To ask GP for diazapam

[MUCHtodoAboutSomething]

For flying. I haven't been on an aeroplane in years. I have asked the GP for acouple for flying there, and back. The GP rang me up, gave me a huge condescending lecture on addiction, and made me feel like a cross between a naughty school girl, and a drug addict. I have been directed to website links. I go on holiday in a fortnight's time!

I have said there isn't meditation, or anything that can help. It is like when people go to the dentist and they're just scared. I'm not on other drugs, and haven't asked for anything before. I know they're addictive, but I'm not sure 2 or 3 tablets will cause me to have a drug problem. If I'm honest I doubt they'll take the edge off. I took more than this years ago for a car accident, and forgot about them, and found them in the back of the cupboard, I don't have an addictive personality. What are they even for, if they won't give them out at all?

Or diazepam *

2 or 3 tablets won’t change a thing. Most people have ONE glass of alcohol is they’re that stressed, or find things to distract themselves with. If you’re that frightened, then find alternative transport.

There isn't alternative transport where I am going. Exactly, I only need 2 or 3. I can't drink alcohol unfortunately, due to a health condition.

No harm in asking! I think I had it once for a dentist appointment to save me the cost of being sedated. No addiction worries with a one off prescription. If not it will be because of safety concerns if you're traveling alone but in that case they could give you a different anxiety medication such as propranolol, for example.

I had diazepam recently for muscle spasms that wouldn’t settle. The doctor gave me three days worth. When I had them for the same thing a couple of years ago, I was given a month’s supply. I think there’s been a massive crackdown on prescribing it.

It’s never been a good look to outright ask for it though. That’s generally a red flag.

I'm travelling with people, and can't take propranolol as it doesn't agree with me.

That's a weird response from your GP unless you have previous for addiction. You need a new GP.

Try a private GP? Just put you need it for flying and for two days only (or two lots of flying). I think this is a reasonable use of a sedative.

Find a different doctor. Or dentist. I had one once who positively insisted on prescribing it when I was facing a long flight. "Everyone should have it", he said.

I asked for 2 tablets for flying, thats it. My record is clean, I'm sorry but if that is a red flag then they need to get a grip.

I would definitely ask. I have had it for dentistry before. Very generous with 10s. The GP will give 2s or ,5s if you're lucky. But every little helps. Flight anxiety is a legit reason to ask. But they may well refuse as benzos are very frowned upon now.

GP’s no longer prescribe this for flying for a number of reasons, we as a practice nor any practice I know prescribe it anymore for flying.

The GP has decided not to prescribe Diazepam for patients who wish to use this for a fear of flying before travel because:

1. Diazepam is a sedative and it could impair your ability to concentrate. It may make you sleepy during the flight increasing the risk of any injury particularly in the emergency situations. This could seriously affect the safety of you and the people around you.
2. Some people taking diazepam, can experience mood disturbances and make you behave in ways you normally wouldn’t. This could also impact on your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers or could lead you to get in trouble with the law.
3. Diazepam is used to treat the conditions but it is not allowed to be prescribed for preventative reasons in non-medical settings.
4. National prescribing guidelines followed by doctors also don’t allow the use of benzodiazepines in cases or phobia. Any doctor prescribing diazepam for a fear of flying would be taking a significant legal risk as this goes against these guidelines. Benzodiazepines are only licensed for short-term use in a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the problem you suffer with, you should seek proper care and support for your mental health, and it would not be advisable to go on a flight.
5. In several countries, diazepam and similar drugs are illegal. They would be confiscated, and you might find yourself in trouble with the police for being in control of an illegal substance.
6. Diazepam has a long half-life. This means it stays in your system for a significant time and you may fail random drug testing if you are subjected to such testing as is required in some jobs.

I have already asked, I'm sorry if my post isn't clear. I don't know why they don't just ban it, if they won't even read between the lines.

Actually they will. I’ve been given 2 before flying before and they help a lot. Why should they find other forms of transport? What if there are no other forms of transport? Ridiculous comment

Thank you, but won't this just make people turn to alcohol instead, or other prescription meds that have an equally sedating side effect?

GPs usually won’t prescribe diazepam for fear of flying any more because it goes against BNF guidelines and therefore they’d be putting themselves in legal jeopardy if they did. There are good reasons for the guidance, including that it’s a bad idea for someone to be taking strong mood-altering medication as a one-off while a long way from medical care. There are proven psychological therapies that work for fear of flying without the risks.

It isn’t a red flag.

My gp has given them. Like 4 diazapam in 5 years or whatever for an anxiety inducing situation are a red flag😂

Is there an alternative, or just ask for something to calm nerves?

I get very anxious on holiday and brought with me my late mum's stash of diazepam. It's been brilliant to take the edge off.

I was planning of requesting something similar when I got back, but know demanding a prescription of diazepam 'ain't gonna happen.

How could a drug with your prescription label in the side be confiscated?

I’m a substance abuse nurse and that’s incorrect that GP’s no longer prescribe for flying. I also am terrified of flying and was prescribed a couple a few weeks back to help me with this.
They wouldn’t be confiscated from you if you have a valid prescription.
valium only stays in your system (urine) for up to 60 hours, so unless you had a urine drug screen the next day or 2 then you wouldn’t fail. If you had a hair follicle test you would pass as it takes around 12 uses of any drug for it to be detectable in hair.
Mood disturbances occur predominantly when it’s prescribed longer term.

drs are usually happy to prescribe this! How bonkers! Get some sleeping tablets and take a couple? Night nurse or something?

Go private op I get them no problem every single time I fly.

They are the only thing that calms me down enough to even get near the airport. I get enough for the day before, just before flight just so i can get in the taxi to the airport and during flight.

I’m a substance abuse nurse and can say that GP’s are still able to prescribed it in severe cases of fear when flying.
One or two tablets wouldn’t be enough to cause mood altering affects

I've asked my gp for a one off beta blockers (propranolol ) which he gave me. Stopped the anxiety without sedating me.
I guess it depends on your general health though and other meds you may be on

My GP told me recently they don't prescribe then for flying anymore, as it's not safe to fly if you're sedated incase there was an emergency