Worried About DOT Physical

Hi,

I am a IT professional of 20 years. Recently went through a stressful time at work and and asked for a prescription and was given a script for Lexapro. I have never had a history of anything like this, it really was just a bad situation at work. I never took it, quit my job and feel totally fine now. Now I would love to take a few years off of my career and drive. Here is my concern, would this prescription cause me to fail? If so, how long would it be before I could retake the test?

If you never took it... You never took it. Prime is concerned about psychotropic drugs in the last 3 years. Many are on their banned list and every company will have a different list.

If I remember correctly the questions is "medication you have taken"

However.... I assume You were given a diagnosis also. That diagnosis is on record. Lie about it and you are lying on a federal form. Have an accident and the company is liable for putting a depressed person behind the wheel.

One thing to consider... And I am not being judgemental... If you couldn't handle the stress in a job you knew how to do... Would you be able to handle the stress of one you dont

If stress is an issue for you. You do not want to jeopardize your health by making it worse.

would this prescription cause me to fail?

I never took it,

A drug never taken never shows up on a drug screening test. Also, don't confuse a D.O.T. physical with an employment drug test. The D.O.T. physical itself does not include drug testing. You'll pee in a cup, but it's sugars in your urine they are testing for. We don't have a secret spy service digging up every prescription ever written to you.

Relax.

would this prescription cause me to fail? If so, how long would it be before I could retake the test?

Look, if you're being honest, you have zero concerns. But just for grins...

If you fail a D.O.T. drug test, you're driving career is D.O.A. There's no time limit where they say, "Okay sonny, go home and clean up, come back in 90 days and try again." That doesn't happen. Failed drug tests are almost impossible to overcome. They've put procedures in place, but those procedures have no leverage forcing employers to respond positively to those who've jumped through the hoops.

Bottom line... Don't fall a D.O.T. drug test. They are really easy to pass, and you are in total control of the results.

You had a stressful time at work, and now you're thinking about driving a CMV? You may want to think about your idea of trucking being a non-stressful occupation.

HINT---It is.

I don't plan to lie on any forms or anything. I don't believe this was a true diagnosis. It was a short, rough patch and nothing systemic. I thought it might be okay to get a little help, but did not need it and I am fine now. What I plan to do is go back to my doctor, explain that I didn't need it and I am fine. There is the depression/anxiety "Have you ever had" question on the form. Untreated would be just as bad and I would assume that I couldn't actually say no to it.

Would you agree that a little patience and working with my doctor to see this through to a better prognosis/explanation that can be used on the form is a good approach. Assuming this does go well, would it ultimately be disqualifying to the exam or eventual employer?

Actually, the question is to me, "have you ever..?". In my opinion, no, I have not. Just because a doctor might have said so doesn't mean I agree with it. Is that actually even lying on the form?

I'm a veteran who suffers from depression. I just answered truthfully about the diagnosis and the Prozac I take. It wasn't a problem.