To take someone else's diazepam?

[chumbler]

So dp is scared of flying. His moher has taken diazepam to help with her anxiety with flying and has offered some him some of her tablets. I think he should get them prescribed by a doc, dp thinks it's no big deal. Wouldn't the Dr do checks on dp to make sure it's Sade for him? Could he get in trouble flying without a prescription? Or am I BU?

[SilverBirchWithout]

Some serious over-reaction here.

I have a small prescription of diazepam now and again from GP to help with my fear of flying, to be fair it enables me to cope with it a bit better; although I still think we are going to crash, I just don't care whether we do . My GP didn't check my health in anyway before prescribing.

My DH has one of my tablets before having a blood test twice a year, he is phobic about blood.

To set your mind at rest, I would check the contra-indications of the drug. If your DH is a sensible person in other ways, and has no major health problems, and not taking any other medication and has not ever had any addictions; I personally think you are being a bit silly and precious. He needs to avoid alcohol when taking.

Just be aware that after taking a tablet you can be pretty useless at helping with organising the process of travelling, so if you need support with DC or negotiating through the airport don't count on your DH to be "totally present". He may also be vague for the next 12 hours or so and must not drive after taking one for the same amount of time.

It does sound like you are pretty anxious about this, it might put your mind at rest if he gets his own prescription, although not absolutely necessary tbh.

[Branleuse]

They dont mix up different bespoke versions of diazepam for different patients, so tbh, if hes had valium before and theres no medical known reason why he shouldnt have it, then I dont see the problem as a one off/occasional thing

[SarahSavesTheDay]

Has anyone ever had their bottles of pills checked by security?

They've got far bigger fish to fry, like preventing dangerous bottles of liquids exceeding 30ml getting on the plane.

[kali110]

I don't live in a cheap area.
I've found it certain doctors who don't want to prescribe and some who realise that you're not going to get addicted on a few and it's ok to prescribe when your patient is in agony!
Some i think really don't like prescribing to young people, i really believe that.
Thankgod i have a sensible doctor!

[Senpai]

I took something in the same family for anxiety. It worked pretty well.

The problem is when you come off it can give you severe anxiety (which is why it's easy to get addicted to avoid the come down) and if he already suffers from it and is coming down mid flight, it's going to be hell for DP if he has a bad come down.

Not to mention, it can react with other medications if he's taking them.

As others have said you can't just take unmarked pills on airlines, they need to be in their prescription bottles. You're not legally allowed to take pills outside prescription bottles anywhere, but airlines have x-ray screening so it could be a problem.

He'd have to take them first before he even entered the airport, and again with a long flight, you risk having the side effects of him coming down right there mid flight making it much worse than if he never took them.

[Devilishpyjamas]

Ds1's psychiatrist did no checks before handing out lorazepam (not even sure he's met him). Does he have access to his full medical history? Not when I'm there....

I personally think it's more usual to hand it out without much thought. I was slightly miffed about the lorazepam not coming with a side effects insert. (I looked it up online).

[nightsky010]

Callmeexhausted
If only all doctors were good at their jobs. I could tell you some howlers!

Kali110
It depends. Some doctors are so fucking tight it's unbelievable. Some hand out meds like candy. There's no consistency. The general pattern I've seen is that in shitty overpopulated areas they are tight and in affluent areas or with private doctors they will hand it out like candy.

[SarahSavesTheDay]

Sarah it's high on impossible to order Valium online

No it's not trust me

[nightsky010]

I doubt the doctor would check if he has no particular medical issues.

I'd not recommend it though - it's illegal for him to possess without a prescription. Class B I think? Though might be C?

If he really insists on doing it, at least make him take it before going through security so he can't be in possession.

Or suggest a small drink eg. 1 pint of beer instead? More effective than a small Diazepam dose anyway IMHO.

[CallMeExhausted]

The short answer is you are not unreasonable (at all) for suggesting he get his own prescription.

The long answer is that diazepam is a relatively inexpensive drug, so if you can afford to fly, you can afford a small number of tablets. It is also a highly controlled drug, so to be found in the possession of it when the prescription is not his own may change the face of your trip entirely (and result in controlled substance possession charges, and potentially conviction).

I have worked both in law enforcement and mental health - while it is more convenient to just take his DM's, it isn't wise.

From a mental health standpoint, fear of flying is just about the most common phobia in existence - there is no shame in asking for something from a doctor to make it safer and more tolerable. His GP will know if there is anything in his medical history that makes diazepam a poor choice (respiratory or cardiac issues, for example) and offer him an alternative. If it is a safe choice, an appropriate dose prescription will be offered in the amount of tablets he requires.

Anot earlier poster mentioned that her GP didn't do any "checks". This is not the case, any prescription is considered carefully against the patient's history, other medications, current complaint etc. Just because the physician does not spell out every step does not mean it is not considered.

From a legal standpoint, the abuse of prescription drugs is becoming a larger and larger problem, and as such, vigilance and prosecution is increasing in accordance.

Do you honestly want "convenience" to run to chance of destroying his future?

Please, have him see his GP - you are absolutely in the right - it isn't worth it...

[kali110]

Where are all these doctors that people are saying for the ops dp to go to??
Took me 6 months of agony till i was given 2mg and a over a week with a blood clot bwfore a locum would give me 5mg!
They don't just hand them out, even if you're clearly suffering.

You can have side effects to herbal remedies, like anything.
If you're taking other medication herbal remedies can interaction with them.

[ravenAK]

But they do sometimes affect people unpredictably.

If the dh in question had taken the same drug before, had run out & was blagging off his mum as the flight was first thing in the morning so no chance to get his own prescription, fair enough.

But I'd want to 'try before you fly' - I went very very odd indeed on gas & air, local anaesthetics at the dentist don't even begin to work on me, & I've had some really peculiar reactions to cannabis in various forms.

Going a bit peculiar on diazepam etc is a documented THING. & not even particularly rare.

OP's dh could have a terrifying flight if he's one of those people who wigs out on it.

Just a silly idea. & I say that as someone who spent much of their youth less pill-averse than Drop Dead Fred.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Sarah it's high on impossible to order Valium online trust me

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Oh for goodness sake ! I always try and cadge Valium off people - no one gives them to me though if it's giving you that much angst don't take them - the docs won't dole it out anyway tbh

[thatsnotmyname24]

The adverse reaction it can cause is bloody awful, I remember having to talk to an on call CPN at 4.30am after I made an attempt to jump from the 4th floor window. At the time it was put down to exhaustion/anxiety and then the next time (IV midazolam this time) I was restrained as was aggressive towards doctors, shouting abuse and trying to get out of bed despite being numb from waist down. Not much fun and it's totally uncontrollable.

I was offered 2mg diazepam for wisdom tooth surgery but GP said to try it at home first, and only under supervision of someone able to get help/phone GP. Needless to say, decided it wasn't worth it.

OP chances are he'd be absolutely fine but I just think it's not worth it, he'd be better off asking GP who most likely won't have a problem prescribing it.

[AHypnotistCollector]

Some of the replies here are hilariously over the top and I've only read the first page.

Turning his mother into a drug dealer..seriously? Aside from the fact that I doubt she is demanding payment from her own son so not sure that counts as drug dealing, Does anyone actually think the police are going to care if someone gives one or two of their tablets to a relative who has a genuine need for said tablets?

I bring Xanax tablets (prescribed to me) when I fly and not once has any airport staff mentioned anything about them. I have got a couple from my sister in the past when I didn't get to the doctor before leaving and would return the favour.

Once the Ops DP tries one (or a half at first) at home before he leaves to make sure he doesn't have an adverse reaction then I don't see the big deal.

[expatinscotland]

I don't, either, Morris. I go to Mexico and C. America and buy a lot of stuff OTC in the pharmacy there. Yes, it's a real pharmacy. A lot of people from the US even take their prescriptions there and have them filled as it is miles cheaper. I can't really be arsed with going to doctors here unless I am raggedly ill.

[MorrisZapp]

I don't get the hoo ha about taking someone else's meds. I've had heaps of tablets, ointments etc over the years and the doc has only ever prescribed to the ailments I describe, there are no background checks.

I get temazepam for flying, it's ace. If I knew it was from a pharmacy ie not fake, I wouldn't care who the script was for.

My oft repeated top tip is to see the oldest doctor in your practice. They're much less squeamish about prescribing benzos.

[LunchpackOfNotreDame]

I don't drink but I do take a fuck ton of prescription painkillers including controlled substances like diazepam (hence I don't drink) yes a small dose taken once is unlikely to get you addicted however if there is an adverse reaction you will want it noting on your medical records so you don't get it prescribed in an emergency

[SarahSavesTheDay]

This is really not a big deal. Get your GP to prescribe some; if this doesn't work, order some online.

[TheoriginalLEM]

A GP will quite happily prescribe you five or six tablets, it takes a while to become addicted and probably 2mg isn't going to have much effect anyway.

[BeanGirls]

Oh my god take the diazapam and chill.

[iPaid]

I missed the post where it said he might end up in front of a firing squad

[expatinscotland]

This thread is hilarious. I see all the 'I drink only a small sherry at Xmas, anything else is an alcoholic' people are here with the 'bacon will kill you, I never eat it,' are about.

[expatinscotland]

Same as Mozzy. I buy stuff abroad, put it in my checked bag. BFD.