Sleep
Zaleplon and your FAA medical
Prescription sleep aid
Other names: Sonata
FAA guidance
Do not fly while taking it.
Wait
12 hours
after the last dose
The FAA sets a 12-hour minimum wait after zaleplon before pilot duties.
Track your medicationsMore detail: zaleplonThe rest of Crosscheck's reading, in plain wordsOpen
It says occasional or limited use of sleep aids, such as for circadian rhythm disruption in commercial air operations, is allowable for pilots, and daily or nightly use of sleep aids is not allowed regardless of the underlying cause or reason.
- 12 hours after the last dose: no flying
FAA rule for sleep medication: The FAA puts all currently available sleep aids on its Do Not Fly list, prescription and over-the-counter alike, and if the pilot uses one routinely, the FAA's table says the examiner should defer. Its sleep aids page says occasional or limited use of sleep aids, such as for circadian rhythm disruption in commercial air operations, is allowable for pilots, and daily or nightly use of sleep aids is not allowed regardless of the underlying cause or reason. It also says medical conditions that chronically interfere with sleep are disqualifying regardless of whether a sleep aid is used or not. FAA, DO NOT ISSUE – DO NOT FLY Medications and general No Fly wait times
Show the FAA's words: zaleplonThe official FAA wording: one passage, each with its document and dateOpen
Required minimum waiting time after last dose before resuming pilot duties
Because of the potential for impairment, we require a minimum wait time between the last dose of a sleep aid and performing pilot duties.
The minimum required wait time after the last dose of a sleep aid is 5-times the maximum elimination half life.
Sonata, zaleplon, 12 hours.
Occasional or limited use of sleep aids, such as for circadian rhythm disruption in commercial air operations, is allowable for pilots. Daily/nightly use of sleep aids is not allowed regardless of the underlying cause or reason.