SSRi medication not for pilots... but okay, it seems, for motorists

I have previously wrote about how airlines refuse to allow their pilots and air-traffic controllers [ARCO's] to take SSRi medication whilst performing their jobs with a post I entitled, 'The SSRi Road To Hell'.

It baffled me why one transport body would ban the use of SSRi's in their employees [Pilots and ATCO's] whilst, at the time of writing it was unknown whether the same applied to motorists. After all, wouldn't you like to know if the coach driver in charge of the vehicle you were travelling on to the coast was either a, suffering from depression or b, on SSRi medication.

Today I have received confirmation from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency [DVLA]. They, it appears, are of the opinion that the medication that, "appropriate treatment may alleviate the symptoms". So there you have it. The DVLA say it's safe to drive whilst on SSRi medication, unless of course I have misinterpreted the content of the email I recieved from their press office? I must say I have to disagree with their stance on the SSRi/driving issue. I'm not really surprised they are so unaware of the SSRi problem though.

For the record, here is the email.

----- Original Message -----
From: Press Office
To: fiddaman
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 2:50 PM
Subject: DVLA response


Hello Mr Fiddaman,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the use of SSRI & SNRI medications during driving.

The medical standards applicable to driving are laid out in *At a glance Guide to the current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive'. This is viewable and downloadable as an Acrobat document from the DVLA website. Of relevance to your enquiry would be Chapter 4, Psychiatric Disorders and the associated appendix. The latter describes the use of prescribed medications & potential concerns.

It must be stressed that it is the potential impairment caused by the illness that is of prime concern and although this may be significant, the use of appropriate treatment may alleviate symptoms allowing driving to continue. Each case is assessed on its own merits and dealt with on an individual basis.

Yours faithfully,


Elayne Phillips
DVLA Press Office



ANTIDEPRESSANTS MAY IMPAIR DRIVING ABILITY, NEW RESEARCH FINDS

Driving impairment in depressed patients receiving long-term antidepressant treatment.



Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING