Is migraine an automatic disqualification?

Hi Frank. Could you please describe the chest pain side effect of taking Sumatriptan. I think I had it on Saturday night! It was a bad pain on one bone on the left side of my sternum. The pain has subsided about 50% now at 24 hours later. Thanks!

 

You can pass and be prescribed a narcotic. Many truckers take Adderrall/Ritalin etc. Supposedly you can test positive for pain killers and be fine if you had a script for it and aren't driving while on them.

 

I am just now seeing this tag. I think for most of 2021 I had my tag notifications off.

You are almost there. Just one small item is wrong. You can even drive and take narcotics IF YOU HAVE THE OK OF A MEDICAL EXAMINER. LINK to FMCSA guidance!

Also in general about the prohibited list. Part 391.42 has been removed, but 21 CFR 1308.11 has not been removed. Every substance entered in that section is prohibited along with ANY medication to control seizures with the exception of narcotics if you have a legal prescription.

Here is the only guidance I can find about headaches for medical examiners.

Headaches
Headache and chronic "nagging" pain may be present to such a degree as to interfere with the driver’s ability to control and operate a CMV safely and the medication used to treat headaches may further interfere with safe driving. Complaints should be thoroughly examined when determining the overall fitness of the driver. Disorders with incapacitating symptoms, even if periodic or in the early stages of disease, should be evaluated carefully and on a case by case basis.
Chronic or chronic-recurring headache syndromes can potentially interact with other neurological diagnostic categories in two ways:

• Through complications (e.g., stroke in relation to migraine).
• As a result of associated features of a particular syndrome (e.g., the visual distortion or disequilibrium associated with a migraine attack).
The following types of headaches may interfere with the ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely:
• Migraines
• Tension-type headaches
• Cluster headaches
• Post-traumatic head injury syndrome
• Headaches associated with substances or withdrawal
• Cranial neuralgias
• Atypical facial pain
Key points to aid a medical examiner’s decision on safe driving ability include using best practice methodology through experience and research to ensure driver and public safety:
• Frequency and duration of the headaches
• Symptoms associated with headaches such as visual disturbances, and light or noise sensitivity that may interfere with safe driving
• Assessing the side effects of treatment and/or medication


Understand I am out of the loop now. I no longer drive or keep up with the almost daily changes made by the FMCSA. So I am going to tag @brian991219 and if there is anything else, he should know!

 

Thanks for the info. All that is news to me. In my early 20s I would get frequent migraines from staring at a screen and sitting at a desk for long hours. If it was bad enough it would screw with my vision making it blurry and giving my blind spots. I could see how that would be problematic, but you would just pull over and rest until it's gone.

 

You hit all the important parts. Good research. The key is a qualified medical examiner signing off on you taking exactly what is prescribed after you have been honest with them. A medical examiner can allow many otherwise prohibited substances with a valid medical reason and the consultation of a primary or specialist care provider.