Medications

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by tomhorn, Aug 12, 2007.

  1. tomhorn

    tomhorn Light Load Member

    67
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    Aug 9, 2007
    Jacksonville, FL
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    I am thinking of getting my CDL A and going into trucking. I'm wondering who might kow what effect my medications and condition will have on getting passed through the physical.

    First of all I had a Liver Transplant just under 2 years ago and I take several drugs for anti rejection. Most are imune suppressants, but I also need a few others to counter the side effects of the imunosupressants. The list is:

    1) Prograf - Imune Supress
    2) Celcept - Imune Supress
    3) Protonix - Digestive aid to counter acid production from Imune Supress
    4) Ambien - For sleep, as imune supressants cause unsettled sleep.

    I also have restless legs sindrome and take the only drug for that that does not process through the liver:

    1) Mirapex

    Does anyone know anything about the effect any of these will have on my qualifying for the CDL A?
     
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  3. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    If your taking Ambien, most companies won't let you drive. Any type of medications that cause sleepiness are not good.

    Mark
     
  4. tomhorn

    tomhorn Light Load Member

    67
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    Aug 9, 2007
    Jacksonville, FL
    0
    I took my physical the other day and they said ambien is fine. It's not a opiod and as long as you do not drive for 8 hours after taking it, it's fine. If you take it when stopping for your ten hour rest break, you are well clear of its effects a full two hours before driving again.
     
  5. tomhorn

    tomhorn Light Load Member

    67
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    Aug 9, 2007
    Jacksonville, FL
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    OK, I'v thought about this and done a little research. I keep hearing in these forums that "the company" won't allow this and that. In the case of a medication that is prescribed and tested by the Federal Government and has been determined to not interfere with your ability to perform necessary functions, the comany can not set an arbitrary and capricous standard on it's own that pre-empts Federal Law and apply it to their employees. This drug does have side effects, but if it is to be taken in a maner that it's effects will not be present during on duty hours and if the Federal Government standards have determined that it is permissible if used in this way, than the company can't just set whatever standard they want. Thomas Jefferson said: "We are a nation of laws, not men." Wel, we are also not a nation of companies. A comany setting such a standard wold be no different than a company saying that you could not drive because you are Asian because asians have a higher incidents of traffic accidents or because you have jock itch, becasue you'll be itching all the time.

    It kind of amazes me the number of posts that I see on these boards from people who just blindly accept things that are wrong and illegal. I hear about companies not paying as contracted, I hear of people getting tickets they did not deserve, I hear of people being told to run ilegal or lose their jobs, I hear people being canned by companies for reasons that are contrary to law.

    Don't just lie down and take it. Fight back people! I know what some of you will say: "If I turn them in, they'll fire me." Hey kids, that's the best thing that can hapen to you, because then they will end up working for you. There are whistle blower laws out there for a reason. USE THEM!
     
  6. mindbender

    mindbender Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2007
    East Coast
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    I had asked a question about Zoloft. My doctor had me start taking it about 18 months ago because of a great deal of stress in my life at the time. My mom almost died the same week my wife was having major surgery and that was just one week! I have learned now to deal with stress (major events in life) a whole lot better thank the lord I have not completely stopped taking it but It is not much. I asked about it in regards to my DOT physical. I was told that I can't take it at all ever and others said it was fine. I then called 2 places in my local area that give the test and they said it is no problem at all. I will ask this. Is a DOT physical a state thing or a federal thing. I think federal but I want to know for sure. I am going to a school out of state and I want to know if I have my DOT card from South Carolina can I skip taking it at the school in another state?
     
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  7. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    [FONT=Arial,Verdana]SNI KNOCKOUT MEDICATIONS
    Drivers may not take any of the following medications while operating a commercial vehicle. Any use of these medications require a 24 hour mandatory out of service after last dose consumed.

