Dr refused anti anxiety meds

[anxiousflight]

Long history of depression and anxiety, it is mostly under control but something can set my anxiety off and I'll be bad for a couple of weeks.

I've recently moved drs surgery as moved house and my old GP would always give me about 10 diazepam or lorazepam a year, to help me through anxious periods.

I hate hate hate taking off on a flight and this has triggered my anxiety the past couple of weeks as I fly tomorrow first thing.

I booked an appt with new GP and first appt available was yesterday, the duty Dr said she was not happy to prescribe any diazepam as if there was an emergency I wouldn't be able to get off the plane??? I said, they help me rationalise and keep calm, they don't knock me out. She wasn't happy so said she'd get my actual GP to call me today. The receptionist called me at 4pm and said that my GP isn't happy to prescribe them either. Not happy that I was promised a call from my GP but she avoided the conversation and asked the receptionist to call me so I couldn't speak to anyone medically trained to help me. My medical records are there for drs to see so I cant understand at all why they couldn't issue me a small prescription.

I can't take propanalol due to an adverse reaction with my asthma a few years ago. So now I'm stuck without anything at all and I'm so panicky, I leave my house at 1:30am tomorrow morning.

Does anyone know if I call 111 will they be able to prescribe anything?

Don't know but am cross on your behalf

There has been a change to the prescribing guidelines.

Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. There are a number of very good reasons why prescribing this drug is not recommended. According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (British National Formulary) diazepam is contraindicated (not allowed) in treating phobic states.

1.30 as in 8 hours time?

you'd be quicker trying pushdoctor or that sort of thing

I had this battle last tine I had to get on a plane but luckily I got them to prescribe.

is there a private doctor at the airport?

I,km good friends with a GP and there does seem to be a "luck of the draw" element in spite of guidelines.

Sorry to hear you are struggling but I very much doubt if 111 will override your GPs decision with regards to prescribing. Plus 111 should be used for urgent care. Have you tried non medical ways to manage your anxiety at all?

Diazepam are highly addictive and I'm not surprised a new GP wouldn't want to prescribe them without you trying something else first. Not for tomorrow, but have you ever had CBT? That did wonders for my anxiety when I was in a bad patch a few years ago.

It’s unlikely that an NHS dr who values their professional standing will prescribe as it’s against prescribing guidelines.

having said that could you lower the ask down from 10? I managed to get dr to prescribe sleeping tablet - after they initially rejected- by asking for 2. Just 2. But it was what I needed.

Doctors have been highly discouraged to prescribe diazepam for the past few years now due to its addictive qualities. I used to take small quantities myself, but my doctor explained that she’d be stopping due to a crackdown on prescriptions. It seems to be the case at the majority of practices. I’d be very surprised if NHS Direct offered you something.

This is a blurb from a random GP Practice re diazepam and flying. This is the general consensus now and I am not surprised the doctor refused

Doctors have to be really careful prescribing diazepam and it sounds like they weren’t happy for you to have it in the context of a flight which I think is fair enough.

Thanks everyone, doesn't look like I'll get anything in time as I leave 7 hours 😢

I'm just angry that my GP didn't call me and passed a message through reception instead, I could have done with speaking to somebody medically trained and seeing if they could give me an alternative.

I have been through lots of different therapy and meds since I was 14, nothing takes the edge off when I'm as bad as this other than diazepam or lorazepam.

Do you know anyone else with anxiety who might have it prescribed and could give you one to get you through the flight? You'll have to sort out some other solution long term from the sound of things as you've fallen foul of a change in policy. You'll find it difficult to find a GP who'll treat your response to diazepam or lorazepam as an individual.

Yes that was appalling behaviour. They're not supposed to simply refuse you help and leave you to your own devices, but they'll do that. Could you get some prescribed wherever you're flying to, so you have one for the return flight at least?

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be honest. You need to find a better way to control your anxiety if it’s a long term issue. Relying on addictive medication isn’t the answer.

A few months back I was booked for a hysteroscopy - no GA or numbing injection.
So I asked my gp for diazepam, she tried to put me off but I was insistent. She reluctantly gave me one and told me to take it the night before the procedure.
I took it about an hour before, didn't make me feel sleepy, just relaxed.

@Pollyputhekettleon - really not a good idea to advise people to cadge prescription meds from their mates.

She's been taking maybe ten of them a year, for what sounds like a long time. She's not addicted, unsurprisingly enough, and she's not about to become addicted at that rate. Nor do they have a dangerously sedative effect on her, specifically, as an individual human with unique biological responses to medications. The GP is engaged in a paint by numbers, protocol says no, exercise, with zero regard for how this patient is supposed to deal with her flight tomorrow.

A GP literally said she 'wouldn't be able to get off the plane in an emergency'. This is absolute incompetence. This GP got the general idea of the reason for the change in guidelines and dumbed it down that badly.

I absolutely don't care. What other help is anyone offering her that's going to get her through tomorrow? None.

yes diazepam and bezodiazepines in general are addictive. however, 10mg in 1 year cannot cause addiction. Patients with severe anxiety can find it helpful if taken extremely sparingly on occasions known to be triggering. I understand why new GP would be cautious but old GP is being unhelpful. GPs are still allowed to prescribe diazepam, just with caution. it is routinely used in the hospital setting and definitely not 'unsafe' broadly speaking.

if this is the only thing that works for you @anxiousflight , the only LT fix is to see a private psychiatrist and explain the situation to them. hopefully they will agree to a private prescription. unfortunately nothing i can advise in regards to the flight.

That's a very normal response to diazepam. But because it has a sedative effect on some people, everyone will be refused it for flights, because reasons.

Yes private psychiatrist would be a good way forward in the longer term. Consultants are generally freer, and more knowledgeable, to provide individualized care.

No help for the flight out but in some countries you can buy them over the counter for the return flight.

It's also known to be helpful at that kind of dose simply as reassurance. A patient who knows they have one in their handbag if required is therefore less likely to need to actually take it.

Hi OP, I had terrible fear of flying (felt claustrophobic on the plane). The doc prescribed me only 4 pills (Benzodiazepine). That was our agreement as Benzos can be highly addictive and I only needed it for flying. I have previously taken lavender oil pills (Kalm brand) from boots which helped- you don’t need a prescription for this. The only other thing is to book a private GP appointment and say you couldn’t get an appointment with your NHS GP and could they prescribe you the meds.

Argh, that is awful.

Everyone saying it is so terribly addictive - no, not always. I took it every day for a year when my former partner was dying. Weaned myself off (my own decision). It was fine.

I am not saying everyone will be ok with it, just demonstrating that some of us are.

I had it on an 'occasional use' basis for a few years afterwards but haven't taken any in years now.

It really helps me. I think it is awful they won't prescribe it. Any chance of changing GP? Not for now, I know it is too late, but for future occasions?

@Pollyputhekettleon I mean all depends on body weight, tolerance, alcohol use and many other factors. but absolutely, the placebo effect is not to be discounted. if it helps someone, why not :-)