Questions About Prescription Medication?

Hi guys, I am new here. I have been reading a lot of info here on the boards, and I thought I was on the right track, but I may have hit a dead end.

My understanding about restrictions on prescription medications, was that it varied based on what company a driver works for. So my understanding was that I should just ask the company I am considering going to school with.

So after talking to a recruiter, he gives me an 800# and tells me that my questions about prescription medications need to be made directly to the company. I call the 800# and get transferred to HR.

I leave a message with my cell#, but I don't disclose the nature of the call in my message.

It's been 2 days, and HR hasn't returned my call, so my application for school is on hold.

Do you guys have any thoughts on how long I should wait to hear back from them? I am concerned about signing paperwork and obligating myself, before I get a straight answer on this issue. If I were to find out that the company preferred that I not use a particular medication, I could go back to my doctor before my physical and ask for an alternative medication if need be. I am just not sure the best way to handle this at this point. Any advice would be appreciated, as this is really the only issue that concerns me in making it thru the gauntlet and getting my CDL since I don't have any negative issues in any other areas of my driving or a criminal record.

I just finished my first week of school. My understanding is that you will need a paper from your doctor stating that the use of the drug will not adversely effect your driving. We had a classmate with the same issue. He provided documentation and was okay. Definately check with the school. I'm sure there are others here who can help more.

Thunder, thanks so much for the feedback. I have already had a conversation with my doctor about this issue, and he told me he has several patients who are drivers with CDL's but I didn't think to ask him about a letter. I had been written a similar letter for my previous job back in 2010, but that wasn't a driving job. I will call my doctors office on Monday and check on getting one of those type letters for a OTR job.

Yeah, Rolling Thunder is right. You'll need approval from your doctor. If he already has patients who are CDL drivers using that prescription then you should have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Brett, thanks so much for your input. Now I feel a lot better about having a game plan on this. I will just go ahead and request that letter in 3 weeks when I have my next appointment, so I will already have it in my possession. I had read on another forum that it was best not to disclose things about a drivers medical condition, but I think that could be a big mistake down the road. It's just like the sleep apnea issue, if it's a medical issue, it needs to be addressed correctly, so that everyone involved has their best interests covered.

I will go ahead next week and call the recruiter back. Thanks again for your valuable advice.

You got it right Dutch. Be honest about the scripts and everything else. You already know to do research, you are here asking the questions. That, in its self, is a good start.

Thanks so much for the encouragement Thunder! I have enjoyed reading your posts about your experience in the industry so far.