A friend of mine approached me the other day and wanted to know something that had no answer for. His younger brother apparently wants to become an EMT. The older brother was telling me (something he shouldn't have by the way) that his brother is a manic depressive and has to take certain medication. Some of these medications apparently can have a seditive type effect while taking them. Anyways, the older brother asked me if his brother would be allowed to get a job under these circumstances. Anyone know? I sure don't.
Question I don't have the answer to
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medic417
The Truth Provider
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Contact your state EMS department to get the answer.
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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Why is his telling you that a problem? He's not required to keep that sort of thing a secret. For example: my brother's a bedwetter. I didn't come across that bit of information in the course of my duties so I'm not legally bound not to repeat it. Hell, if I wanted to spend the cash, I could put it up on a billboard along the interstate.
They don't normally use Zoloft for bipolar depression.
He probably could get his certification, but the effects of the medication and his disease process would probably make it hard for him to hold a position for very long. Encourage him to find other employment.
You just described about half the members of this forum. :lol:
LucidResq
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I was misdiagnosed with first major depression, and then bipolar disorder in high school (I really just have ADHD - funny how not being able to do well in school or interact effectively also makes you sad).
I can tell you that standard anti-depression meds like Zoloft, usually are not concerning. I know several people who have been paramedics or in the health care field for years who take them, and I doubt they have any significant impact on their ability to effectively provide care.
I don't believe anti-depressants are typically used for manic depression though.... mood stabilizers are. I was put on an anti-psychotic, and from personal experience I can tell you there's no way I would want to be driving or providing care while on that drug (Quetiapine). That might just be me though... and I didn't even have the disorder they were trying to treat.
Interesting also, that years after they got my diagnosis right, I was given the same drug, in a LOWER dose, as a sleep aid. Pharmacology is weird.
It's really hard to say without knowing the kid or what drugs he's on. The other thing is, some people with severe manic depression that isn't well-controlled may not be the best caregivers... they can be very impulsive and make poor decisions while in manic episodes.
Suggesting that the brother have an honest discussion with his psychiatrist might be a start. Hopefully he is responsible enough to be concerned about whether or not he should get in to this field rather than just whether or not he can get away with it. I know that the Board of Nursing sends nurses and CNAs that they have learned have some kind of mental illness to an independent psychiatrist to evaluate whether or not they are able to work in such positions. Those who are deemed unfit can lose their certification or license. I don't know how they get to the point of sending someone to a shrink for evaluation in the first place, and I doubt that most EMS certifying bodies do this, but interesting nonetheless.
I can tell you that standard anti-depression meds like Zoloft, usually are not concerning. I know several people who have been paramedics or in the health care field for years who take them, and I doubt they have any significant impact on their ability to effectively provide care.
I don't believe anti-depressants are typically used for manic depression though.... mood stabilizers are. I was put on an anti-psychotic, and from personal experience I can tell you there's no way I would want to be driving or providing care while on that drug (Quetiapine). That might just be me though... and I didn't even have the disorder they were trying to treat.
Interesting also, that years after they got my diagnosis right, I was given the same drug, in a LOWER dose, as a sleep aid. Pharmacology is weird.
It's really hard to say without knowing the kid or what drugs he's on. The other thing is, some people with severe manic depression that isn't well-controlled may not be the best caregivers... they can be very impulsive and make poor decisions while in manic episodes.
Suggesting that the brother have an honest discussion with his psychiatrist might be a start. Hopefully he is responsible enough to be concerned about whether or not he should get in to this field rather than just whether or not he can get away with it. I know that the Board of Nursing sends nurses and CNAs that they have learned have some kind of mental illness to an independent psychiatrist to evaluate whether or not they are able to work in such positions. Those who are deemed unfit can lose their certification or license. I don't know how they get to the point of sending someone to a shrink for evaluation in the first place, and I doubt that most EMS certifying bodies do this, but interesting nonetheless.
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mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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Hard to pass a urine test maybe...
EMT is a skill set not a lifestyle, if you are smart. He might get to be an EMT then fall victim to something, but it's his right to give it a try.
Lying on an application would be a big no-no, though, and they all ask about mental illnesses.
