Anyone have any experience with Tenoretic or Atenolol

[siucavflight]

Just wondering what it takes to get a medical while on this drug for high blood pressure.

 

[Pilot Doc]

Just wondering what it takes to get a medical while on this drug for high blood pressure.

I don't know the answer to your question, but if atenolol per se and not hypertension ends up causing problems, there are MANY other classes of drugs you can try.

 

[siucavflight]

Doc,
Checked on the FAA site and it says that it is an approved drug to treat high blood pressure, but that they have to approve it on a case by case basis, do you know how long it takes for this approval to go through.

 

[Pilot Doc]

Doc,
Checked on the FAA site and it says that it is an approved drug to treat high blood pressure, but that they have to approve it on a case by case basis, do you know how long it takes for this approval to go through.

I'm not an AME, so take this with a grain of salt.


I have heard that the special issuance backlog has been cleared from CAMI and that ittakes about 3 weeks now on average. (This was touted highly at Oshkosh this year.)

 

[myq2u]

No Problem, it’s a Beta blocker and it is on the list – look here http://www.leftseat.com/hypertension.htm
Or read below…


As far as “how long it takes to get approved?” NO TIME AT ALL! There is NO time frame for approval, it’s really a very simple process (if you don’t like forms and have a very busy schedule use Leftseat.com [~$500] but you can do it yourself).

I am really amazed at how many pilots still think getting BP medication is a big deal with the FAA. It is NOT!!! They are very proactive now and they want pilots to be on BP meds if they cannot control it otherwise! Remember, if you wait too long your heart muscle WILL get enlarged (if it does - it's still not the end of the world but more paper work) and that shows on the EKG, do not wait - be proactive!

First find a doctor (a physician assistant - PA will work too) who will check your BP over a span of 2-3 days, get the BP medication he/she thinks is best for you AND which is on the list (take the list with you to the doc).
Wait about 1-2 weeks after taking the meds so your BP stabilizes and then check your BP at the office again. If the BP is ok and within limits, all you need is your BP readings spread out over several days (a simple excell spreadsheet will work) , a statement from your treating doctor saying you are under his/her care and taking medication ABC, what dosage you are taking (XXmg a day), and that your BP is now normal and under control. (If your medication includes a diuretic, you will also need a pee test checking for potassium levels and if the levels are ok, it needs to be stated in the letter from your doc.)

Now you will take the letter and your BP readings to your AME, and hand it to him/her. He/she will submit it to the FAA with your medical AND you will be issued a regular 1st class right then - just as always. If you are due for an EKG (turning 35 or once a yar after 40) you will get an EKG too, but it's not required otherwise.

About 2-4 weeks later you will receive a letter from OKC saying your 1st class medical is valid and that a year from now you need to submit another statement from your BP treating doc to your AME that you’re still ok and that potassium levels are fine (if taking diuretic). You’ll do it once a year and you are supposed to bring the FAA letter to the doc (even though they usually make a copy of it and then you don't need to bring it) and each time you'll bring the OK letter from your treating doctor.

From that point on you will not be receiving any additional correspondence from the FAA.
Really, it's a piece of cake!



From www.LeftSeat.com

The following medications is a partial list of FAA approved drugs. These medications are acceptable to the FAA 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)
• 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)

 

[siucavflight]

Thank you, this makes me feel much better, the flight surgeon had the same thoughts.