    ACETAMINOPHEN/CODIENE #2, #3, #4
    AMBIEN
    ANACIN PM
    ANEXIA
    ANTABUSE
    ANTI VERT
    APAP #2, #3, #4
    AVINZA
    B&O SUPPOSITORIES
    BACLOFEN
    BENADRYL
    BONINE
    BUAIFENESIN/CODIENE
    BUFFERIN AF NITE-TIME
    BUTABARBITOL
    BUTALBITAL
    BUTISOL
    BUTORPHANOL
    CAMPRAL
    CANTIL
    CARISOPRODOL
    CARISOPRODOL/CODIENE
    CHLORZOXAZONE
    CO-GESIC
    COCAINE
    CODEPREX-Codeine based cough suppressant
    CODIENE
    CODIMAL PH
    COMPOZ
    CYCLOBENZAPRINE
    DALMANE
    DARVOCET N
    DARVON
    DARVON COMPOUND 65
    DEMEROL
    DESOXYN
    DEXTROAMPHETAMINE
    DIDREX
    DILAUDID
    DIPHENHYDRAMINE
    DOLOPH1NE
    DOXYLAMINE
    DURAGESIC
    DURATUSS (elixir)
    ESGIC OR ESGIC-PLUS
    ESTAZOLAM
    FENTANYL
    FIORICET
    FIORINAL #3
    FIORINOL
    FLEXERIL
    FLURAZEPAM
    HALCION
    HEROIN
    HYDROCODONE
    HYDROMORPHONE
    INSULIN
    IOPHEN SYRUP
    LIORESAL
    LOMOTIL
    LONOX
    LORCET
    LORTAB 2.5, 5,7.5
    MATAXALONE
    MECLAZINE
    MEPERGAN
    MEPERGAN FORTE
    MERPERID1NE
    METHADONE
    METHAMPHETAM1NE
    METHOCARBAMOL
    MORPHINE
    MS CONTIN (Kadian)
    NEMBUTAL
    NORCO
    NORFLEX
    NORGESIC FORTE
    NOVAHISTINE EXPECTORANT
    NUCOFED
    NYTOL
    ORPHENADRLNE
    OXYCONTIN
    OXYCODONE
    PALLADONE
    PANLOR
    PAREGORIC
    PARAFON FORTE
    PARAPECTOLIN
    PENTAZOCINE
    PENTOBARBITAL
    PERCOCET
    PERCODAN
    PHENOBARBITAL
    PHP
    POWDERED OPIUM
    PROPACET
    PROPOXYPHENE
    PROSOM
    PROTUSS-D
    PROVIGIL
    RESTORIL
    RMS SUPPOSITORY ASTRA MORPH
    ROBAXIN
    ROBITUSSIN AC
    ROXICET
    ROXICODONE
    ROXILOX
    SCOPALAMINE
    SECOBARBITAL
    SECONAL
    SKELAX1N
    SLEEP-EZE
    SOMA
    SOMA/CODIENE
    SOMINEX
    SONATA
    STADOL NS
    SUBLIMAZE
    SYNALGOS-DC (capsule has codeine in it)
    TALACEN
    TAL WIN NX
    TEMAZEPAM
    THC
    TRANSDERM-SCOP
    TRIAZOLAM
    TUSSI-ORGANIDIN
    TUSSIONEX
    TUS SIN- 12
    TYLENOL #1, #2, #3, #4
    TYLENOL PM
    TYLOX
    UNISOM
    VICODIN
    VICOPROFEN
    VICODIN ES
    WYGESIC
    ZANAFLEX
    Z-COF HC
    ZOLPIDEM
    ZYDONE

    ** ANTICONVULSANTS - When prescribed as anticonvulsants. Other uses may be allowed as conditional dependent on diagnosis and require a clearance letter from treating MD –

    CARBAMAZEPINE
    CARBATROL
    DEPAKOTE
    DILANTIN
    EPITOL
    KLONOPIN
    NEURONTIN
    PHENOBARBITAL
    TOPAMAX
    TEGRETOL
    TRILEPTAL
    ZONEGRAN

    CONDITIONAL KNOCKOUT MEDICATIONS
    Drivers taking any of the following medications require an in-depth history regarding the medications. The use of these medications may not disqualify a driver, but the underlying diagnosis may. The history should include the name of the medications, reason for taking the medication (diagnosis) and dosage. If it is determined that the medication will be allowed, it is necessary to obtain a letter from the treating physician. The letter must include the medication name, dosage, reason for taking, how long taking, that the individual is not having any related side effects to the medication and that the individual is deemed safe to drive a commercial vehicle while taking the medication.

