Flying / lorazepam / DCs

[Lucycantdance]

I am flying long haul with my two DCs (11 and 8) soon. I am scared of turbulence. I have lorazepam - but I am scared to take it in case I get too out of it. But then I am scared if I don't then I will freak out my DCs who love flying.

Help? Any experience with this? Usually DH is with us although I have never taken it before. However last time I had a bad experience with turbulence and it really shook me up. Will it even calm my fears?

I wouldn’t take it if you are in sole charge of your kids

Agree

Lorazepam Is a powerful sedative and you need to stay awake for the children

I have taken lorazepam for flying and me personally, I would have been fine for looking after an 8 and 11 year old. A baby or toddler would have been a different situation.

But I think one of the challenges, if it’s turbulence that gives you anxiety, is that you don’t know when the turbulence is coming. And by the time you get your pills out and get a drink to take them, it’s going to be over anyway. My fear was related to take off. Once I was up in the air, I was fine, so it was a bit different.

One thing you might seriously consider doing one of the fear of flying courses. They are very effective. If not that, consider doing a short course of hypnotherapy, which is usually a component of the fear of flying courses, but you can do it at home if you don’t want to go to an actual course.

I wouldn’t take lorazepam. Who prescribed it? It’s very strong for anxiety.

I take 2 mg diazepam with 20 mg propanolol which takes the edge off enough so that I don’t panic but I can still function. Lorazepam is stronger though I believe, maybe have a trial run one day before you fly to see what dose you can get away with before you are off your face. I need to have it with a light meal though, once I took it on an empty stomach and was quite out of it.

I was given Lorranzipam but didn't end up taking it but having it there reassured me.
I've never tried it but have had diazpam.
What's the difference

I have taken lorazepam at various intervals on and off over the past 20 years in short bursts. At no point has it impaired my functioning to the degree where I couldn’t safely and actively care for my children. I have navigated all kinds of different social and professional settings after having taken it…

Lorazepam doesn’t put you to sleep?

I take the point about not knowing when turbulence is gong to arrive. Gargh - really don't know what to do. I don't drink either so it's not like I can have a stiff brandy

Lorazepam takes me right out of it (which is why it's so good) so I wouldn't take it in sole care of children.

Same here but I wouldn't choose to take a new sedative for the first time flying in sole charge of kids because you don't know how it will affect you. My DH for example is a big bloke who gets knocked out at the slightest sedative type meds, whereas I have a much higher general tolerance to them.