Doctor won't give me diazepam ..aibu?

[lucyhar]

I've been getting diazepam off my doctor for around 4 years now for when I have to travel by plane.
I normally get 7 tablets a year.
My doctor has retired now and I'm travelling to Australia in may to see my aunt and uncle.
I've just got out of the doctors (new doc) and he refused any.
Now I understand people get addictive but I get 7 tablets a year!
I have a massive fear of flying,I've tried CBT,hypnotherapy,kalms,I did a fear of flying course and nothing.
Before I was prescribed diazepam I didn't go on holiday for 7 years.
They gave me my life back (without being dramatic)
Aibu to speak to the practice manager?

@teenytinypontypine would you prescribe it to take the night before travel then?
To help calm nerves and help relax them enough to get a good nights sleep.

@lucyhar Nope. I pretty much only prescribe it for severe muscle spasm in the context of acute back or neck pain. And even then, not that often.

A GP will typically pay 12k a year for indemnity insurance. If you are sued your premiums can go up, or the insurers can even refuse to insure you so your career is effectively over (insurers are private companies). Your insurer doesn't even promise to defend you for your 12k yearly- the cover is discretionary, so they could still refuse to cover you.

GPs really want to avoid getting sued! It means they tend to practice defensively, with one eye on how they would explain their decisions to a judge, which has it's negatives for everyone. But that sadly is the society we live in.

@teenytinypontypine why not short time anxiety use then?
Seen as tho the safety info insides specifically say it's for anxiety.
If taken for a short time what's the issue?

I have to fly for work BTW. Some of the comments on here are idiotic.

@Motheroffourdragons honestly I think it's all nonsense.
I wonder if these doctors get incentives for trying to get you on anti depressants and beta blockers

Fear or anxiety over something short term is exactly what diazepam is good for. That or as a muscle relaxant.

@HopelesslydevotedtoGu how would a GP get sued for a 2mg of diazepam before a flight.
That's what I'm struggling with.
It's not a sleeping tablet
2mg is a tiny tiny doze

I think the doctor should give you whatever you need, but this made me smile:

2mg isn't a placebo for me,it stops me feeling terrified

You realize, of course, that it could be the placebo effect that relieves your fear?

@steff13 it's really not.
It has brought me out of a panic attack before .

Placebo still makes your symptoms go you know....

And I did say to say your back has gone and get some that way

But you're being a bit unreceptive to loads of good info and suggestions here

Btw push doc aren't licensed to prescribe that

@brokenhead knowing my gp he would give me paracetamol

@Motheroffourdragons my NHS GP said she was unable to prescribe them on an NHS prescription. But she happily prescribed on an private prescription, at the same NHS appointment. I didn't pay for the appointment (although I did offer), just £15 to the GP's receptionist for the private script.

For real, fanfan! Where I live I can get hold of blues in about 5 minutes complete with delivery service .

It just isn't a great drug. OK, perhaps there are some circumstances I'd use it like that - I recall prescribing it for a guy who had just lost his kids in a car accident and was hysterical. I don't think getting worked up the night before a flight is enough of a reason. And I say this as someone with a phobia. It isn't actually helping your long term situation. And, frankly, it isn't worth the risk to me as a GP. You trip on the stairs up to the aircraft, break your ankle, are found to be under the influence of benzos prescribed by me, you decide to sue me because your reaction times and reflexes are dulled because of a medication I prescribed against current guidance... Nope.

@teenytinypontypine what baffles me is GP say it's not a great drug but offer a beta blocker (propranolol) which made me ill (tight chest,breathless and can lower blood pressure etc ) which is in my opinion a worse drug given to someone without high blood pressure or a heart condition.

So nhs don't provide it but private will if you pay £££
So they doctor won't get sued if you pay?
Confusing

But you're asking them to break the BNF code

Why would they???

You can have other things for flying

I used to have over 70 tablets a month for my back

Never for anything else
Incl when I was in withdrawal ... btw.

Also getting worked up a night before a flight doesn't even touch it ..
Can't sleep a wink
Feeling sick
Shaking
Crying
Etc etc
It's unbearable for me.

@brokenhead but they will break it if you get a private prescription ?
There's nothing else that gives the same effect as diazepam

What if one of these people who was taking diazepam for back spasms boarded a plane then?
They tripped and fell could they then sue the GP?