Does taking certain medications disqualify me from being a truck driver?

A little old of a thread, but wanted to ask one question. If RX for Tramadol (For RLS) literally only 1-2 pills b4 bed. Is that something that is gonna be a problem? If need be I can switch to Kratom. As it works for me as well.

 

Tramodol is rated as a narcotic. Ive made a link post to show evidence of that recently, Give me some time to dig it back up and I will repost here. I hope I can still find it.

As far as the Reo's posts and others making a case of PMB related medical history such as related to me as a previous Pain Patient, I acknowledge it can be very damning in some companies eyes. Or most. That leads me to very careful consideration of a idea that perhaps there is no "Statue of Limitations" that cut off that kind of legitmate and legal prescribing history like say a 10 year limit on DAC.

I refuse to accept that if I have bettered myself or actually made the necessary medical repairs to possibly return to trucking, it would not matter a whit. Then I would know for sure this Industry has kind of maybe gone off the deep end. If a pothead to paraphrase can make a whoopsie, finish a sap and get back out in 2 years or less, what do you think a pillhead legally prescribed for 10 years can do once there is nothing in the system at all related to any of the 4 scheduled prescribing? How long does that person have to wait before the industry at large will consider that application.

I don't think the regulators or industry types have the understanding that there are SOMETIMES people who get well and maybe get back into it. If I did not? It would be just great. No worries considering how the industry is derailing itself in a number of ways. Almost like a wooden bridge being termite eaten a thousand holes a week until it falls down.

If I was not trucking what would I do for work? Ive got that covered. Just need to fix a few things first before I get out and hit the workforce.

 

Heavy lifting aside, here is the post in a related thread that closely talks about Tramadol.

I need to return to Google to relocate the lost link.

Failed DOT

FAA vs Tramadol related fatalities

https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2010s/media/201019.pdf

 

A related thread shows the medicine is Schedule two.

Tramadol (ultram) And Drug Testing - Page 1 | TruckingTruth Forum

I believe there is a list of medicines somewhere in the FMCSA that DQ's drivers by medicine name but that will have to wait until another day.

 

That seems to go hand in hand with the other page. Basically my doc can write a note saying it won't effect my operating of a TT. But the ME may or may not sign off on it. I would hope with the low dosage and usage. Literally 1-2 pills at bed time before my "10hr." Wouldn't be a no go. But I guess I could just bite the bullet and not get it filled again. After all it will be around another 90 days till I start looking at actually going to school for my CDL. So it won't be in my system, or in the DataBase as a live script then.

 

While I don't wish to disparage any site that site has a bit of misinformation.

Really Schedule I drugs are absolutely disallowed because technically a doctor cannot legally (at the federal level) prescribe those medications, to anyone. But schedule II is not the same.

There are some very strict guidelines in the fmcsa medical examiner handbook to check for but I don't have experiences with the subject medications.

But the Exception above is the important part. Before you go for a physical make sure to have an honest talk with your doctor about your condition, the mediciations effects and how that relates to trucking.

Unlike the FAA which bans medications often based purely on fear, uncertainty, and doubt the FMCSA is trying to put safety first. The medical examiner is tasked with ensuring safety. If you use a narcotic, your use isn't increasing over time, and your doctor thinks that the side effects are not a serious risk you may be fine.

Having that honest conversation with your family doctor is the first step. As long as the drug isn't on Schedule I (like Marihuana) you may be fine if your self assessment is honest and you are safe to drive.

 

I appreciate the write, If my medicines were schedule two, say... hydrocodone.

DOT regulations permit a doctor to prescribe norco at whatever limited dose to handle a er visit for breaking a leg jumping off the truck dock. You go fill that medicine and probably end up at a hotel or even home until the required doses are completed (Call it 30 days) and a couple of months later your cast comes off and leg is healing nicely.

You would need to show that you no longer take schedule two (Since its been 4 weeks no problem.) and that the leg is fine. You are to let the company know you are cleared to return to work if you havent already in that big rig.

IF you had tooth surgery and was prescribed a couple days, DOT regs still say that you can use pain medicine legally but need a certain amount of time something like 7 days after last dose and possibly test clean before company puts you back to work. Things like that.

Now what I am coming from is just about a 10 year history of pain patient at two different clinics. The first was a pill mill. The state started regulating that. Ultimately I went to a second and way better clinic doctor for that purpose for about a year or two leading up to my hipjoint surgery (Which was not done until I landed in the ER with life threatening complications due to excessive pain, blood damage among other problems (Inflammation storm, cheokatae I think is the word) among others) at that time its time to drop a new joint in. Excessive pain was one of the criteria.

However the months and weeks before leading to that final battle before surgery I acted badly because the medicines were not working against the hip. They were going aw just walk it off, you will be fine. It took a bone surgeon to examine the new digital xrays and go there you are. It's busted and been busted for about a year. (9 months, I remember the date I busted it for sure)

The clinic doctor when he found out after surgery, he expressed that he was sorry about treating me badly, as if I was some kind of addict. (*Am not.) but state rules had certain guidelines on him for his License and running that kind of Clinic sometimes he has to exclude those who do things that are in conflict with his practice and particularly that of the state's legal limitations on those drugs.

All of that is over and done with as of the end of the year. I take arthritis medicine and one other which both together I test for routinely many times a year to make sure my organs are not in failure, there is no inflammation storm and certainly the heart attack precursors not exist in the blood etc. Also a practice for the lab to see that this fella has some things but nothing to really worry about against tons of other tests that do have something or nothing at all.

Not too many people have the chance that I think I have to get back into trucking. I would like it very much with one of three possible old employers. But... due to many changes and so forth vs my 10 year history on the PMB (Which is really full by now...) I don't think there is a chance that I will be able to get into it. Too many strangers will decide OMFG look at this guy... and tell me to f-off.

The thing is I don't care if I did or not. I have certain things and people in life that I tend to. It would not bother me too much if I stayed retired due to medical exclusions within the industry. (Their loss..., throwing a old warhorse to pasture...)

 

I'm also concerned about the medication conversation. I take Prozac, lamotrigine, and blood pressure medication and medicine for gurd. When I'm applying for position and they ask me if I have a disability. Which they have depression and bipolar etc. I have boarder line personality severe depression and anxiety. I usually say I don't have any disability. It's none of their business.