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Bluesman
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject: Anti depressant question |
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| I am embarrassed to ask , but here goes . My wife has been trying to prescribe me antidepressants for the last 2 years . I hate to even take a occasional Tylenol. My dad passed 2 years ago and we were buds, I have not been right since. my question is are these types of drugs banned ? Also If they are allowed should I wait until after I get Hired to start taking them. I am being told I need them for 6 months. |
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greg3564
Joined: 30 Aug 2006
Posts: 1268
Location: Leander, TX
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| What kind of meds that are allowed vary by company. Most just want to make sure they cause no adverse side effect, especially drowsiness. Personally, if you take them and they don't affect you negatively, then I wouldn't volunteer that info to a company. Some may say that is dishonest, but why burn yourself out of a good job. |
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Fozzy
Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 2460
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:37 am Post subject: Re: Anti depressant question |
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Bluesman wrote: I am embarrassed to ask , but here goes . My wife has been trying to prescribe me antidepressants for the last 2 years . I hate to even take a occasional Tylenol. My dad passed 2 years ago and we were buds, I have not been right since. my question is are these types of drugs banned ? Also If they are allowed should I wait until after I get Hired to start taking them. I am being told I need them for 6 months.
They are not banned by the DOT (as of yet) but there are companies out there that will not hire you if you are taking one of several different anti-depressants. It's all about liability and the trucking companies really need to cover their butts on this. One accident, no matter who's fault and no matter what the circumstances and the trail lawyers will pull a "Macdonald's hot coffee" lawsuit on the company.
Most companies will have a list of meds that are acceptable and those which are not acceptable to be hired. Call the companies you would like to work for and see if they can give you this info. This will save a lot of time and frustration later. |
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jnk2001
Joined: 01 Dec 2006
Posts: 447
Location: Lynden, WA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: |
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| has anyone ever heard that your own private medical issues are just that. no one elses business. We still have privacy laws. |
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Bluesman
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:01 am Post subject: |
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| Thank You for your answers ! I will wait untill after I get hired on, and then inquire with the company as to what is allowed . |
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Sealord
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1697
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: Anti Depressant Question |
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| Why don't you ask your doctor if what he'd prescibe would have adverse side affects relative to driving a commercial vehicle? The FMCSA site has a meds list that preclude someone from working as a truck driver. But to not put on an app what meds you're taking could really backfire on you, let alone the company that'd employ you. BOL |
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Bluesman
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:07 am Post subject: |
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| Sealord, My wife is a NP and can prescribe for me. I had hoped that these types of meds were not allowed so as to get her off my back. So if all goes well with Swift training and I get hired on, I will look into what their policy is in regards to acceptable meds, and get their approval . The last thing I want to do is lose a job over it. I believe just a career change will change my attitude, I am a severely burnt out builder. |
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Twilight Flyer
Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Posts: 5486
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Quote: has anyone ever heard that your own private medical issues are just that. no one elses business. We still have privacy laws.
Not when it comes to the D.O.T. and meeting regulations and standards. The original poster is doing the right thing by asking the question beforehand. Better to find out now, than later. If you want privacy concerning your medical records, trucking isn't for you. |
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jnk2001
Joined: 01 Dec 2006
Posts: 447
Location: Lynden, WA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Twilight Flyer wrote: Quote: has anyone ever heard that your own private medical issues are just that. no one elses business. We still have privacy laws.
Not when it comes to the D.O.T. and meeting regulations and standards. The original poster is doing the right thing by asking the question beforehand. Better to find out now, than later. If you want privacy concerning your medical records, trucking isn't for you.
I've been a truck driver for many, many yrs. And the older we get, the more meds we need. now, if someone thinks they are going to tell someone every med they take, then they are living in a fantasy world. If anti-depresents(which i don't take) precludes you from driving truck, then I'll bet half of the ppl on here won't be driving truck with that reasoning. and if anti depressants preclude you from driving a truck, then they should preclude you from driving period. I'm sure truck drivers understand the 4 second rule with or with out antidepressants. |
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Bluesman
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| jnk2001 wrote: has anyone ever heard that your own private medical issues are just that. no one elses business. We still have privacy laws. I tried telling that to my Doc last time I had a physical. However He insisted on putting his index finger in my caboose :shock: :shock: |
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Twilight Flyer
Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Posts: 5486
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: now, if someone thinks they are going to tell someone every med they take, then they are living in a fantasy world
True, but that's nothing more than gambling with your career. If you get a false positive drug test some time due to something you are taking but did not disclose, then you hung your own rear out to dry.