    ALPRAZOLAM
    ALDOMET
    AMITRIPTYLLNE
    ANAFRANIL
    ANTABUSE
    ATARAX
    ATIVAN
    ATROPINE
    BENTYL
    BUPROPION
    BUSPAR
    BUSPIRONE
    CELEXA
    CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE
    CHLORPROMAZINE
    CLOMIPRAM1NE
    COUMADIN
    CYLERT
    DEPAKOTE
    DESIPRAMJNE
    DESYREL
    DIAZEPAM
    DIETHYLPROPLAN
    DONNATOL
    DOXEPINE
    DEXEDRINE
    EFFEXOR
    ELAVIL
    ESKALITH
    FENFLURAM1NE
    FLUOXETINE
    FLUPHENAZINE
    FLUVOXAMLNE
    GEODON
    HALDOL
    HALOPERIDOL
    HYDROXAZINE
    IMIPRAMINE
    IOANAM1NE
    LEXAPRO (Celexa/Prozac combined)
    LIBRAX
    LIBRIUM
    LITHIUM (Request most recent blood level)
    LITHOTABS
    LORAZEPAM
    LUVOX
    MELLARIL
    METHYLPHENIDATE
    METHYLDOPA (HTN)
    MIRTAZAPINE
    NEURONTIN
    NEFAZODONE
    NAVANE
    NORPRAMINE
    NORTRIPTYLINE
    OXEZEPAM
    PAMELOR
    PAROXETINE
    PAXIL
    PEMOLINE
    PHENERGAN
    PHENTERMINE
    PONDIM1N
    PROLIXIN
    PROMETHAZINE
    PROZAC
    REMERON
    RISPERDAL
    RISPERJDONE
    RITALIN
    ROHYPNOL= Tranquilizer
    SERAX
    SEROQUEL (QUETIAPINE FUMARATE)
    SERTRALINE
    SERZONE
    SINEQUAN
    STELAZINE
    TENUATE DOSPAN
    THIORLDAZINE
    THIOTHIXENE
    THORAZINE
    TIGAN
    TOFRANIL
    TRAZODONE
    TRIFLUOPERAZINE
    TRILAFON
    TRIMETHOBENZAMIDE
    VALIUM
    VALPROIC ACID= Antiseizure
    VALRELEASE
    VENLAFAX1NE
    VISTARIL
    WARFARIN
    WELLBUTRIN
    XANAX
    ZOLOFT
    ZYBAN
    ZYPREXA (OLANZAPINE)

    ANGINA MEDICATIONS
    (Discuss case with nurses)

    ADALAT
    ADALAT CC
    AMLODIPINE
    BEPRLDIL
    CALAN
    CALAN SR
    CARDENE
    CARDIZEM
    CARDIZEM CD
    CARDLZEM SR
    CORGARD
    DILACOR XR
    DILTIAZEM
    DYNACIRC
    ISOPT1N
    ISOPT1N SR
    ISORDIL
    ISRADIPINE
    NICARDIPJNE
    NIFEDIPINE
    NITROGLYCERIN
    NORVASC
    PROCARDIA
    PROCARDIA XL
    TIAZAC
    VASCOR
    VERAPAMIL
    VERAPMIL
    VERELAN

    ORAL MEDICATION FOR DIABETES
    For Experienced applicants & current drivers only. If Blood Sugar is in good control no letter needed. If the Blood Sugar is out of control obtain a letter from personal physician that driver’s diabetes is controlled, no side effects from the medication and is safe to drive a tractor/trailer. Also ask the doctor to include the most recent hemoglobin Al C which is a blood test which shows how well diabetes controlled in last 2-3 months (normals 3.7-6.4 which is good control
    5.5-7.5 fair control; over 7.6 poor control) or most recent fasting blood sugar test (FBS).

