You searched for
Phenylbutazone
SACAA Part 67 assessment
Not acceptable / incompatible with flying duties
Active ingredient(s)
Phenylbutazone
NSAID — unacceptable
Guidance notes
Unacceptable for aviation duty because of the risk of bone marrow suppression and agranulocytosis. Paracetamol or an acceptable NSAID should be used instead.
Category rules that also apply
NSAID half-life rule
For NSAIDs, allow a minimum of five half-lives of the specific agent after the last dose before flying if any side effect occurred. Short half-life NSAIDs (ibuprofen ≈2 h, diclofenac ≈2 h) clear within a duty period, while long half-life agents (piroxicam ≈50 h, meloxicam ≈20 h, naproxen ≈14 h) can keep you grounded for days. Choose the shortest-acting agent that controls the pain.
Known SA brand names
Our DAME partners
Dr Berlize du Plessis
Senior DAME · MS213
Kenridge, Cape Town
Dr Brandon Head
Senior DAME · MS229
Sunninghill, Sandton
Dr Ernest Schutz
Senior DAME · MS028
Germiston
Dr Mariska van Tonder
Senior DAME · MS222
Somerset West
Dr Richard Albrecht
Senior DAME · MS074
Strubensvalley, Roodepoort
Dr. Schalk Reyneke
Senior DAME · MS123
Honeydew, Roodepoort
Possible acceptable alternatives (same therapeutic group)
- Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)Panado, Panamor, DolorolAcceptable
- IbuprofenBrufen, Nurofen, IbumaxAcceptable
Alternatives are informational only. The underlying medical condition must also be assessed by a DAME — a condition can ground you even when the medicine is acceptable.