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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have felt like the gp didnt take me seriously?

18 replies

OoohAhhhJustALittleBit · 07/02/2023 11:35

I have a massive phobia of the dentist and as a result have been living with recurrent infections and pain for the last 3 years.

After working up the courage to book an appointment-which was hugely anxiety inducing itself. I called the gp to explain my situation and was made to feel like I was just being silly. After much back and forth, i was prescribed 1 2mg tablet of diazepam which wouldnt have an effect on my cat, let alone me.

It's been 9 years since I last had treatment and if my memory serves me right, I was prescribed 4 2mg and told to take 2 on the morning of the appointment and 2 half an hour before. It helped in that I was able to get through the door, into the chair and have treatment without shaking and being on the verge of throwing up. So while it was an extremely unpleasant experience, it was do-able. Just about.

I understand doctors dont like prescribing benzodiazepines, but Its either that or having a general which seems like a ridiculous alternative. Now I have to call the gp back and explain to him it isn't enough but I'm guessing my suggestion will go down like a lead balloon.

Anyway, I guess my question is - am I being too sensitive and imagining I'm not being taken seriously, or is that what's actually going on here? And what, if anything, can I do/say to help my chances of getting the medication i need?

OP posts:
Twentywisteria · 07/02/2023 11:45

2mg up to three times a day is the normal dose for anxiety. You won't have been told to take 4mg at once - you've remembered it wrong.

2mg before the appointment is absolutely fine. No need to take it three times in a day when the appointment only lasts an hour or so.

bimbodoc · 07/02/2023 12:06

Dental issue, speak to dentist rather than GP. Dentists are able to prescribe.

Newlifestartingatlast · 07/02/2023 12:23

bimbodoc · 07/02/2023 12:06

Dental issue, speak to dentist rather than GP. Dentists are able to prescribe.

Oo…can they prescribe diazepam then? Didn’t know they could do that

SisterCassandra · 07/02/2023 12:33

I was just talking to someone with a dental phobia last week. They’ve been quoted 9k to fix some of the problems ten years of avoiding the dentist has left their teeth in. Try hypnosis or one of the myriad therapies for this fairly common problem because your teeth problems won’t magically fix themselves and Drs are strongly warned against helping to create a benzodiazepine dependency these days.

Moonlightsonatas · 07/02/2023 12:36

If you do need treatment, dentists can do “conscious sedation” where they give you midazolam (another benzodiazepine). I had really severe dental phobia and a sensitive gag reflex but needed my wisdom teeth removing.

monitor1 · 07/02/2023 12:48

Dentists can prescribe diazepam so you should get it from there rather than taking up a GP appointment

venusandmars · 07/02/2023 13:33

Jeez, people do not understand dental phobia! It's not just being a bit anxious, it's an involuntary reaction that causes sickness, crying, hyperventilation. It's often a consequence of trauma - dental trauma or other oral trauma.

Hypnosis is not the answer to a trauma induced problem.

@OoohAhhhJustALittleBit Thank you for this post, it reminded me that I've being trying to contact my dentist (and as you say this takes a lot of courage in the first place). I got through on the phone in one call and have booked an appointement - feel awful about the prospect, but I've done it! Based on your post I also told the receptionist that I'd emailed twice throught their contact form and left a phone message, none of which they have responded to. And that is so difficult for someone with dental phobia.

I have had dental sedation, and for me it works like magic. The best thing is that you don't lay down any memories of what is happening.

Greybeardy · 07/02/2023 13:43

I’m a Dr who is dental phobic. Would never have occurred to me to contact the GP for this. Dentists can organise sedation (with an anaesthetist) if that’s what’s needed.

IkaBaar · 07/02/2023 14:13

A lot of GPs wouldn’t prescribe for this, they would expect the dentist to prescribe. Round here there are dentists who specialise in anxious patients/conscious sedation which might be worth exploring.

Pippa12 · 07/02/2023 14:22

Have you thought about hypnotherapy for phobias as a long term solution? I’ve had it, worked really well for me.

