Medications and flyingMedications and flying

Major John E. Henderson, CAPMajor John E. Henderson, CAP

NREMT-ParamedicNREMT-Paramedic

Mission Check PilotMission Check Pilot

How to deal with the common coldHow to deal with the common cold

Stay home and rest!Stay home and rest!Don’t smoke and avoid 2Don’t smoke and avoid 2ndnd hand smoke hand smokeDrink plenty of fluids (water, juices, clear Drink plenty of fluids (water, juices, clear

soups)soups)NO ALCOHOL!NO ALCOHOL!Gargle with warm salt water to relieve a Gargle with warm salt water to relieve a

sore throat. Throat Sprays or Lozenges.sore throat. Throat Sprays or Lozenges.Salt Water nose drops to loosen mucus Salt Water nose drops to loosen mucus

and moisten tender skin in the noseand moisten tender skin in the nose

What does OTC mean?What does OTC mean?

OTC = Over the CounterOTC = Over the CounterNo prescription required by physicianNo prescription required by physician

Four common typesFour common typesPain RelieversPain RelieversAntihistaminesAntihistaminesDecongestantsDecongestantsCough MedicinesCough Medicines

How to read an OTC drug labelHow to read an OTC drug label

Active Ingredient Active Ingredient (Relieves your symptoms)(Relieves your symptoms)Uses Uses (Approved by FDA)(Approved by FDA)Warnings Warnings (What to avoid while on this Rx)(What to avoid while on this Rx)Directions Directions (How much to take and when)(How much to take and when)Other Information Other Information (How to store product)(How to store product) Inactive Ingredients Inactive Ingredients (Non active ingredients)(Non active ingredients)Questions or comments Questions or comments (Toll Free Phone #)(Toll Free Phone #)

OTC Drug LabelOTC Drug Label

Pain RelieversPain RelieversNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAID’s)(NSAID’s)Works in the Skin, Muscles, and JointsWorks in the Skin, Muscles, and Joints

AspirinAspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph’s)(Bayer, St. Joseph’s)Ibuprofen Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB)(Advil, Motrin IB)Naproxen Naproxen (Aleve)(Aleve)KetoprofenKetoprofen (Orudis KT)(Orudis KT)

AcetaminophenAcetaminophenBlocks painful stimulation in the brain and Blocks painful stimulation in the brain and

spinal cordspinal cord(Tylenol, Tempra)(Tylenol, Tempra)

AntihistaminesAntihistamines

Block receptors that trigger itching, nasal Block receptors that trigger itching, nasal irritation, sneezing and mucus production.irritation, sneezing and mucus production.

Types:Types:DiphenhydramineDiphenhydramine (Banophen, Benadryl, Diphenhist)(Banophen, Benadryl, Diphenhist)Brompheniramine Brompheniramine (Dimetapp)(Dimetapp)ChlorpheniramineChlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor, Chlor-Trimeton)(Aller-Chlor, Chlor-Trimeton)

DecongestantsDecongestants

How do decongestants work?How do decongestants work?Narrow the blood vessels in the lining of the Narrow the blood vessels in the lining of the

nose. nose. Less amount of blood is able to flow through Less amount of blood is able to flow through

the nasal areathe nasal areaSwollen tissue in the nose shrinksSwollen tissue in the nose shrinks

PseudoephedrinePseudoephedrine (Allermed, Genaphed, and Sudafed)(Allermed, Genaphed, and Sudafed)

Cough MedicinesCough Medicines

AntitussivesAntitussivesBlock the cough reflexBlock the cough reflex

Dextromethorphan Dextromethorphan (Delsym, Drixoral, Pertussin (Delsym, Drixoral, Pertussin CS, Robitussin Pediatric)CS, Robitussin Pediatric)

ExpectorantsExpectorantsThin mucus, make coughing more productive Thin mucus, make coughing more productive

in cleaning mucus from the airwayin cleaning mucus from the airwayGuaifenesin Guaifenesin (Guiatuss, Robitussin, Tusibron)(Guiatuss, Robitussin, Tusibron)

Side Effects of Aspirin and NSAID’sSide Effects of Aspirin and NSAID’s

GI ProblemsGI ProblemsCan range from upset stomach to GI bleedingCan range from upset stomach to GI bleedingMostly affects the older populationMostly affects the older populationChances increase with larger dosesChances increase with larger doses

Kidney damageKidney damageHigh blood PressureHigh blood PressureLiver damageLiver damage

Side Effects of AcetaminophenSide Effects of Acetaminophen

Long term users = kidney diseaseLong term users = kidney diseaseAnalgesic nephropathyAnalgesic nephropathy

Chronic kidney disease that gradually leads to Chronic kidney disease that gradually leads to end-stage renal disease and the need for end-stage renal disease and the need for permanent dialysis or a kidney transplant to permanent dialysis or a kidney transplant to restore renal function. restore renal function.

After years or decades of useAfter years or decades of use

Side Effects of AntihistaminesSide Effects of Antihistamines

Sedation or DrowsinessSedation or Drowsiness Increases the risk of fallingIncreases the risk of fallingTemporary dry mouth or eyesTemporary dry mouth or eyes

Side Effects of DecongestantsSide Effects of Decongestants

NervousnessNervousnessDizzinessDizzinessSleeplessnessSleeplessnessLoss of appetiteLoss of appetiteRetention of urineRetention of urineHeart PalpitationsHeart PalpitationsHigh Blood PressureHigh Blood PressureHigh Blood Sugar LevelsHigh Blood Sugar Levels

Side Effects of Cough MedicineSide Effects of Cough Medicine

With codeineWith codeine NauseaNausea SedationSedation ConstipationConstipation

With dextromethorphan (Drixoral, Pertussin, and With dextromethorphan (Drixoral, Pertussin, and Robitussin)Robitussin) Lower risks of sedation and GI effectsLower risks of sedation and GI effects Feelings of confusion, agitation, nervousness, and Feelings of confusion, agitation, nervousness, and

irritabilityirritability

Drug InteractionDrug Interaction

All drugs are metabolized differentlyAll drugs are metabolized differently

Drugs can have greater impacts on the Drugs can have greater impacts on the body if mixed with other drugsbody if mixed with other drugs

Always seek medical advice if taking Always seek medical advice if taking multiple medicationsmultiple medications

AlcoholAlcohol

Alcohol will increase chances for:Alcohol will increase chances for:GI BleedingGI Bleeding

Alcohol will increase effects of:Alcohol will increase effects of:DrowsinessDrowsiness Impaired motor skillsImpaired motor skillsSedationSedation

FAA MedicationsFAA Medications

www.aopa.org/members/databases/www.aopa.org/members/databases/medical/druglist.cfmmedical/druglist.cfm

What is allowed by the FAA!What is allowed by the FAA!

FAA MedicationsFAA Medications

DO NOT ANSWER OUT LOUD!!!DO NOT ANSWER OUT LOUD!!!

How many of you have taken How many of you have taken benadryl due to a cold?benadryl due to a cold?

That is not allowed by the FAA!!That is not allowed by the FAA!!