Like I said, if you're looking for privacy in your medical records, trucking isn't for you. Your physical is looked at by safety departments, recruiting departments, and the D.O.T. during any audit. Everything about you crosses several desks and sometimes multiple times. That's just the nature of the beast. It is what it is, but it certainly isn't private. |
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BanditsCousin
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 3195
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: Anti depressant question |
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Bluesman wrote: My wife has been trying to prescribe me antidepressants for the last 2 years .
Is your wife a doctor?????
BTW- What medicines we take are important. i was on lexapro and it DEFINTELY impaired my driving! To hide your medications is like hiding a medical conditon that could pose a serious risk to other motorists.
This is why we have random drug testing, despite the idea that what we do in our free time should be private :) |
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Bluesman
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Anti depressant question |
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BanditsCousin wrote: Bluesman wrote: My wife has been trying to prescribe me antidepressants for the last 2 years .
Is your wife a doctor?????
BTW- What medicines we take are important. i was on lexapro and it DEFINTELY impaired my driving! To hide your medications is like hiding a medical conditon that could pose a serious risk to other motorists.
This is why we have random drug testing, despite the idea that what we do in our free time should be private :) Banditscousin , The wife is a Nurse Practitioner, Same as a MD, she can have her own practice, diagnose and prescribe.... I Live in a candy store but I do not like sweets :lol: Give me a beer now and then and I am good. 8) And Yes I get regular checkups :wink: |
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randyc
Joined: 29 Feb 2004
Posts: 24
Location: Florence SC
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: |
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| I have taken anti-depressants off and on for years. They have helped me greatly and made my world one that I enjoy and look forward to unlike before I took them. There is not a drug test in this world that would even think about testing for them. You might say I'm dishonest by not revealing the fact that I take them to my boss but now I'm happy AND I have a good job. I now own my own truck though. Good Luck. |
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Watcher
Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 28
Location: Wills Point, TX
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Anti depressant question |
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BanditsCousin wrote:
BTW- What medicines we take are important. i was on lexapro and it DEFINTELY impaired my driving! To hide your medications is like hiding a medical conditon that could pose a serious risk to other motorists.
This is why we have random drug testing, despite the idea that what we do in our free time should be private :)
I didn't realize these meds would be illegal to drive on. I'm on an anti-depressant, 2 anti-psychotics, and a sleeping aid and I thought I was fine. Averitt didn't know I was on them but I made sure and told Swift. I haven't had any accidents or much problem.
My only problem happened when I ran local for Swift. I ran out of my anti-depressant and sleep meds once and that's why I don't work for Swift anymore. I hadnt' been able to get much sleep one day (I ran at night) and showed up for work the next day too tired to drive (after already driving 1.5 hours to the terminal) usually I'm fine when I get there, but this time I just couldn't "wake up". I knew that if I told them I was too tired from the day before and car problems on the way home... I get some kind of punishment. So I tried to push thru it, after hooking up to the trailer and finally pulling out, I realized I just couldn't do it. I felt too weak to even use the clutch let alone getting in and out of the truck all night. I entered the highway and realized I wasn't going as fast as I thought I was, and almost took out a motorcycle!
I immediately took the next exit and went back to the terminal to explain this to the boss. His response was I had enough time to get some sleep after my shift last night regardless of any car problems on the way home. So I was naturally written up. The next day that write up bugged me all day because I'd never been written up before and never before had a reason to be punished from any job in my life. I strived to be the best employee to who ever I worked for, even being honest with them about everything. It didn't occur to me my meds would be a problem.
Now I have no insurance since being out of work, and can't afford my meds now anyway, and the family is sure feeling it! My wife had to borrow $$ to get a weeks worth so I can focus easier on the right job for us.
Oddly enough, I do better with my meds when I'm working then when I'm not. I tend to forget them sometimes at home because I get so busy outside with the kids and messing around with the lawn and stuff. I know its because I have a schedule when I'm on the road, and it's difficult for me sometimes to stay on it at home.
Nonetheless, sorry about hijacking the thread if I did. (not even sure I know what "hijacking a thread" means)
If anyone knows where I can get information on the meds that aren't DOT compatable...let me know. I thought all we needed was a note from our doctor saying I was doing fine with them.
-Watcher |
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