Does anyone here use antidepressants? Trying to learn the rules.

[-]

Sky_biker5683@reddit

I do, along with several other rx's including adderall. I just make sure the important people are aware. The doc signs off on my DOT physical, so good to go.

If you don't take it consistently, depending on the medication, it can be rough, either with withdrawal symptoms or feeling sick, so take it as prescribed and no worries.

[-]

kane_eightee@reddit

You can get a med card and also pass the DOT drug test on adderall? I always assumed that bc it’s an amphetamine that it would bar you from driving.

[-]

Yeah. Its a bit of a pain, and some companies will require their own physical cough cough Swift cough cough even though you passed a DOT physical. As far as antidepressants go, they don't test for them, but some companies will give you shit if you tell them you have depression (understandably). Adderall will make you test positive for meth/amphetamines, but as long as you have a legitimate prescription, you get a call from a Medical Review Officer who will ask if you take adderall and have you send pics of the bottle label, they verify with the pharmacy and good to go

[-]

Sky_biker5683@reddit

When I say don't tell them, I mean the company. Tell the Dr doing your physical, and as long as he says you're good, all good. Your company doesn't need to know. Unless it's a good company that won't give you grief about it, then you can tell them

[-]

Actual-Ad-6146@reddit

Depends on the company if you work for one. They may not tolerate even a prescription for adderall even with adhd. You might be the greatest driver that company has ever seen but they are under no obligation to cater to your psychological needs. Adderall is a different beast. Go to an organic store and find a safer alternative without the red tape.

[-]

Practical_Prole@reddit

For weight loss, no. For ADHD, yes. Passing the physical, I mean. You piss hot, get a call from the medical review officer, they confirm your prescription and diagnosis and mark your piss as not hot.

[-]

HashnaFennec@reddit

That’s how it went for me, but they’ll treat you like your guilty the entire time.

[-]

Queasy-Swordfish-977@reddit

Question if I piss hot 🔥, If I don't put anything on the medical form, on the form they give you before the drug test will they still call you?

[-]

Practical_Prole@reddit

If its something prescribed since you last renewed, note it when you get the call and you’ll be in the clear. Note it next time you renew during the physical, in a modicum of caution.

Nowadays, had I not noted stuff previously, I’d be of the mind that if it won’t make you piss hot, they don’t need to know that… unfortunately with how HIPPA’s basically dead and the government is buying up all the third party metadata and spy software (Palantir, et all), I wouldn’t be surprised if in five years it’ll be a disqualified for failing to report or some shit. We live in such a shitty dystopia I wouldn’t even be surprised tbh.

[-]

Bigmike2523@reddit

Instead of antidepressants, maybe try a good D3/K2 supplement, it will help your body create serotonin, once your body does that, your depression should subside, I recommend oceans organic, I did a little research and found it to be one of the best out there, for me, there was a noticeable change in my mood in less than a week

[-]

Confident-Target-383@reddit (OP)

I'll try adding the K2 and see if it helps. When this first started I had some blood work done and my vit d and b12 were both low, so I've been supplementing with b vitamins and a vit d for around 6 months now.

[-]

Bigmike2523@reddit

Just do a bit of research on the supplements, there's quite a few out there that aren't worth anything

[-]

Easyfruit123@reddit

I used to , my doctor who used to write my letters retired and my new one refuses to so I been out of the truck some Feb

[-]

OracleTrucker@reddit

FMCSA only checks certain drug categories. I’ve seen the list somewhere online on what they’re looking for according to people who conduct these tests on truckers.

That aside, I’m going to say something that might upset some people, but heck, this is the internet. Antidepressants is often times just a band-aid. It’s not the solution. It’s like drinking 10 cups of coffee and wondering why it’s no longer working when the driver is just sleeping 3 hrs every night. The solution is obviously lack of proper sleep time.

Stress is a normal part of life. High stress is also normal from time to time, especially if someone went through a major life change like a divorce or the loss of a close loved one. Learn why you’re highly stressed and find out how to resolve that. Antidepressants could actually keep you from “taking action” and resolving the issue. Let stress help you fight the problem. Don’t just take something to try to forget it. Perhaps antidepressants are being used like alcohol and street drugs have been used for years to mask a real problem. Ask your family, friends, or the internet what they have done to solve the problem you’re having. There’s a very good chance others have gone through the same and found the solution to fix the source of the problem permanently.

