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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctor won't give me diazepam ..aibu?

855 replies

lucyhar · 31/01/2019 12:45

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?

OP posts:
Seline · 31/01/2019 23:26

Just as a general point, why is there not some sort of system where a doctor can explain the side effects and the patient can sign a consent form to prove they've had the risk explained to them, they do this for surgery so I'm unsure why it can't be done for prescription meds.

Original poster
lucyhar · 31/01/2019 23:26

@Cloudhopping really? Do you want to look at my medical notes and tell me my anxiety disorder over the last few years isn't real life medical problem?

OP posts:
aethelgifu · 31/01/2019 23:31

Seline, half the time they don't even tell you what the drug is before showing you the door.

Seline · 31/01/2019 23:32

I've never had that aeth but then I ask 100 questions so maybe that's why?

aethelgifu · 31/01/2019 23:34

If you consider how much kerfuffle this is over a few tabs of diazepam, can you imagine what chronic pain sufferers are going through right now? I can only imagine! Poor bastards! And people wonder why some people turn to street drugs.

But yy to continuity of care. Zopiclone works wonders for me, in fact I just took one, but diazepam, man, that stuff makes me suicidal. I hadn't had it in a long time, but the last time I took it will be my last. Still have the tabs, though.

Seline · 31/01/2019 23:36

I've never had a problem getting painkillers, bizarrely. I've got boxes and boxes of tramadol (or had I've uses most of it now) that I've been given since I was about 16.

aethelgifu · 31/01/2019 23:36

I've never had that aeth but then I ask 100 questions so maybe that's why?

I've tried that and literally been told time's up, read the leaflet.

maxthemartian · 31/01/2019 23:37

lost I'm well aware that all drugs carry risks. I personally don't tolerate paracetamol very well.

It's a Class C drug presumably because of the tolerance/dependency issue but as drugs go it's not a particularly physically dangerous one and entirely suitable for occasional use for the majority of people.

I would be the first to say what a dreadful idea daily use would be.

It was so over prescribed in the past precisely because of its relatively benign profile. Unfortunately the awareness regarding the physical dependency and extreme difficulties in stopping regular usage only came to light later on.

Seline · 31/01/2019 23:37

aeth wtf! I've never been told times up and I've been 40 minutes before when it was complicated! The most I was told was boom a double appointment for bloods as I faint.

aethelgifu · 31/01/2019 23:39

Oh, I think the painkillers will go the way of the benzos soon. All the opiate addiction stories, which are mostly from the US and well, let's face it, if someone's an opiate addict and the doc stops scripting them opiate, they're not going to go, 'Oh, okay! I'll try something else.' Nope, they'll go score smack because the smack's easier to obtain.

itswinetime · 31/01/2019 23:40

Seline. I would worry that could make for some lazy prescribing. Doctors absolving themselves of their responsibility claiming that the patient knew the risks. I'm not saying the system now is correct. It's obviously not. But I think the burden should be on the medical profession to sort it as oppose to passing the buck.

To start with it sounds like there should be more information available to the public there are what 20 poster on this thread probably half have searched (including medical journals) for the rationale behind not prescribing diazepam no one has been able to produce anything. I'm not saying the gp has lied multiple people seem to have been told the same in person by their gp's but the information should be available to the public. Wouldn't solve the ops problem unfortunately but at least people would be able to see why the gps were making the decisions the do.

Seline · 31/01/2019 23:41

I bloody hope not. Nothing other than tramadol and morphine work for my agonising period pain that has hospitalised me on several occasions that no one cares about investigating as I've had three children so it's not impairing my womanly duties.

Seline · 31/01/2019 23:44

itswine that is a potential problem but I find the current system really patronising. As an educated individual I feel I should get some say in what risks I am comfortable taking within reason, and what effect the problem is having on my quality of life. An example I used earlier was an elective cesarean maternal request. I researched it and decided the risk profile was more palatable to me than a vaginal birth, and so I requested one and got it after discussing it with a consultant. I think in controversial cases like diazepam, these sort of meetings could be helpful.

Totally agree about transparency being needed

foodenvy · 01/02/2019 00:04

OP, you obviously know your own anxiety inside out. I would try a different Doctor or like other people have said get a private prescription.
I also have anxiety and it's so debilitating. You should be able to go on holiday without such panic.
My fear is more of the queues at the airport because there's no escape from them!

