FAA launches MedGuide to help pilots and controllers assess medication use

The Federal Aviation Administration has released an online tool called MedGuide that lets U.S. pilots and air traffic controllers look up which prescription and over‑the‑counter drugs are permitted and the required waiting periods before returning to safety‑related duties.

The initial version lists only medications the FAA currently classifies as allowed, while future updates will add conditionally acceptable and unacceptable drugs, and the FAA notes that a drug’s absence from the guide does not determine its permissibility. The agency states that starting a new medication generally requires a 48‑hour observation period, though specific drugs may have different requirements, and users must also consider their medical condition and side effects.