[-]

Confident-Target-383@reddit (OP)

I've just found myself in a corner with regrets, choices I should've made differently, effort I should've put in where I didn't, things I could've done and should have done. When this started I assumed it was a vitamin issue and I had some problems with those but they've since been resolved. My issue now is that I can't figure out how to let it go. I can see the choices I made, and I understand that with the information I had I made logical decisions, but the cost was higher every time, and I lost every time. It's effecting every aspect of my life now, not just trucking, it's effecting relationships, motivation, I can't even ride my motorcycle because if I get it ten minutes down the road I panic so hard that I have to turn around and limp it home. I just can't figure out how to cope with it, I've been going to therapy, I've talked to a lot of different people about it, I've gotten my regiment of vitamins dialed in, and I'm still just not right, idk what else to try other than medication because I'm so stuck in my head that I can't see past my own self hatred. It's less than ideal for a driver to have this mindset, but my CDL is the only thing in my tool box. I went from thriving to scraping by check to check working a dead end job that I hate.

[-]

OracleTrucker@reddit

We cannot change our past. It’s something that must be accepted. But we can change our future and take our past as a something to learn from. We should not let our failures hold us back. Every person who has achieved something great in life has encountered many, many problems, but that didn’t stop them. In fact, they would not be who they became if it weren’t for the problems they encountered.

Something that’s worth looking into is the topic of human happiness. Millions of dollars have literally been spent on studying happiness, and the results are not what people expect. It’s not about reaching blissful happiness every day that makes a good life. It’s having a balance in life on just about all aspects of one’s life. When one deviates from the balance, there are usually consequences. It’s okay to drink, but not too much. It’s okay to eat, but not too much. It’s okay to spend money, but not too much.

I’d also recommend looking into what Dalai Lama has to say about happiness. There’s a book written about happiness on his behalf. But you can also read the top ten things he’s said about happiness.

Life, in the end, is what we make it out to be. We are the captains of our ship. We make the decisions every single day. As long as every day or every week we’re striving to become better versions of ourselves, we’ll be just fine. There are always ways to improve ourselves, our health, our fitness, our finance, etc. There is tremendous good in taking care of ourselves.

[-]

BingBongFyourWife@reddit

I was on Wellbutrin and didn’t tell them shit. Had no issues

[-]

Tracerbeamaa@reddit

If you would of been in an accident and they did a blood test you might would’ve had a slight problem no

[-]

iCall_itWhoopieTbh@reddit

not a controlled substance. so no

[-]

Lokisworkshop@reddit

Gotta say the comments on here are really pretty great. Its important to talk about this stuff. Good job,

[-]

Confident-Target-383@reddit (OP)

I agree. I saw someone post a similar question a few months ago, might even be a year ago now, but I couldn't find that post, but the comment section under that was very mixed, this is a great group of folks here, and I feel more confident about the possibilities of returning to OTR.

[-]

SuspectOk2931@reddit

I’m on lexapro and buspar. It doesn’t affect me at all. Just say nothing at your DOT physical/pre employment screening, it avoids all the unnecessary paperwork.

[-]

nerdariffic@reddit

Depending on the med, you could need a form signed by the prescribing doctor saying you are OK to drive. Not a big deal. Just a minor inconvenience.

[-]

ThaQuig@reddit

I took welbutrin for a few months, I luckily had no side effects & all it did was bump my med card down to a 1 year

[-]

SnooChipmunks6620@reddit

Yeah you can. It's legal. I am on one. Clear it with your doctor that also does your med exams for the license. Pay attention to the side effects, if you get issues, you can try different ones.

[-]

zdw0986@reddit

I’d say don’t tell em shit but with all the medical facilities being interconnected when you go in for your physical they’ll see you were prescribed something and could potentially fuck with you about it. In my experience you just need a drs note saying you have no side effects and you’re safe to drive on it

[-]

Practical_Prole@reddit

Yeah, they changed the rules a few years ago iirc. Used to be only stimulants were 1 year mandatory renewal, now it’s all psychiatric meds, even if you’ve been on them for years.

I both get it and also don’t, this is a safety sensitive gig so being not in a right way is a problem, but also, depression is easily controllable once you get on the right medicine for you, after that it’s simply maintenance for a deficit of certain neurotransmitters.

[-]