Posted by sapphirerose on May 5, 2004, at 17:35:46
In reply to US Military Service Meds - Need advice guys!, posted by mattdds on May 5, 2004, at 1:47:32
Hi Matt,
My husband is an active duty LT in the Navy. He has been on various different meds for depression and anxiety over the past 8 years or so. Right now he takes Luvox and Trazadone. He sees a military psychiatrist every couple of months and she renews the prescriptions. I think you should tell them the truth about the drugs you are on. I don't think it will effect your career. My husband had never been considered "unfit for duty" because he is on psychiatric meds. I've known other officers who were taking drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist, and it didn't effect their careers either. I think the only thing that could hurt your "fitness" for duty would be NOT telling them. You could get in serious trouble for that. Hope this helps..
> Hey all,
>
> I've been MIA for a while. Anyone here remember me?
>
> I have a question for anyone who has done military service.
>
> I'm graduating from dental school in exactly one week, and have to report to officer training later this summer, and then in fall for an overseas assignment (not Iraq).
>
> Until now, I've been technically in the "reserve" status, as I was on the military scholarship for health professionals. Now, I'm going on active duty as a captain, and they will want an updated medical status, and physical.
>
> At the time I was comissioned, and at the time of my physical for accession, I had not been diagnosed with panic disorder, so I did not report it. I did tell them that I had a bout of depression (which in retrospect, was misdiagnosed - it really was panic and anxiety) and took Prozac years back (all true, at the time). The problem is that since then, I *have* been diagnosed, and my psychiatrist uses DSM 200.1 as the diagnosis code for my meds and insurance. So, it's officially documented in my medical history.
>
> Now obviously, lying is not an option here. But, I am worried about being considered "fit for duty". I really feel that I am fit for it, physically and mentally, it's just that meds have really helped stabilize my conditions (panic, generalized anxiety). I feel 100% fit for service. I am in *no way* trying to dodge my duty obligation, and actually really want to serve. The military paid for all my dental training, I fully intend to pay it back, so long as they will let me, and if that doesn't mean ripping me off meds.
>
> So I'm in a bind.
>
> Do I just go to the physical and straight up tell them everything? Do I have to offer up all the details in terms of severity, or can I just say that I was diagnosed with "anxiety" and need medication.
>
> Are they OK with servicemen being on meds? Or is this a condition that inherently makes me "unit for duty"?
>
> Anybody have any answers? I've scoured the internet, and I don't want to contact them until I get all the information I can on this. I do plan on telling them about it, but what will this mean?
>
> Any experts here? Any help, ideas, or especially first hand experiences would be greatly appreciated!
>
> mattdds
>
>
poster:sapphirerose
thread:343508
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040505/msgs/343762.html