Do docs freely prescribe diazepam?

[fabuleux]

I have never been on any kind of medication like that before but have felt increasingly anxious/panicky in general over last few months. I have a 4 hour flight in a few weeks and I am terrified of the claustrophobia and feeling out of control. I am not good on planes anyway but know I will be even worse this time. Someone suggested diazepam for the flight. If I go to the doctors and explain, do they normally sympathise and prescribe with this kind of thing? I don't want to be told to just basically get a grip!!

I've been prescribed diazepam a few times to get me through a bad patch. GP happy to do this but I usually only get a weeks worth as it is incredibly addictive. Actually just having it available in case I need it really helps with the anxiety. My aunt gets it before every flight she takes.

My Gp gave it me when I had no real anxiety issues at all. I'd been tested for a serious health problem (clear thankfully) and had a week to wait for the results. He just wrote the prescription to help me through. I didn't take them.

They happily give me tiny amounts once a year to get me through the dentists. It does seem to help.

I've been prescribed it before for flying. My Db was prescribed it recently because he had to have an mri scan and he's incredibly claustrophobic. Your Gp should be sympathetic - good luck.

I have prescribed it for flying before. It is for the "short term relief of anxiety"

It's regularly prescribed for short-term relief of anxiety.
It's licence is not longer than 4 weeks.
Fear of flying is a really well recognised phobia and to have a handful of Diazepam should certainly get on on a plane and back.

However, if you have a longer standing anxiety problem that is just brought to a head by the thought of having to fly, then address that.

Also, many larger airports run really successful 'fear of flying' courses - well worth a look.

Just an fyi- its also prescribed for muscle spasms. I had a bad back recently and was given diazepam as painkillers were useless.

I also have it prescribed for a bad back, to help relax the muscles. I find it does work well but I can't function properly as it makes me drowsy.

They are more likely to prescribe beta blockers for flying.

Beta blockers help with the physical effects of anxiety (dry mouth, feeling shake, stomach churning etc etc); Diazepam help with anxiety, but also sedates.

This is the kind of think I'd want to discuss face to face with somebody who has a fear of flying.

My Gp didn't give me this last week for flying, I was going by myself and she wasn't happy so I didn't get it!

Just twice for flying wont hurt you. I was on them long term, along with temazepam, prescribed long term for anxiety, I am off them now, and believe me it is hell to withdraw from. Doctors still do this, and they really shouldnt. I wouldnt go in and ask for it by name, you might look like you are drug-seeking! Just say you are very anxious about flying, and see what they offer.

The prescription of diazepam is generally discouraged due to pontential for abuse / illicit sale.

It doesn't stop them from prescribing it willynilly, hellomynameis. They were throwing it at me for extended periods of time. What on earth is she going to do with presumably four pills! Its hardly abusable in such tiny quantities.

I have found that they do, very easily... i actually got the impression that they give it to you to just get a quick turn around in! When i pulled my back, before i even sat down the doc pretty much said 'here take diazepam, naproxin and cocodomol and come back if it doesnt help in a week'

Been giving a weeks worth for a flight next week. Worried it isn't enough as had to take a few already to stop me falling into my 'pre flight melancholoy' but darent ask for more.

Get thee on a fear of flying course - Virgin

Or BA

Or even EasyJet

And most airports offer something too - don't live like this, people. You have loads of holidays ahead of you (hopefully!) so why dread every one of them beforehand??

Ican, what you are experiencing is one of the pitfall of using sedative and anxiolytic medication for a fear problem - it'll work at the time but you just start worrying earlier IYSWIM.
Fear of Flying coursed don't work for everybody, but they are so worth a shot and DO make a huge difference to most people.

Iceni, if you find yourself blasting through the weeks prescription, this is the point where you leave the diazepam alone. It is highly addictive, creeps up on you, and an absolutely vicious medication to get off of. You need to find another way to relax.

Well I've only had 1.5 days worth but now I think im close to a panic attack. DH has a pilots licence so I know about all the stats, sounds, how aircrafts work etc.

I get it for flying, but VERY low dose. Need to get DS some phenergan for our Transatlantic haul this summer, too. He has ASD and is very hard to handle on my own and the whole thing makes him anxious.