Didn't stop me!B)
EMT is a skill set not a lifestyle, if you are smart. He might get to be an EMT then fall victim to something, but it's his right to give it a try.
Lying on an application would be a big no-no, though, and they all ask about mental illnesses.
Didn't stop me!B)
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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If it's prescribed, it's not listed as a "fail". Besides, most anti-psychotics and other psychiatric medications (except Ritalin, barbiturates and benzos) do not light up your standard urine drug screen.
mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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Ah, true about the urine.
Considering the abuse of Rx's (notably Seroquel, Ambien, gabapentin, etc.), urine testing is sort of second-chair nowadays. Voice stress analysis by a professinal, though.....much better.
Still, if he wants to pay the money understandiong that he may either be discriminated against (meets the legal if not the pragmatic definition) or someday find himself missing work or getting in over his head, sure.
A local FD station has a young man who has hung around, is a fire buff, but had pronounced traumatic brain damage. They got him a badge and a T shirt printed "XZY FD Fire Buff", he can wear the bogus but pretty good looking badge as long as he wears the shirt to trainnig events etc. Makes his day/month, he stays out of the way with his buddies
Considering the abuse of Rx's (notably Seroquel, Ambien, gabapentin, etc.), urine testing is sort of second-chair nowadays. Voice stress analysis by a professinal, though.....much better.
Still, if he wants to pay the money understandiong that he may either be discriminated against (meets the legal if not the pragmatic definition) or someday find himself missing work or getting in over his head, sure.
A local FD station has a young man who has hung around, is a fire buff, but had pronounced traumatic brain damage. They got him a badge and a T shirt printed "XZY FD Fire Buff", he can wear the bogus but pretty good looking badge as long as he wears the shirt to trainnig events etc. Makes his day/month, he stays out of the way with his buddies
usafmedic45
Forum Deputy Chief
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We had a retarded kid (actually he was older than I was, but had the mental capacity of an eight- or nine-year old) that we taught the basic EMT curriculum as a way of keeping him occupied when he wanted to hang around the ambulance station. Sadly he seemed to have more grasp of the subject than many students on this forum, at least when it came to the "testing". He passed the practice exam we gave him. Granted, someone had to read the test to him, but he still could answer correctly. If it wouldn't be rude to do so, I would love to bring this fact up when people start crapping themselves over their impending NREMT exams.
The funny thing is that he won an award for saving the life of a guy at a fast food restaurant after the guy suffered a cardiac arrest. The retarded kid grabbed the defib off the wall and had a shock delivered less than a minute after the guy collapsed. It's amazing and one of my proudest moments, since it not only saved a life but also proved a long held belief that even a retarded person can pass EMT-B training.
mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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So, OP, there's hope for your friend's brother.
USAF, as I think daily and say often, this is not rocket science. Mostly you learn to act, not stare, and what not to do with all the toys they give you.
But don't tell the laypeople, it scares them.
USAF, as I think daily and say often, this is not rocket science. Mostly you learn to act, not stare, and what not to do with all the toys they give you.
But don't tell the laypeople, it scares them.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
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Just from talk around the station I know that a large number of my co-workers are on some sort of psychiatric medication. I don't mean gossip talk, I mean people talking about the meds they themselves are on.
I know we also have an employee who has been admitted to the hospital involuntary for psychiatric issues. He is stable now and working in the field and he will talk about it if you ask him. He is allowed to work because he was cleared by his doc, and he has a contract with our employer about being compliant with his treatment.
However, there are states that technically won't even allow you to have a cert if you are receiving or have ever received psychiatric treatment. Blanket bans like that are stupid in my opinion. I know in one particular state their wording is so generalized that someone who received a couple sessions of grief counseling after a death in the family could have their cert revoked.
I know we also have an employee who has been admitted to the hospital involuntary for psychiatric issues. He is stable now and working in the field and he will talk about it if you ask him. He is allowed to work because he was cleared by his doc, and he has a contract with our employer about being compliant with his treatment.
However, there are states that technically won't even allow you to have a cert if you are receiving or have ever received psychiatric treatment. Blanket bans like that are stupid in my opinion. I know in one particular state their wording is so generalized that someone who received a couple sessions of grief counseling after a death in the family could have their cert revoked.