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?

@Bluelady I can afford a private prescription but didn't really think I should have too considering it's something that Is going to treat my anxiety which I've had for donkeys years.

Hi OP. Ask your normal GP for a private prescription as another poster was advising.

Folk cutting and pasting the possible effects of drowsiness, circulation, etc. FFS, you'll be given 2mg which will - as you stay - stave off a panic attack, but do little else. People drink alcohol on planes. That should be BANNED then before flights and on them because the same effects - drowsiness, inability to act in an emergency, messing with your circulation, etc... your Gin and Tonic is going to do that to you.

Benzos understandably have a terrible rep. because of addiction issues, and I think you're unfortunately tapping into some "all drugs bad" reactions here.

I have a friend who does a lot of international travel for work and takes diazepam for flights. Like you OP, she has a terrible phobia of flying which she's never been able to overcome. Like you, she's tried a fear of flying course. She's tried hypnotherapy and nothing works. So she takes 2mg of Diazepam for a flight and has done so now for 40 years without problems or issues. Her GP prescribes her a few at a time she says.

What's ridiculous about stopping you from taking the drug that works for you here, is that a person might end up taking an antihistamine, a bunch of Kalms tablets, washed down with a glass of wine to cope with the flight. It's just stupid, when you are a responsible adult who knows that an extremely low dose of a drug you've taken before works for you.

OP is nothing to do with what you're having it for. It's a sedative, and we have been advised by aviation medics not to prescribe it.

There don't seem to be any other jobs where workers are berated for not going against the rules like us GPs are!

OP stop taking this personally. Would you get annoyed if the check-out girl at Tesco wouldn't knock a quid off your bill?

There is startlingly little appreciation for the poor GPs in this situation. It is their responsibility for any concequences of their prescription, one which as above goes against current NHS guidelines. The OP feels that the GP should go against current guidlelines for her holiday.

YABU

Go to a private GP and see what they say. But your comment about medial need is completely unreasonable. You don't medically need to go off on a jolly, the NHS doesn't exist to facilitate your social life.

@lucyhar are you taking anything for anxiety long term?

@Schuyler not anymore no.
Cbt has helped me so much with my anxiety but unfortunately not for the flying anxiety.
I don't really have any anxiety problems now unless I have to fly.
That's the only thing I can't get over.

I'm a GP and also don't prescribe this. As a PP said, we carry the responsibility for everything we prescribe. Our indemnity wouldn't cover us for this as it's against the aviation advice so if someone decided to sue as they were incapacitated (which some people are on 2mg!) or had a paradoxical increase in anxiety, I would have to self fund my defence. Which would bankrupt me.

@MorbidlyObese I don't want to take Ad or beta blockers or sleeping pills for a problem that only happens once a year ..twice mostly.
I've had CBT/hypnotherapy /mindfulness which massively helped my anxiety issues but not this anxiety with flying issue.

@RainbowInACloud so you never prescribe diazepam for anxiety? Or just you never prescribe diazepam at all?

And holidays are a non essential part of life. Giving diazepam to someone going into an MRI scanner is totally different as that is a medical need. Total waste of GP time if I'm honest.

@user1471533725 what a load of crap
It's for my anxiety.
Millions of people get prescribed this for phobias.

Just not for flying / leisure pursuits. Not great practice really for anxiety though unless high distress and short term use

Exactly Rainbow. People have become so "sue happy" these days - I see it all the time on here - "sue the doctor, sue the school, sue the council" - did they not realise the effect this would have?
I care about my patients' comfort and convenience, but I care about their safety and my own livelihood more.

@RainbowInACloud it is s high distress situation for me,you haven't had it more than likely so wouldn't know
Easy to say when you've never been in that position.

So I'm never able to travel again?
Not leave the county for the rest of my life because of anxiety
There's a drug that can help,but I'm being ripped apart for wanting it.
Why should I have to suffer with anxiety around this when it can be treated?

OP are you being deliberately obtuse?
Do you really not understand the concept of guidelines, rules, safety and indemnity?

Just because you've been prescribed it for years doesn't mean it's the right treatment. If your GP has retired they may have been "old school" and not have been up to date with recommended treatments. Did the new GP say why they wouldn't issue the prescription?

@Mintychoc1 in that case every doctor should follow the same rules.

OP I refused to fly for 23 years despite reading lots of books and doing courses, Eventually I I got on a plane again after seeing diazepam recommended on mumsnet and getting some prescribed. However it didn't really work for me and I spent my holiday feeling sick because I knew I'd have to get the plane back home.

However last year I read yet another book which actually worked for me enough to take another flight. I can't say I enjoyed the flying but it was bearable. I even read it during the flight itself! nlik all the other books it doesn't try to reason with you about how safe flying is because a phobia is by definition an unreasonable response. Instead you kind of have to accept and work with your fears, not against them. The book is called Fear of Flying Workbook by David Carbonell. Seriously, give it a go if you can, I was cynical but thought I had nothing to lose and I'm very glad I gave it a chance.

In a low dose as a one off it sounds more like a placebo to me. I think you are BU to seek a GP that is willing to ignore the rules/guidelines. I have some sympathies with the OP given her anxiety issues, but more with GPs. At a risk of sounding harsh the OP appears arrogant to me. The GP has years of medical training and drug boards do lots and lots of research. I think it displays remarkable arrogance that OP thinks her 'experience' trumps a medical degree and the drug licencing board.

My understanding of how it works is that you have an issue, see a Dr about it. If appropriate, the Dr prescribes a medicine that is suitable. It isn't a deli counter where you ask for and are prescribed what you think you need.

As it can be addictive
Even tho I'm clearly not addicted

Yes OP, every doctor should follow the same rules. And they're crazy if they don't.

Maybe they should do brrathikise everyone before getting on a plane too?

The point is that the GP is responsible for prescriptions they sign, if they prescribe diazepam and you have a bad reaction the GP may be legally responsible.

If you get drunk on a flight that has nothing to do with the GP.

A GP is an independent medical professional who makes their own judgements about what they think is safe and reasonable to prescribe. Different GPs will come to different conclusions.

People can react differently to diazepam at different times depending on their general health, how tired they are, if they've had any alcohol or other medications.

I've been on a flight where a woman took a 3.75mg zopiclone pill (small dose sleeping tablet) and was zonked out for the whole flight, she couldn't be woken for letting people out, meals etc. She said she had taken them before and not had such a strong effect. If there had been an emergency she would have been in trouble.

Incidentally aspirin does not reduce the risk of DVT. Aspirin works on platelets and reduces risk of atherosclerotic events in arteries eg heart attacks. DVT is caused by venous stasis eg blood not moving through the veins. Stockings are not proven to reduce the risk of DVT.

@Everanewbie it isn't a placebo.
It's brilliant for my anxiety issues.