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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
lucyhar · 01/02/2019 16:35

@Fazackerley yeah I'm done
I will Thankyou

OP posts:
Mintychoc1 · 01/02/2019 16:36

For the millionth time, it’s the FLYING, not the anxiety. Why is this hard to understand?

Mintychoc1 · 01/02/2019 16:41

I’m going to leave this thread too because the pure stupidity and selfishness is depressing me.

But rest assured, those of you who think it’s fine and dandy to go to your GP demanding drugs with street values , regardless of whether or not they’re appropriate in that situation - your card will be marked, your doctor will be onto you, and your ready supplies of drugs may not always be available to you.

Guidelines are getting stricter, litigation is more prevalent, doctors have less and less autonomy. It’s the way it is, nothing any of us can do about it.

redyawn · 01/02/2019 16:48

My DP took half a diazepam (don't know what size) on a flight once to help him sleep.

It was awful. He turned into a zombie. We arrived in this very foreign city that he has been visiting every year for 20+ years and I had never been to and I had to take control and organise everything.

I can see your problem and I don't think I would go as far as to say YABU but I think your GP is making a sensible decision.

You need to find another solution.

TacoLover · 01/02/2019 16:49

there is no rules clearly ..or many doctors wouldn't prescribe diazepam Diazepam is for short term anxiety relief which travelling/change of routine triggers for me
Which part of that is confusing you?

Is it completely out of your thinking capacity to comprehend the idea of many GPs deciding to break the rules? I know what Diazepam is, thanks, and I'm not confused. I said that it's against the guidelines to prescribe this. You are saying your GP is unreasonable because they refused to prescribe the tablets. You are refusing to believe that the rules exist because some GPs break the rules. That's ridiculous.

Fazackerley · 01/02/2019 16:50

But rest assured, those of you who think it’s fine and dandy to go to your GP demanding drugs with street values , regardless of whether or not they’re appropriate in that situation - your card will be marked, your doctor will be onto you, and your ready supplies of drugs may not always be available to you

No reputable gp would ever say anything this vindictive.

JamPasty · 01/02/2019 16:50

OP - stop laying into GPs just because they are trying to explain to you why they should not be prescribing this drug for anxiety in this situation. Some GPs haven't got the memo/are ignoring tge rules but that doesn't make the other ones lacking in compassion.

Comeonchameleon · 01/02/2019 16:51

Diazepam doesn’t aid with sleep so that’s incorrect @redyawn!

sugarpuffss · 01/02/2019 16:53

Diazepam does aid with sleep doesn't it? I take it but not often and it always makes me very drowsy

Comeonchameleon · 01/02/2019 16:53

There are no guidelines directing gps to not prescribe Diazepam for flying. This is incorrect. Minty is not a GP.

Glad you’re sorted Op

JamPasty · 01/02/2019 17:14

Coneoncameleon - it took me two seconds to find this guidance advising that diazepam should not be prescribed on the NHS for fear of flying: <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.sunderlandccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SCCG-Safety-Net-June-2017.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj3t72vg5vgAhVnxoUKHZxmDdMQFjACegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2x97agxlgiv0c1lylPi5IB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.sunderlandccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SCCG-Safety-Net-June-2017.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj3t72vg5vgAhVnxoUKHZxmDdMQFjACegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2x97agxlgiv0c1lylPi5IB

lucyhar · 01/02/2019 17:18

The NHS website says for phobias including fear of flying diazepam is prescribed

OP posts:
JamPasty · 01/02/2019 17:25

Then as someone said above, it must depend on the NHS trust. I don't make the rules, I don't particularly think this rule makes sense, I'm just saying that you are being unfair in directing your anger at the GPs rather than at whoever makes the rules.

mumlost1940 · 01/02/2019 17:33

I sympathise with your predicament. From the airline's point of view there is a health and safety issue about your personal mental capacity as you are required to be a compliant passenger in an emergency. . I doubt if an insurance company would risk taking you on. Can you go by ship to Australia?

TheGirlWithAllTheFeathers · 01/02/2019 17:34

If you have a dog the vet can give you diazepam for your pet for anxiety or nerves. If you really can't get it from the doc that might be a route to take. It'll be 2mg tabs only.
Did you point out to the doc you only took them for flying and he could check your records? I do think though that if you're only taking 2mg to fly then you probably don't really need them unless you're hypersensitive to them. That's a tiny dose.

mollysh12 · 01/02/2019 17:35

I would definitely changed G.P.s. 7 tablets a year is nothing. Or ask him if he would prescribe Propanalol. That is very good for anxiety and tremors and phobia.
Good Luck and let us know.

