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?

I'm a Welsh benzo addict today! Even my use of the term gives me away!! Oh yes I'm also the parent of an autistic child and I'm sure I've been in an abusive relationship. And that's just today. I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring.

Used to love diazapam for flying but have alchohol instead as they won't prescribe

There is a certain irony that someone who is anxious about flying wanting to take a medication that isn't recommended.

Someone is going to shriek at you about it being a Class 2 drug now. How's the addiction coming along? Did you need to be carried out of the exam hall?

Genuine question as interested! Have there been recent cases where someone has taken diazepam on a flight which has resulted in an issue which is why GPs are being discouraged to prescribe?

You can buy numbing cream over the counter without a prescription.

https://everesthouse.co.uk/prescriptions/practice-stance-on-prescribing-of-diazepam-for-fear-of-flying/

Because of the near paralysis it can cause it increases the risk of blood clots, it can depress breathing so is not recommended for asthmatics (how on earth did you find a doctor to prescribe this shit???), can cause unpredictable and aberrant behaviour, does not mix well with alcohol, over the counter the counter, off the shelf illicit and prescription drugs and doctors have been told not to prescribe it for fear of flying

You knew you were flying, you could have had counselling, therapy or sought alternatives

Oh that'll do the trick. Aren't you clever. You've found a cure for needle phobia! And it's over the counter. Beautiful.

Someone is going to shriek at you about it being a Class 2 drug now. How's the addiction coming along? Did you need to be carried out of the exam hall?

😂
I'm afraid that while I passed my exams, I failed miserably at becoming an addict despite my shocking abuse of prescription medication.

I do find it annoying when you have been prescribed something long term and suddenly a Dr wants to change it. You can't just stop without finding some kind of alternative. I take lorazapam and a Dr stopped them without notice once. Luckily another Dr over rode them.

You are so blasé about a drug that has destroyed a lot of lives in the past due to its highly addictive qualities and should really only be prescribed in exceptional circumstances.

I’ve been prescribed it in the past for short term use. It’s fantastic stuff - made me feel terrific. I could totally see how easy it would be to get addicted but fortunately for me I had a responsible doctor like mumbles so it never became an option!

It is not about the pain for me. Plus those creams do not work on me.

Mixed with alcohol, you can effectively 'roofie' yourself - you can end up behaving in a psychotic manner and have no memory or knowledge of it

Paranoia, aggression, hysteria - with the underlying terror of flying not sorted, but now with added psychosis

Many flight crews blame benzodiazepines for this sort of display

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/american-airlines-passenger-meltdown-b2372287.html

@XenoBitch my 7 year old is severely needlephobic too after a year of chemo. For some reason no one’s suggested prescribing diazepam for her either. Because it’s not recommended because of the risks

You mean to tell me you survived the near paralysis, the blood clots, the respiratory depression, the asthma, the unpredictable and aberrant behaviour?! You're a miracle of nature will no doubt be the subject of intensive scientific research.

Bless you 😂

This is a ridiculous suggestion - you can’t take someone else’s prescription.

How b***y helpful NOT! Because it's so easy to control anxiety isn't it? 🤬

Well what other option is there if they won't prescribe it?

You'd never prescribe them to someone who knows they are called benzos? Bet you don't like patients reading the BNF either!

I had them for severe sciatica
Paracetamol, dihydrocodeine, naproxen, diazepam and then went to oramorph
Doesn't affect me at all, I was on max dose of the lot and still working FT
I mean until my back totally gave up it's one job and I had an emergency operation

Sleeping tablets are like gold dust too. The doctor gave me 3 after my mums death and I did ask who had to die to get a weeks worth

Maybe your Dr was really busy seeing sick people rather than ones who want drugs prescribed to go on holiday. You did speak to someone medically trained - the Duty Dr - who then checked with your Dr and the answer was still no. I think it was an excellent use of NHS resources for the message to be passed to you so the Dr could have more appointments with ill people. If flying makes you so anxious maybe consider other forms of travel

This. But it’s a skill that needs practice tbf.

Great idea. OP have you considered this option as a one off?

The OP takes a maximum of 10 per year and has done for many years. She is at no risk of addiction. She's a real patient who deserved proper professional care, today, in her specific individual circumstances. She didn't get it because of a robotic adherence to guidelines, applied without the slightest trace of intelligence, and motivated by the kind of hysteria you display. And she's not the only one let down in this way. The girl having a severe panic attack in hospital who was refused any medication and prescribed CBT? So, yes, we're going to joke about it. Black humour is very appropriate.