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?

They really love this! I too have low blood pressure.

I had a doctor say this crap to me about my last flight. A different doc at the same place gave it to me. However, the attitude to diazepam is so odd, I think it will get banned soon. We'll all be on “create your own mellow” soon. I asked one doctor what he thinks happens when he refuses my script (for sleep). He looked blank but he might have been trying not to say something that might get him in trouble

they must know that people find alternatives.

I’ve never risked a private GP as I wouldn’t want to pay for the appointment and get told “no”.

"There are much better ways to manage anxiety."

No, some of us have tried all sorts and know what manages our problem.

I believe you meant well, but it is comments like that that do come across as extremely patronising.

Obvs if it ever is banned then we'd have to find an alternative, one that probably would result in a very dangerous situation if there was an issue on board, but until then, there's diazepam, which works perfectly as it should.

Oh really, which better way do you suggest, that would stop a genuine life long fear, that could put me at risk of a break through seizure? I'm pleased you think it isn't serious, as it does tend to worry me quite a bit, hence my GP appt. I wouldn't be so condescending to you.

Yeah, they're very protective of the valium these days! I take them for MRI scans and have done for about a decade. And yet every single time I have to have an appointment to check I'm not actually an addict trying to score. Presumably they suspect that I am sneakily persuading my neurologist to book me an MRI every year or so just so I can get my druggy mitts on two 5mg diazepam. Which will then tide me over for the next year or so. They're definitely on to me - and they're most certainly not going to tricked into enabling my torrid habit, no siree!

My GP gave me diazepam for flight nerves. No reason not to.

My gp happily gave me temazepam years ago for a one off dental issue which really helped and has given me diazepam more recently for pet scans.
However I found for extreme anxiety I feel in scans the diazepam did nothing for me. 10mg might as well be a smartie.
I was swapped to ct scans instead which I can just about tolerate.

NRFT but a gp won’t give you diazepam for flying. You’d have to go private..

Yanbu and I'm talking as someone who had a benzo addiction that started from prescribed diazepam. 2/3 tablets will not cause an addiction and your gp is being dramatic and actually sounds ridiculous

Plenty of reasons not too… they’ve probably gone against prescribing advice if they’ve given you some for flying!

The NHS is very punitive to clinicians who step outside guidelines. The GMC can suspend almost on a whim. The ability to be creative and tailor treatments to individuals is slowly reducing. Yes I am in favour of evidence-based medicine. But I think it’s going the other way now, where doctors cannot use their expertise, experience and common sense to make clinical decisions based on the patient they see in front of them. I am not convinced patients are better off for this. It’s also defensive medicine.

Doctors should not be patronising. But they need to be upfront about guidelines and explain why their hands are tied.

If you can afford it, definitely try a private GP. I see one for menopause issues and haven’t been sleeping well because of anxiety - she was adamant that i should have a stash of diazepam “just in case”, plus some melatonin. I left the surgery clutching a prescription for 28 of the little beauties…

You could discuss this with your GP and see what services are available eg CBT, alternative medications such as anti depressants or anti - psychotics

Am rather confused why you think diazepam should be banned just because you didn't get the pills when you demanded them. I'm just trying to explain to you that there are some serious disorders eg schizo-affective where those medications are essential rather than for plane trips.

I'm sorry OP, that's shit. I've used them for dentist visits before and I've always been made to feel awful for asking.
Weirdly, my Mum used to get them regular as if she was asking for sweets and I never did find out why.

I'd ask to speak to another GP if you can and stress how much the last GP upset you and how much you struggle with your fear.

I think it should be banned? No I don't, I just wondered what they prescribe it for, as apparently there is always an alternative.
I don't need an antipsycotic, or antidepressant, when i dont suffer from what they treat. What appalling advice. I am sorry you have your condition, but it doesn't give you ticket to be so patronising to people who suffer from other conditions.

And for the record I didn't "demand them." Try to work on being curious rather than judgemental. I won't patronise you by listing unhelpful OTT alternatives, so kindly do not do the same to me.

Ditto!! Lots of this on the internet if you google it. I wouldn't prescribe it now for flying either

You can get a private prescription for £70

I mean they might turn to alcohol, but given the Dr didn’t prescribe it the onus is on the individual who is drinking the alcohol!
Medicine is practiced defensively nowadays for fear of complaints and litigation due to a heavy handed regulator.

I have done .. Hypnotherapy, Fear of Flying Course, the “easy way” to get over your fear of flying, breathing exercises, CBT … Nothing works.

Maybe my GP thinks a Panic Attack at take-off is better for my health ..

A good hypnotist will cure your fear of flying in one session, a mediocre one might cure it in 2 or 3 sessions if you’re lucky, but I wouldn’t bother trying them.

Hypnotherapy did absolutely nothing for me.

I’m scared of flying, used to take diazepam but now I’m no longer able to get a prescription I don’t book holidays that require flying. It’s a simple enough solution! If I did want to start holidaying in places that require a flight again I would look into getting therapy to tackle the fear first. Why on earth did you book a holiday which involved flying when you have a known fear of flying? You should have booked something that didn’t require a flight!

I honestly didn't know, I used to fly all of the time when I was younger. Then I had my dcs, we thought it will be lovely to take them away for the first time. Dh, and I haven't been abroad in over a decade. Suddenly as it is getting closer, I feel increasingly scared. I wonder if it is to do with getting older, and my dcs, and epilepsy. Maybe just all 3 factors. I have tried meditation, mindful techniques and they haven't worked, and it is in a couple of weeks time now. I want my dcs to experience other cultures, and not pick up on anything, so I have hidden it. I feel so sorry that you're being held back from travelling abroad, when there is something out there that would help you potentially.

Sorry I missed that you have had it before, safely. That should make it easy to get privately at least.

I take lorazapam when I need it for anxiety (not for flying) and although I know they are addictive, I've not found taking them as I do a problem. I used to probably have 1 or 2 every day but now more like one a week at most. I think the problem is different people react to them differently.

I find other medication I take more addictive than lorazapam to be honest.

I'm with you, OP. Our lovely GP who we had for years gave me a prescription for my anxiety. I never abused it. A box of 20 (or however many it was) 2mg tablets would last me for up to six weeks, but it was so helpful in taking the edge off on days when I was really struggling. Then we moved to Scotland and our new GP recoiled in horror at the very idea. Put me on, you guessed it, propranolol. Which works to an extent, but it's nowhere near as effective, and now I'm largely back to struggling.

It's ludicrous that you were made to feel like an addict for requesting TWO 2mg tablets. Go private!!