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?

Dude, who is passing out the diazepam? Sling some this way.

It’s me! I have ALL the diazepam. It’s like Charlie & the fucking Benzos Factory over here.

There is so much scaremongering on this thread.

If it is prescribed by your gp and taken correctly it is like any other prescription medication!

I've been prescribed it for a few years now. Some months I take none. Other months I take up to 3-4. I know you get get a tolerance so I'm very careful not to rely entirely on it but to use other strategies to manage anxiety.

It doesn't make you high or anything like that. It tones down the anxiety and panic and resets your emotions. I can work, drive and manage any emergency situation that may arise perfectly fine. It doesn't make you vague or forgetful or sleepy. It basically makes me feel normal.

So few side effects compared with other anxiety medication I've been prescribed!

This is so concerning that it is becoming restricted by gps and getting a stigma. I think as long as gps and patients are able to responsibly manage it there is nothing wrong with prescribing it for those who genuinely need it.

550µg/L is the legal driving limit for diazepam. More than that you will be arrested. It has a very long half life, which makes things a bit more complicated.

I think it's a little unfair dismissing the GPs - at least one of them has been posting for years and years and I've never had reason to doubt she's not a GP.

I'm also disappointed in myself. I've tried a dazzling array of "street drugs" over the years and until this thread didn't know that "blue" was the street word for Valium. How am I ever supposed to sell these on gumtree if I've not got the lingo down to a tee? I'm ashamed and embarrassed that my occasional use has led me to this dark place.

I manage to sleep on long haul flights (UK-NZ) through a combination of Diazepan, Phenergan and Vodka. Not necessarily at the same time but according to need. I am well aware of how my body reacts to each individually and in combination so I find many of these posts ridiculous in the extreme.
In an emergency I would function calmly and be less of a liability on an aircraft.
Thinking back I did once cope admirably during an emergency landing (landing gear hadn't deployed - or however you describe it) so give the OP a break people. She just needs a tiny amount of medicine to get her through.

I understand the not being able to act in an emergency....but since Airlines sell people alcohol til they are almost unconscious, and there are no checks on any meds that make people drowsy, then I don't think it's that relevant especially as the chances of an emergency are tiny

It doesn't make you high or anything like that. It tones down the anxiety and panic and resets your emotions. I can work, drive and manage any emergency situation that may arise perfectly fine. It doesn't make you vague or forgetful or sleepy. It basically makes me feel normal.
But that's the effect on you...
My said on the other hand turns into a zombie on 2mg

My DSIS on the other hand turns into a zombie on 2mg

Love how people think they know more about a drug than the qualified medical professionals who spent years in education to do their job
PengAli, why such a strong reaction to seething that you yourself seem to have very little knowledge about? Why do you think you can be the voice of all medical practitioners?

As said before, I am very close friends with two GPs who don't know each other (only by name). One strongly believes that taking a couple of 2mg diazepam, if it means you get to enjoy a nice holiday with your family where you can relax and recharge is the cheapest and most therapeutic thing to prescribe. The second idls totally against it, considers it an evil drug and would never prescribe it in these circumstances.

The point is that medical practitioners will indeed have different views on different treatments. The first GP has training in mental health and seen what true addiction is like, so 4mg of diazepam makes him laugh. The second GP is a strong believer in alternative therapies including homeopathy, so does indeed considers it a terrible drug.

I respect both of their views, but my experience, having tried everything, is that without it, you won't get me on a plane, end of.

If someone turns into a zombie after 2mg, then clearly they shouldn't be prescribed it again. OP and other posters who take it for flying and have done so for years, aren't, so I really don't see the point of this argument.

All a GP needs to do if someone as for it for the first time and intends to fly is to prescribe only two pills, ask that these are taken days before flying when they are not at any risk and see how they react to it before going back asking for more.

@romanov she should see the doctor about that it’s not normal

@Comeonchameleon she's a nurse, but I'll tell her...

@Smotheroffive can I ask where you found the legal drive limits of meds? My GP has told me categorically that I cannot drive on tramadol, but want to know if there is a limit, etc. Thank you in advance.

@swingofthings because im tired of seeing the complete lack of respect MN has for GPs and others in the medical profession. I never claimed to be an expert...i simply said i trust a GPs opinion over random internet people. Learn to read the posts properly.

But doctors can come a Ross as quite rude too. One was posting on this thread they wouldn't prescribe for flying because of its addictive nature. When challenged changed this to say they wouldn't prescribe because of some guidelines they received, although not clear what these guidelines are and then started to make some quite pejorative comments about people taking it when flying.

I have utter respect for all medical professionals as a whole that doesn't mean that I believe they always get it all right nor that it is OK for them to be rude just because they are a GP. My old GP failed to prescribe antibiotics when my DS was diagnosed with scarlet fever years ago. It's only later I realised they should have. Thankfully no damage done. I did bring it up to them and they were adamant they didn't need them. I had to show them the nhs guidelines.

Similarly, my MIL was tested for possible B12 deficiency. The common test came back normal so that theory was dismissed. I wnet to her appointment to ask for more tests as the original test is not always accurate. They were trying to dismiss me and made a patronising comment about me not being a medic. Thankfully HD printed to nhs guidance that confirm this (indeed, I only learn this to be the case reading the guidance). They reluctantly agree to refer her for more tests, making a point that it was a waste of NHS funds... these tests did conclude a deficiency in vit b12.

GPs are indeed specialists and won't know everything. I'm lucky to have a great relationship with my GP who says that my interest in medicine means that I've gained more knowledge than him about some personal aspects and will listen to me. Not that he always agrees and that's fair enough, but he listens and considers my uesrions and suggestions. My two GP friends have such different views and approaches to medicine, it is sometimes hard to believe they both studied the same field!

Also someone having a panic attack in an emergency event wouldn't be very useful!

@swingofthings well i havent had those type of experiences as you so of course i dont have that kind of opinion. There was no need for you to question why i defended GPs or accuse me of acting like an expert when i did no such thing. You do realise everyone is allowed their own opinions and just because you have had bad experiences doesnt mean everyone else also has? Maybe you should try living in a country that doesnt offer healthcare for their citizens. Try living in America and going into debt because you child broke an arm, let alone if some other awful illness was to happen to them.

Very well put, swing.

Peng you sound incredibly defensive.

@PengAly I’m sure the whole GP community doesn’t need you getting so upset about a Mumsnet post. Relax

If your sister is a nurse though she should definitely know that turning into a zombie on 2mg of Diazepam is far from normal and she probably shouldn’t take it again.

Please dont tell me to relax and call me defensive just because i dont agree with you. Its called having an opinion

There is so much codswallop on here. GPs - both private and NHS) do prescribe diazepam for fear of flying, (amongst other things of course), as long as they believe it to be truly beneficial to the patient. Also 2mg is a very low dose. 5mg would be the norm for this. So really there needs to be a lot of calming down!