Comeonchameleon · 01/02/2019 17:37

@jampasty this is an instruction from a specific Health trust to try and save money. It’s nothing to do with safety or being sued as the ‘doctor’ poster claimed. It even says you can offer it on a private prescription to patients.

aethelgifu · 01/02/2019 17:37

But rest assured, those of you who think it’s fine and dandy to go to your GP demanding drugs with street values , regardless of whether or not they’re appropriate in that situation - your card will be marked, your doctor will be onto you, and your ready supplies of drugs may not always be available to you

Haahaa! Many, many drugs have 'street value'. Loads. The latest with a good value is mirtazapine. Drug dealers use it to cut other drugs and users use it to prolong a fix. Lots of drugs have street value to cut or prolong the effects of a street drug. People who use or deal street drugs are not usually the sort who will bother to see a doctor to score gear on a regular basis and large scale manufacturing operations (one was just busted the other day in Paisley manufacturing thousands of blues) obtain the wares they need to manufacture from far greater sources, usually abroad. So the idea that a patient who comes in once in several years asking for 2mg of diazepam to fly being marked down as a habitual or problem user is pretty laughable!

This thread is pure comedy gold.

swingofthings · 01/02/2019 17:38

@Mintychoc1, out of interest, is it any different to gp prescribing unlicensed drugs? Because many GPs do so. In my local area, some GPs will flattenly refused to prescribe melatonin for kids, others are very happy to do so, is this any different?

I personally respect GPs following guidance but I hope you explained the reason to your patients requesting it for flying. Personally, I won't take any chance next time, I'll ask for it for panic attacks related to the menopause, will probably get a higher dose that way any way so will make it last longer! GP wont have to worry about being sued and I'll get what I need to get me on a plane.

ZigZagZombie · 01/02/2019 17:42

If a Diazepam pill is worth 10p and my GP gives me 28/year - can anyone guess how many Mercedes I own selling my "scored gear" for cash?

I've come over all "county lines" in my 'hood. I've got hip-hop on the wireless and I've got an appointment with the nurse on Monday. Hope she hooks me up with some well wicked bandages and waterproof plasters.

Bexsymo · 01/02/2019 17:42

Have a listen to a podcast called “a Little Peace of Mind” it might change the way you see your anxiety. 💗

zeeboo · 01/02/2019 17:43

Also not everyone can pull out £70/£90 just like that.

Hilarious @lucyhar !! Not everyone has £70/90 but it's your God given right to a holiday with a flight and it's bad for your health if you don't fly on holiday, even though you don't like flying.

The first world entitlement here is insane. Holiday in the U.K., holiday in Europe or Ireland. You don't need to get on a plane. No one needs to fly except pilots and flying doctors.

Graphista · 01/02/2019 17:44

@romanov - far from unusual. Gynae issues are not taken seriously unless they affect having children or sex life (ie negative impact on a MAN) if neither of these are true, women are expected by the medical profession (generally speaking - I don't doubt at least one GP will say "not all gp's") to just put up & shut up!

Xxcstatic - but even the comments about insurers - they're private companies which means YOU their customers could vote with your feet/wallets! Go to insurers who DON'T overly and with little evidence prevent gp's from meeting patients needs.

"If doctors are refusing to prescribe on the basis of a hunch that something might go wrong, then God help anyone who wants treatment that involves a drug with side-effects, such as...well, all of them." Yes that arguments really starting to piss me off too. There's absolutely no evidence for it.

"It's amazing, they're nowhere to be found on threads asking for one" yep funny that eh! 🤔

"risks that are no more than many other prescribe medicines." Exactly! Indeed many other medicines that people take regularly have far higher risk of DVT for starters.

"Just got out of doctors.
Was in and out in 2 mins
He gave me 14 2mg diazepam
He wished me a nice holiday
Baffled"

Excellent! Thankfully there are still SOME gp's with a spine, common sense and who care about their patients.

"no doubt from a naive or complacent GP." Completely unnecessary and unfounded comment. I'll wager it's a GP with more experience who knows to assess patients individually rather than blindly enacting a blanket policy.

"so because you don't have anyone agreeing with you,you will spit your dummy out and not judge on individual cases rather than "guideline"nonsense
Pathetic" yep!

"And aren't guidelines just that - a guide? Not a rule that can't be broken?" Yes I'm always keen on the answer to that one. They're guidelines, they're not set in stone!

Graphista · 01/02/2019 17:45

Done as a separate post so mnhq can delete if they delete the post quoted

"But rest assured, those of you who think it’s fine and dandy to go to your GP demanding drugs with street values" wtf!! Are you actually accusing the op and others who occasionally require and request diazepam of being drug dealers?! What a really nasty, completely unfounded and ridiculous thing to say!

If indeed you ARE a GP with that attitude that is truly appalling!

"No reputable gp would ever say anything this vindictive." I too am seriously doubting the veracity of this posters claims. Also because they're "quoting" agencies that don't exist!!

Patchworkpatty · 01/02/2019 17:45

...and then there is common sense. She has had it before, it works. 2mg of Valium isn't going to render anyone senseless. So .. it's a 'psychological addiction ' so what. Why does it matter to have a psychological addiction for 8 days a year. Fuck me the NHS is propping up class A drug addicts and functioning and non functioning alcoholics. This allows OP to function normally.

Go online and get a private prescription OP and don't listen to the nonsense pontificating. !