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?

Thanks OP here's hoping.

Beta blockers made me feel ill and did nothing for my mental anxiety thoughts.
Useless for me.

OP you might want to get this thread deleted - some of these replies are just downright nasty regardless of whether the points are valid

Why should she? She has nothing to be ashamed of .

I hate diazepam myself, but if it works for you.

As for suggesting wine, I can't think of much worse than drinking on a plane. Yuk.

I realise its not a competition but you just cant compare the 2 situations. You could cope fine without a holiday. You could live day to day without flying

Anyway youre spectacularly missing the point that is being posted again and again about GPs indemnity

Dont bother replying with the @ tag either im hiding this thread before i get any angrier

@SherbertMelon yes..I don't want to take a random drug which I've never taken that can cause side effects when I've taken a drug for years which helps and causes me no problems.

Curious how you can afford to go to Spain and Dublin and now AUSTRALIA but say you can’t find £80/£90...

You didn’t have to go 7 years without a holiday.
I have various friends who don’t fly:

• too scared
• environmentalist
• no money
• very ill parent they like to be in driving distance of

ALL have discovered you can holiday in the UK!

Foreign holidays improve your life personally - fine. But do it on a private prescription.

@Redglitter angrier ? Because your anxiety trumps mine ?
Whatever

You're just being deliberately obtuse now. Phobias are a type of anxiety, yes. That doesn't change the fact that GP's aren't supposed to prescribe Diazepam for air travel and you have specifically asked for it to enable you to travel by air. Whatever you call it, phobia, anxiety, nerves whatever, it doesn't change the fact that you intend to use it on a plane, which is why their insurance would be invalid.

@Ellisandra if your nit picking you might want to re read where I said I can afford a private apt but didn't think I should when anxiety is a reason for nhs medication.

Anyway ..I'm going to stop replying now.
Hopefully none of the high and mighty lot ever develop a debilitating phobia.
Have a splendid day :-)

@ReflectentMonatomism Feel free to ring your indemnity provider and ask them about this, if you're a GP.

Was far from suggesting OP should feel guilty FFS - was thinking maybe replies would be upsetting for her

The difference is that these medications are licensed for anxiety and recommended in guidelines for anxiety.

But anxiety is the component being treated here. I don't imagine anyone expects half a dozen low dose diazepam is going to cure a phobia, its treating the symptoms so that the OP can visit her family. There are also no guidelines I've seen which say people on anti anxiety drugs shouldn't fly.

The OP has already tried the non drug treatments without success to date so is hardly running straight for the pill box.

I'm mainly bemused by the inconsistency.

But you’re NOT taking it for anxiety impacting your every day life, you’re taking it so you can specifically travel on a plane. I don’t think that’s a high priority for NHS funds.,

Try Med-ex I think it's called, it's an online pharmacy.

Wow that's mad - I have a repeat prescription of 10 x 1mg lorazepam (ativan) for flying and sometimes I get that 5 times a year, nobody has ever questioned it. I'd try another GP or another surgery - I really do know how you feel 🙈🙈

Blimey. Mumsnet can be so horrible. Why is everyone having such a go at the OP!! Nothing wrong at all with wanting something to quell your anxiety in this situation, using a drug you know suits you well in this short term situation. It's also not your fault that the NHS is underfunded. Seven diazapan is not the reason the NHS is suffering. And going on a long haul flight for a holiday doesn't make you some kind of over privileged, wealthy person who can afford private medicine.

I hope you manage to get it sorted out OP. (Also I know a two ppl who've been prescribed diazapan for short term anxiety issues. Those GPs must have not got the memo yet. Or maybe, more likely they are 'guidelines' that GPs can navigate using their discretion.)

Feel free to ring your indemnity provider and ask them about this, if you're a GP.

I'm not a GP. I do, however, sometimes take drugs prescribed to me by my doctor on holiday. Are you saying that if I do so I am taking the risk that my doctor is operating without liability insurance? Because I thought that doctors were legally bound to have liability insurance, so shouldn't around May and June they be shouting from the hilltops that anyone taking prescription drugs on holiday does so at their own risk?

I take it for flying.

2mg of diazepam!! It's laughable to think that amoubt would affect you enough to make you a liability! And yet airlines can't wait to sell you alcohol!

@dorisdog it’s nothing to do with being over privileged whatever that means... and I really hope OP can get the prescription privately. But I won’t accept that someone who can afford a holiday in Australia can’t afford a private prescription.

I use 40mg propananol for flying. It's good too.

I don’t think that’s a high priority for NHS funds.,

Generic Xanax is around $10 for 90, so roughly 10p per tablet. The OP is asking for 70p worth of drugs. Since a prescription (there's no suggestion the OP is entitled to free prescriptions) is £8.80, the NHS makes a substantial profit on this.

And I was offered diazepam or propananol not both as I had previously had. I don't know if they wouldn't give me diazepam now as I'm happy on propananol.

Just read some of the thread. Sorry beta blockers no use. Diazepam or equivalent all the way then. Good luck op.

it could indeed space you out so much that you're a liability in an emergency

Many passengers on long-haul flights drink multiple alcoholic drinks to get some sleep / allay anxiety. In an emergency I'd imagine that there would be many "spaced out" people who'd be a liability !