Will a doctor prescribe diazepam for a long haul flight?

[LudlowStreet]

Not scared for flying or anything. Just have a long overnight flight, arrives at destination in the morning, and I'm sat in economy. If I take some diazepam I should be able to sleep, if I don't, I won't.

I'm with you on this. A couple of pills doesn't make you addicted for crying out loud.

Yep, I do, it allows you to doze at least and doesn’t knock you out.
I travel between Uk and nz yearly and it is a special sort of hell.
i had some zopiclone on my last flight and shared it with the 2 doctors beside me.

Deliberately don’t sleep the night before.
Worked for me many times.

I was about to fly long-haul about 25 years ago, and mentioned to my GP how much I hate flying, and was there anything she could recommend. Much to my surprise, she fossicked about in her handbag and handed me a couple of valium from her own stash.

I got diazepam for a 10 hour flight, I'm not afraid of flying but I suffer with mental health issues including crippling anxiety and I also struggle with claustrophobia. I was given only a couple of tablets at a low dosage to be used solely in case it felt like an emergency. I think if you're just looking for a decent kip then they'll say no.

I have done similar journeys and I have never slept a second on a plane - I just can't! But have rest, close your eyes and relax and it still counts for something even if you don't actually sleep.

I think they don't do it for actual flights anymore due to the risk of an event in midair. Pilots have generally gotten more hardline on allowing drunk people on planes too (according to a pilot I know, as they should really, as its usually the female cabin crew who end up babysitting). I do longhaul overnights for work occasionally in economy and you might be surprised, you probably will sleep. I'm a swimmer so I try to do a distance swim the day before, do something that really tires you physically, bring a blanket, reserve a window seat so you can lean against it, and I expect you will sleep more than you think. I'm doing the Heathrow to Cape Town overnight soon, I considered a Nytol but they make me feel sick so probably won't.

This thread is a bit bonkers.

I get it prescribed for flying by my GP (private). It's a low dose, I'm fully responsive and able to converse, follow directions and think. It doesn't knock me out, so I don't know how much of a sleep aid it is, but I generally doze on and off. I still get up, walk around, go to the loo, drink water. I don't have any alcohol at all on top of it. I have half a tablet when boarding the plane and the remainder about halfway through if it's a long flight.

I've never taken a sleeping tablet, but I would think it would potentially be more of a liability in an emergency? I also can't tolerate Nytol or the antihistamines that cause drowsiness as I feel like I'm hungover for about 2 days. No issues with Diazepam.

An aspirin is not appropriate DVT prevention...

Bonkers or not at least some of the NHS practice sites refer to advice?instructions? from NICE and the British National Formulary (BNF) and are claiming that they or their GPs could be at legal jeopardy if they prescribed diazepam simply to allow somebody to get on and/or get through a flight….

I can’t access NICE or the BNF websites to see what they think the problem is..but it seems to be enough of an issue for many NHS GPs no longer being willing to prescribe.

Bonkers with people having conniptions that it will absolutely render OP senseless in case of an emergency or pearl clutching that it's so highly addictive that usage, maybe 2 times a year (how often do most people fly very long haul?) will result in lifelong dependency.

If you're going to be concerned about responsiveness in an emergency, I'd be more concerned about sleeping tablets, which many in this thread have advocated for instead. As I've said, I've never taken one, but I have been in the position of having to try to wake someone who had been prescribed Zolpidem after an illness and it wasn't pretty.

GPs are fully capable of making decisions regarding their own legal jeopardy.

GPs are fully capable of making decisions regarding their own legal jeopardy.

I’m sure they are but nevertheless a quick search will show multiple NHS run practices publishing an almost identical document, pretty much a C&P from somewhere, giving reasons why their GPs’ will no longer prescribe diazepam for flying…usual reasons given are upthread but also quite a few do mention legal risks and jeopardy if ignoring NICE/BNF guidelines.

Bonkers or not somebody somewhere in the UK medical hierarchy seems to have taken a fairly rigid position on this.

Right, but that's a conversation for the OP to have with her GP, either NHS or private. Many GPs make the decision to prescribe various things not necessarily within those guidelines.

The state of the pearl clutching about this is over the top - have a conversation with a GP and you will have your answer. Might be yes, might be no. But the people basically shaming the OP and huffing away over the question are being ridiculous.

Fair point, Tks.

I get it prescribed for flying by my GP (private). It's a low dose, I'm fully responsive and able to converse, follow directions and think. It doesn't knock me out, so I don't know how much of a sleep aid it is, but I generally doze on and off. I still get up, walk around, go to the loo, drink water.

exactly. Diazepam isn’t a sleep aid so probably isn’t actually what op is looking for.

I don't have any alcohol at all on top of it. I have half a tablet when boarding the plane and the remainder about halfway through if it's a long flight.

i drink a shit loads whilst taking it as hate flying so much - and have never slept on a plane bar about 20 mins here or there. Never can!

Anyone who experiences real, hideous anxiety will know thst diazepam is a massive help. Without a prescription, I will not be able to travel. The suggestion that taking OTC medication comes close, is just ridiculous. I have tried to obtain a private prescription without any success.

Same for me with Nytol.
It gave me severe panic attacks all night.
I wouldn't want to be knocked out during a flight anyway I just want to ease the anxiety/claustrophobia.

Nytol etc dont compare to valium which simply makes you feel calm and relaxed.