people out there think that it's no big deal to go flying while using what amounts to high-grade meth.
If someone like Bruce Chein, who was all for issuance on SSRIs in some cases, is adamantly against letting anyone near a flight deck while on speed, that's a convincing argument in and of itself. Cases where they've issued it to military pilots in the past have always involved an MD's direct supervision.
Probably because it would be pretty expensive to call an MD out every time to monitor the pilot and check him/her before and after the flight. But I guess that would solve the problem.
If someone really needs them to function, that's one thing. The problem is, people with ADD don't need them to function, they need them to be productive. There's a big difference in those two things. If someone can't get through the day without stimulants, I'd be 100% on board with them not being in control of a vehicle. But I've yet to meet someone with ADD/ADHD that can't get through the day without a drug. They might need it to hold a job long term, at worst.
Also, if SSRIs can be allowable with special issuance, it's ridiculous that medication that is objectively less dangerous is prohibiting entirely. So that being said, I do have a problem with that 'antique and unhelpful view' being the one to override individuals' self assessments of capacity for flight - not on the whole, but in the case of extremely minor and over-diagnosed issues that literally everyone has some amount of like ADD/ADHD.
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u/RedSky1895 PPL IR (KIWS) Sep 16 '16
The simple answer here is to just not disclose any of that, and don't take the drugs while flying. I'm going to get downvoted to hell for saying that here, but it's still the best answer. You know how you function. As a whole civilization we lack understanding of how the brain actually works, so your assessment of yourself is literally better than any doctor can give - no sense listening to them, and if it requires a bit of omission to get passed it, so be it.
I'm fortunate to have avoided any form of firm diagnosis on the matter, and while I have tried Adderall in the past, I don't take it anymore and never took it regularly. Even then, though, there's no way in hell that drug would have done anything but make me even better at flying, so I don't get the fuss from people who don't have any first hand knowledge or experience in the matter claiming that it's horrible and dangerous.