Prescription drug for driver

[aquabel]

Hi, I´m dealing with high blood pressure and hypothyroidism and taking prescription drug for it. My treatment is working so blood pleasure is normal and my thyroid values are also normal. None of the drugs are having side effect like lost of consideration, drowsiness etc.

My question is very simple. It is possible to be a train driver (most interesting in London Underground) with these medications? HexDriver wrote there in another topic, that he is taking drugs for high blood pressure too with no problem, but I would like to be sure and in addition I´m having drugs for hypothyroidism also.

And one more thing for funny guys. I know that I need to improve my English skills rapidly first and I´m not taking part in any recruitment process in present, so you can stay calm. I´m not your rival.

 

[Boiliee]

Your best way to find out is contact the TOC that you are interested in joining and find out from them ?

 

[SPADTrap]

Hi, I´m dealing with high blood pressure and hypothyroidism and taking prescription drug for it. My treatment is working so blood pleasure is normal and my thyroid values are also normal. None of the drugs are having side effect like lost of consideration, drowsiness etc.

My question is very simple. It is possible to be a train driver (most interesting in London Underground) with these medications? HexDriver wrote there in another topic, that he is taking drugs for high blood pressure too with no problem, but I would like to be sure and in addition I´m having drugs for hypothyroidism also.

And one more thing for funny guys. I know that I need to improve my English skills rapidly first and I´m not taking part in any recruitment process in present, so you can stay calm. I´m not your rival.

When you are a safety critical employee at a TOC/FOC and are prescribed medication then you are obliged to inform your employer ASAP and they'll check with their medical provider if there are any restrictions. I got a response within 3 hours from my TOC about whether or not I had to be taken 'off the road' for the duration of the medication.

If you're not an employee then I guess you don't need to do anything beyond declaring it at your medical stage of the application process, that cannot be stressed enough!

Good luck!

 

[aquabel]

Your best way to find out is contact the TOC that you are interested in joining and find out from them ?

I am not interesting to join any TOC now. I have a plenty work with my english before it. This is just a general question. Because for example, in our country are some medical rules by law and some by TOC. But if it is something not allowed by law, TOC can not allowed it. And booth of my medication is not permited here but, there are a plenty of stupid rules about driving a train - like no contact lenses or glasses is permited etc.

When you are a safety critical employee at a TOC/FOC and are prescribed medication then you are obliged to inform your employer ASAP and they'll check with their medical provider if there are any restrictions. I got a response within 3 hours from my TOC about whether or not I had to be taken 'off the road' for the duration of the medication.

If you're not an employee then I guess you don't need to do anything beyond declaring it at your medical stage of the application process, that cannot be stressed enough!

Good luck!

Hi, thanks for reply. I am not exmployee now and not taking part at recruiment process in present. I am just asking, because you know, gooing across lot of stages include assasment center, be succeful and that discover that medication for my problems is not permited is very sad. So I am asking if my problem is not general problems to not be emoloyed as train driver. As I wrote before, there are no side efect like lost of concetracion etc.

 

[Tubeboy]

I work for London Underground, and take thyroid medication, so don't worry. Mention it to the doctor when you have your medical though, just to cover yourself.

 

[Zoidberg]

I work for London Underground, and take thyroid medication, so don't worry. Mention it to the doctor when you have your medical though, just to cover yourself.

"Just to cover yourself" seems a strange phrase to use.

Surely it is an obligation to declare medication being taken - to cover the safety of everyone potentially in the line of fire.

 

[BestWestern]

"Just to cover yourself" seems a strange phrase to use.

Surely it is an obligation to declare medication being taken - to cover the safety of everyone potentially in the line of fire.

I think what he means is 'it isn't a problem but play by the rules just in case it comes to light later that you didn't declare it'.

Seems reasonable enough.

 

[aquabel]

I work for London Underground, and take thyroid medication, so don't worry. Mention it to the doctor when you have your medical though, just to cover yourself.

Are you working there like a driver or at another position?

So propably medication for thyroid is ok, but what about high blood preasure medication? Can someone else confirm that this is allowed aslo?

And please notice that Iam asking for entry screning, not for regular every year.Because in my country is entry screening more strictly then regular.

 

[Tubeboy]

Yes, BestWestern, that's what I meant. Aquabel, what blood pressure medication are you taking? I can check the list when I go to work tonight. But as I said tell the doctor when you have your medical.

 

[aquabel]

Yes, BestWestern, that's what I meant. Aquabel, what blood pressure medication are you taking? I can check the list when I go to work tonight. But as I said tell the doctor when you have your medical.

Hi you are probably having no medication with name Tolura/Tezeo in UK. But the thing doing the cure in this drugs medication is "telmisartan" - this is international name for the active substance.

 

[me123]

Telmisartan isn't widely prescribed in this country, but similar medications are (candesartan, losartan etc.). This is a class of drugs called Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, which work in similar ways to more commonly prescribed ACE-inhibitors.

I'm no driver, but I can imagine thyroxine or A2RBs would cause any problems. I can imagine that both medications will be relatively commonly prescribed to train drivers (as they are in the wider community), and I can't imagine either having side effects that would cause concern to a ToC.

