Help! What over the counter medicine is the closest to taking Valium?!

[otherwayup]

Just that really!
My adult ds has awful anxiety and it's creeping up on her even more now that she's due to fly.
I'm gutted for her, she's had years of therapy is on medication but feels totally defeated by how she's feeling.

I understand that gp's generally don't prescribe diazepam anymore for flight anxiety but is there anything she could take that would make her drowsy/calmer? She won't be alone, so the more sedated she is the better!

L Theanine. Get the Solgar one. You can buy it online.

Beta blocker takes the edge off for me. They'll give her those.

Sleeping tablet - Nytol or Sominex

Would a private prescription be given for benzos? If so, it might be worth it for her.

Otherwise Nytol, or one of those sleepy anti histamines maybe.

Diphenhydramine (brand name Nytol, avoid the herbal stuff in this situation you want the good stuff from over the counter) or promethazine (brand name Phenergan).

I would recommend that she actually visit her GP and see what they advise . I remember a friend being prescribed beta blocker for a travel anxiety similar to my flight anxiety which I've been prescribed diazepam for, I didn't quite understand the GP's explanation of the difference between the two drugs - but if I ever am refused the diazepam then I will be asking for beta blocker .

Dramamine or Stugeron travel sickness tablets.

I've used them for seasickness and they turn me into a cheerful zombie who doesn't give a dam that the world is going up-and-down. OTOH I can't work out how to tie my own shoelaces or turn my jumper right way out to put it on.

IIRC Stugeron is faster-acting and shorter-acting than Dramamine. Both work best when taken at least an hour before you want to feel the effect.

I find Stugeron constipating. I don't remember whether Dramamine has that effect.

Thank you, I've shown this to dd and she feels she could cope with nytol (she has health anxiety so is very particular about she will take)

Silly question but when should she take it? And will she be coherent etc and able to board the plane?

I always take Xanax when flying (absolute godsend), when already seated on the plane. Would suggest the same for Nytol as most oral medications take 10-15mins to kick in. You don't want to take it too early or the effect will wear off before the plane is in the air and you don't want to be in zombie mode for unforeseen delays or gate changes. Depending on flight, I sometimes wait until the plane starts pulling out of the gate before taking meds. Eg Heathrow is so busy that it can easily take 1hr between entering the plane to when it actually takes off.