ZigZagZombie · 01/02/2019 04:36

I'm rather saddened here that more than one of the GPs have said they would never, ever, ever, evah prescribe this - even for bereavement unless extenuating circumstances.

I'm not sure whether you'd prescribe something which has similar effects - but should I suffer a bereavement I might well react "worse" than a non-mental-health patient - and frankly if a GP said to me "oooh well I don't really like to prescribe this to get you through the next few weeks, but I can put you on a waiting list for CBT and have you considered a mindfulness colouring book?" I'd jump off a high bridge!

wyoudo · 01/02/2019 04:49

@Kummerspeck it’s readily prescribed for anxiety, and anxiety over flying is a valid reason. I fly for work as does my brother and it’s prescribed. Perhaps a holiday is different.

TacoLover · 01/02/2019 07:27

really? Do you want to look at my medical notes and tell me my anxiety disorder over the last few years isn't real life medical problem?

In the past your anxiety stopped you from doing many things but that's not the case now is it? The only thing that affects your anxiety is flying. So your anxiety having a massive impact in the past has no relevance to now, as it is only triggered by going on a plane. That's not the same. I wouldn't say your anxiety affects your life in a great way when the only thing that triggers it is a flight maybe once a year and is something that you don't even need to do.

BringMeTea · 01/02/2019 07:34

I was prescribed 28 last week for flying/future flying. Thank God my gp hasn't had the memo! I really feel for you OP. I hope you manage to be prescribed the meds you need for such long flights. Flowers

I agree with whoever said this is a baby and bathwater situation.

Romanov · 01/02/2019 07:50

I am currently in rehab for alcoholism, I’m sure plenty of people don’t think taxpayers’ money should be spent on that despite every medical organisation from the WHO downwards agreeing that alcoholism is an illness
What about treating sporting injuries?Playing sport is a lifestyle choice*
Having children can be seen as a lifestyle choice. Why should people who choose not to have children pay towards maternity care? Or schools?
A PP who said that she has to fly twice a year for work and is prescribed Diazepam for this should ‘get another job’. So she should pack in her job and stop paying tax and claim benefits while she looks for another job?

A flight can hardly be compared to the future of the human race??

People do think that sporting injuries/self inflicted should be self funded

A pp said 27 diazepam costs 45p, but what about the cost of the gp to prescribe it, the pharmacist to dispense it etc.... more than 45p

Romanov · 01/02/2019 07:52

@Seline

I bloody hope not. Nothing other than tramadol and morphine work for my agonising period pain that has hospitalised me on several occasions that no one cares about investigating as I've had three children so it's not impairing my womanly duties.

That's horrific, Flowers

Motheroffourdragons · 01/02/2019 07:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ to protect the privacy of the user.

ReflectentMonatomism · 01/02/2019 08:00

My main takeaway from this is that the NHS wants to gatekeep drugs on the basis of GPs making a judgement (in every sense of the word) on whether patients deserve to be treated, and want to police the lifestyle of people. Yet again, American views on socialised medicine are reinforced.

Seline · 01/02/2019 08:05

Romanov it's really frustrating. At this point I wish they'd just do a hysterectomy and be done with it.

swingofthings · 01/02/2019 08:05

It's the health fashionable position, combating addictive prescribed drugs and because of people mis-using their prescription drugs into addiction, those who have no issue with addictions and never have suffer the consequences.

I was first prescribed valium in my 20s whrn it was given like pills. I took it because my GP told ne too. I realised myself that it wasn't sorting the problem and stopped it myself. I had no need for them until I developed a fear of flying.

I thrm developed anxiety with the menopause. My GP himself suggested valium and again it was ne saying I wasn't sure and indeed, instead of taking 3 times a day as prescribed, I only took some when the panic became overwhelming.

So the idea that I can't get any just to help me for a few hours on a plane seems ludicrous.

Ultimately, if it refused to me, I will ask for it for menopause related anxiety. Rather lie than try to get it illegally. I will not get on a plane without it, end of!

Seline · 01/02/2019 08:11

I had it prescribed to me first when I was 16 and had a panic attack so severe, I hallucinated and ran away dazed straight into a road. The doctor suggested asking my GP for valium as he had a few patients with severe anxiety and this helped them. I take it before most medical procedures and it's amazing, it means I can have things done without me panicking for the entire two days beforehand and having a panic attack so bad that I get confused.