Question
DOES BEING BI-POLAR KEEP YOU FROM PASSING THE DOT PHYSICAL AND IS WELLBUTRON AND DEPAKOTE PROHIBITED.
Answer
Please, I do not wish to infer that YOU have this diagnosis or are on these meds when i use the term"you" in the following information. I use that term for a convenent reference.(Mainly an attempt to bring it up for review as no one has attempted to answer.)
( Don't you just love it when no-one whose trained, or licensed steps up to the plate to answr these questions......and you need a job ......and don't know how things may affect you )
So [from someone not 'trained' or 'licensed' but because its been a hobby of mine to delve in health and medical knowledge]
here goes.....as far as I can tell you .......
................FRANKLY I DONT KNOW
Personally I would think stability on meds and the honest evaluation of the doctor should take dominance over the hiring decisions.....and really this is your concern......You may pass the DOT physical but some safety director or risk insurance advises against hire on certain application evedence, or company doctor fails you when they do you physical because of these revelations.
BIPOLAR DISORDER can be stablized for years and years of normal functioning with a good collaboration and trust between patient and doctor over treatment......I have several years knowledge of personal friends with this diagnosis who have remained stable. Medication does help to stabilize this disorder....Due to side effects, meds may require adjustments or changes sometimes:
Depakote or Valproic acid
.....May or may not be of concern..... IT Is not on 'drug restrict list' like narcotics, ......but may have side effects which your doctor and pharmicist should know and discuss with you.....( it may effect vision, may have serious effects on the liver, pancreas, other body organs /system....but RARE, and prompt notifiing your doctor of unusual symptoms such as vomiting, pain in the abdominal area, unexplained fatigue, facial swelling etc....may get his prompt attention to ward off problems....) Regular blood draws are typical when bringing it to therapeutic level and periodic to monitor the level of drug and the function of systems such as the liver...... May interact with other drugs including over the counter....so get a list from doc or pharmacist so you can avoid these....
.....Wellbutrin used to treat depression (and a depressed smoker may find it easier to quit smoking after about 2-4 weeks of therapy on this medication as it seems to interfere in some way with the satisfaction from the cigarette)
.......Generally well tolerated, but may cause seizures in persons with predisposition to seizures (as it seems to lower the threashold.), excess caffeine or alcohol consumption (if not a 'regular imbiber) may incline one to seizures..... If such should ever occur notify doctor immediately and stop drug.
May effect changes in the liver, so routine monitoring will probably be done with blood labs. this drug may also affect vsion in some people (but actually there are many drugs that have this as 'side effect' even over the counter =OTC drugs)
In my opinion Your medically care and stablitly are of prime concern between your doctor and yourself and the right to release any information should be totally within the control of your discretion.......However, disclosure to employers does include their awareness of any risk and alert them to be more sensitive to a re-evaluation if an event occurs.......You should talk to your doctor about this first...and maybe others who share your diagnosis.....even a legal advisor perhaps before deciding how much to disclose..
My physcian said to me, 'if it is something not active now, don't check it' In reference to the questions on the DOT form. (To show how 'minor these things can be, My questions involved havin 'osteo-arthritis diagnosed in the early 80's in my knees...when they swelled and stiffened after deep knee excersizes at work during a daily, half day training session over a period of 2 weeks. I don't routinely have to treat knee pain or stiffness......Also for a while it seemed, every year around the start of winter, I would get bronchitis.....and that question is on the form........each question answered positively with a 'yes' requires explaining......doc says 'do you have it now? Well then! I listened and your lungs are clear....so its no problem)
NOW I know your concern because it does ask about depression or anxiety, or other mental disorders........I don't have the answers.....And no one who is in the area of physically examing drivers for DOT physicals, or who hires folks to drive and are aware of positive answers on the DOT physical and to what degree it influences their hiring decisions, will not or can not step up and answer these questions for us...
It seems that this is happening at a time when FMCSA is starting to regulate and identify the certification of physicians to do the DOT physicals......like a GenPractice MD doesn't know his practice of medicine, and the body systems examined and results checked in order for him to sign the questioneer! What BS!Rejoice in the LORD
John Adams, 1799 "the general principles, on which the fathers achieved independence, were the general principals of Christianity."