EmmaEmerald · 07/02/2023 14:26

OP it's because they are now against diazepam
to the point I'm worried they will ban it.

I was given 5mg at one stage, just to take for acute anxiety, only got 10. But I agree you need more than 2mg for a phobia. But the dentist should give you that?

Original poster
OoohAhhhJustALittleBit · 07/02/2023 15:01

Thank you everyone for your replies. I should have mentioned in my op that the dentist has said they won't prescribe. I'm sure there may be more sympathetic dentists out there but I can't find any others in my area that are accepting nhs patients.

It's absolutely my fault for leaving it so long but I'm only ever desperate enough to make an appointment when it's at the need treatment NOW stage. I would never neglect any other aspect of my health and its embarrassing as well as terrifying.

I understand this is something I need to work on and at least seek treatment before it gets to this stage, but in the short term I need help.

@Twentywisteria It was definitely more than 2mg.

@venusandmars Thank you. You've described perfectly how it feels. And well done for making that appointment. Hope all goes well😬

OP posts:
Flowersintheattic57 · 07/02/2023 15:09

I also have a dental phobia and have fairly out of control tics and shakes when I’m in the chair. I contact my local friendly drug dealer and he sells me diazepam at £1 a pill, usually 5s. Just make sure it does have the brand printed on the back and not some unknown knock off. I only ever take them to visit the dentist and have never felt the urge to take them otherwise.

Twentywisteria · 07/02/2023 15:09

If it was more than 2mg then they went above the BNF (drug bible) recommended dose - 2mg is absolutely enough.

Patients get addicted to benzos fast and constantly show up needing them for "dental appointments", "flying", "work presentations" over the years. Doctors don't want to be complicit in this.

Twentywisteria · 07/02/2023 15:10

Flowersintheattic57 · 07/02/2023 15:09

I also have a dental phobia and have fairly out of control tics and shakes when I’m in the chair. I contact my local friendly drug dealer and he sells me diazepam at £1 a pill, usually 5s. Just make sure it does have the brand printed on the back and not some unknown knock off. I only ever take them to visit the dentist and have never felt the urge to take them otherwise.

Fucking hell you're buying addictive mystery drugs from a drug dealer and you think that is good advice?

GoodChat · 07/02/2023 15:12

I agree that you need to speak with the dentist. When they see how nervous you are they'll probably have to give you something.

Good luck.

EmmaEmerald · 07/02/2023 15:16

Twentywisteria · 07/02/2023 15:09

If it was more than 2mg then they went above the BNF (drug bible) recommended dose - 2mg is absolutely enough.

Patients get addicted to benzos fast and constantly show up needing them for "dental appointments", "flying", "work presentations" over the years. Doctors don't want to be complicit in this.

But that's for ongoing anxiety

Acute episodes, and associated insomnia, BNF still has 5mg.

the dentist will give you a different tranquiliser.

ApiratesaysYarrr · 07/02/2023 15:22

OoohAhhhJustALittleBit · 07/02/2023 15:01

Thank you everyone for your replies. I should have mentioned in my op that the dentist has said they won't prescribe. I'm sure there may be more sympathetic dentists out there but I can't find any others in my area that are accepting nhs patients.

It's absolutely my fault for leaving it so long but I'm only ever desperate enough to make an appointment when it's at the need treatment NOW stage. I would never neglect any other aspect of my health and its embarrassing as well as terrifying.

I understand this is something I need to work on and at least seek treatment before it gets to this stage, but in the short term I need help.

@Twentywisteria It was definitely more than 2mg.

@venusandmars Thank you. You've described perfectly how it feels. And well done for making that appointment. Hope all goes well😬

If your dentist won't prescribe, it's not because they can't, as dentists also have access to prescriptions. If your dentist tries to tell you that they cannot prescribe then point them to Dental formulary - a list of the medicines all qualified dentists are able to prescribe.

I'm not a GP, but this is not a GP issue.

I would look for a dentist that was willing to prescribe (although you may be offered "conscious sedation" which is more then a 2mg diazepam tablet).

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