 

[aquabel]

Telmisartan isn't widely prescribed in this country, but similar medications are (candesartan, losartan etc.). This is a class of drugs called Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, which work in similar ways to more commonly prescribed ACE-inhibitors.

I'm no driver, but I can imagine thyroxine or A2RBs would cause any problems. I can imagine that both medications will be relatively commonly prescribed to train drivers (as they are in the wider community), and I can't imagine either having side effects that would cause concern to a ToC.

Yes, totaly agree, this is Angiotensin II receptor antagonists! So maybe I can ask my doctor to change my medication to candesartano or losartan if it is possible, to not confuse the doctors in UK.

 

[me123]

No need to change - the drug is licensed in the UK and is available. Whilst it's not usually the first choice, I'm sure the doctor at the medical screening will know what it is.

 

[aquabel]

No need to change - the drug is licensed in the UK and is available. Whilst it's not usually the first choice, I'm sure the doctor at the medical screening will know what it is.

Ok thank you for your information. I must say that there is a lot of willing people. Nobody having fun of my English and everybody trying to help. Completely other mentality that in my country!

Just one more question. What about high cholesterol or about medication against it? I´m not dealing with high cholesterol at present time. I had it just one time 6 year ago when I was smoking 25 cigarets in one day, then I stopped smoking and have no high cholesterol past it. But as is beeing normaly in fighting with smooking, I´m statred to smoke again 6 month ago (just 5 -10 ciggarets per day). I know that the easyest way is to stop it again, but maybe somebody of you know, that is not so simple like writing this. I prefer this option and try it again, but in case that I will have no succes there is two questions.

1) If my cholesterol will be high again and they give me a medication which make it normal again, is it problem to taking medication against high cholesterol and be a train driver?

2) If my cholesterol will be normal at my doctor screenig but during the screening at rail company will be high (I can not get screening here every week), so this is probably problem. Or not?

And I know that I am idiot because I started again, but addiction can not be cured, you just can be suffering abstinent. ((((((((((
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I am very curious boy For the station staff - like customer service assistent at platform is there exactly the same medical screening like for drivers or some other not so strictly?

 

[beavercreek]

I'm a driver and have been taking Four lots of blood pressure tablets since the age of 22.Ive had no side effects and I don't think they even work for myself.
My readings are normally 135/85 or a bit higher if I can't park there.

 

[aquabel]

I'm a driver and have been taking Four lots of blood pressure tablets since the age of 22.Ive had no side effects and I don't think they even work for myself.
My readings are normally 135/85 or a bit higher if I can't park there.

Your english sence of humor I like it so much. And also thanks for the information!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Please can somebody answer my last two question about cholesterol and screning for station stuff to close this topic? Thank you so much.

 

[Boiliee]

Its only the TOCs that know what medications are not allowed I would say that any tablet or other medication that states can cause drowsiness will not be allowed ask you GP or pharmacist and they will be able to make an educated guess

 

[The Lad]

Anti Cholesterol medications shouldn't create problems either.

But hey I'm not qualified to offer such an opinion any more!

 

[Boiliee]

If your medication states do not operate machinery or may cause drowsiness pretty safe to say that you will not be able to drive trains

 

[aquabel]

It is starting to be interesting.

Somebody wrote here that Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (Telmisartan, Candesartan, Losartan) is not a problem to drive a train.

But in patient information leaflet of my medication is this:

"There is no information of the effect on the ability to drive or operate machinery. Some people in the treatment of high blood pressure can feel dizzy or tired. If you feel dizzy or tired, do not drive or operate machinery."

It sounds funny, because there is no effect to ability, but some people can feel tired


And another fun from patient information leaflet (medication on the cholesterol)

"This medicine usually do not affects your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, do not drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive. Do not operate any machinery if this medicine affects your ability to use them."

And after few line under it (in the list of side effect) is that very rare side effect (1 from 1000 persons) is getting tired. So I´m completely confuse.

I just took a look at lots of patient information leaflets of medication for varied health problems and in every second I found something about getting tired. Sometimes information that this medication not make you tired, but it yes, please not drive or information that this is just very rare side effect (1 from 1000). It is seems like the producers of medication want to cover yourself.

 

[Clip]

Basically all of the relevant information that you have been given stands. If you get a job as a driver and you feel tired or affected by your medication then you would have to declare as unfit for work to your line manager.

To not do so could have grave consequences.

 

[aquabel]

Ok, thank you all. So probably we can end this topic in result that Telmisartan (hight blood presure), Levotyroxin (thyroid), and Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin (cholesterol) is not a problem for driving a train in UK, if I will declare it during medical screening and confirm that there are no side effects for me.

I know that I asked a lot of clarifying questions, but this sounds for me like a dream, but is also little strange for me.

In my country if rail doctors see me with glasses, they will send me home immediately. And if I tell them that I´m taking two (or three) prescript medication, they will tell me that I must look for place in the cemetery and not for work as a driver.

So probably I’m going to improve my English and then try to take the job!

Thank you all once again.