    AMARYL
    CHLORPROPAMIDE
    DIABENESE
    DIABETA
    GLIPIZIDE
    GLUCOPHAGE – GENERIC FORM IS HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS
    GLUCOTROL
    GLYBURIDE
    MICRONASE
    PRECOSE
    REZULIN

    NO LETTER NEEDED MEDICATIONS

    ANTIBIOTICS
    POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTS

    ADVIL
    ALEVE
    ALLOPURIINOL
    ANAPROX
    ANSAID
    ANTURANE
    ATROMID
    BENEMID
    CELEBREX
    CHOLESTYRAMINE
    CLARAT1N
    CLINORIL
    CLOFIBRATE
    COLESTID
    COLESTIPOL
    CYTOTEC
    DAYPRO
    DISALSID
    DOLOBID
    DURATESS
    ESTROGEN PATCHES
    FELDENE
    FLUVASTATIN
    GEMFIBROZIL
    GOODIE POWDER

    HISMANOL
    IBUPROFEN
    INDOCIN

    LESCOL
    LEVOTHYROID
    LEVOXINE
    LODINE
    LOPID
    LORELCO
    LOVASTATIN
    MECLAZINE
    MECLOMEN
    MEVACOR
    MOTRLN
    NALFON
    NAPROSYN
    NAPROXEN
    NUPRIN
    ORUDIS
    ORUVAIL
    PRAVACHOL
    PRAVASTATIN
    PREMARIN
    PREVACIDE
    PRILOSEC
    PROBUCOL
    PRO VERA
    QUESTRAN
    RELAFEN
    RUFEN
    SELDANE
    SIMVASTATIN
    SUDAFED
    SYNTHROID
    TAGAMET
    TOLECTIN
    TORADOL
    TRINALIN
    VIOXX
    VOLTAREN
    ZANTAC
    ZEPHREX LA
    ZOCOR
    ZYLOPRIM

    __________________________________________________________________
    ANTIHISTAMINES (note- Claritin/Claritin-D , Allegra/Allegra-D and Zyrtec are antihistamines- designed to have less sleepy side effects than those listed below): AS THERE ARE MANY OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN ANTIHISTAMINES AND DECONGESTANTS- THIS LIST IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE-IF SLEEPY SIDE EFFECTS OCCUR, DO NOT TAKE AND Check with Occ Health x8709

    DO NOT TAKE AND DRIVE FOR 24 HRS AFTER LAST DOSE:
    ACTIFED
    ATARAX
    BENADRYL (DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINE)
    CHLOR-TRIMETON(DECONGESTANTS/ANTIHISTAMINE)
    DRIXORAL ALLERGY SINUS/ ANTIHISTAMINE
    (Cont on Next Page- scroll down)
    TYLENOL PM (CONTAINS BENADRYL)
    RONDEC
    TYLENOL PM (CONTAINS BENADRYL)

    Occ Health – DrugList 10/21/2005 (BGX)

    Mark
    [/FONT]
     
  8. mindbender

    mindbender Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2007
    East Coast
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    Thanks. How old is that and were is it from?
     
  9. tomhorn

    tomhorn Light Load Member

    67
    2
    Aug 9, 2007
    Jacksonville, FL
    0
    Whose list is this? The government or some carrier?
     
  10. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

    1,052
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    Nov 26, 2006
    Lehigh Valley, PA
    0
    That list is from Schneider, last updated 10/2005. Most other companies are going to be the same. This list was taken from the FAA list of drugs pilots can not take and was modified to fit trucking. Tom, one thing you don't seem to up on is that any company can add requirements to the DOT physical they want. DOT rules are a minimum requirement.

    Mark

    NO, I don't drive for SNI, but do know a few.
     
  11. VULCAN1999

    VULCAN1999 World's #1 Grandpa

    708
    264
    Jul 28, 2007
    Bunnell, FL
    0
    A privately held company can make any rules they want and make you follow them, it's their company. You can either choose to work there or not. That is as long as they don't discriminate against any one driver or group ie; men, women, race religion etc.

    Them telling you that you can't take a certain medication is probaly because their insuarnce and legal department has found that those drugs can affect driving in some adverse manor and they made a policy not to allow it.

    You would have some person who would take Ambien on a split break and then after 2 hours get up and drive and have a wreck thus theres where the problem lies or someones body does not get rid of it in 8 hours and they have a wreck and the blood test shows up a narcotic in their system and here comes the lawsuits.
     
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