Valium for fear of flying ?

[mabel12345]

I’ve always been scared of flying and I think it recently got worse. I always self medicated with alcohol and usually had way too much ending up being embarrassing 🤦🏼‍♀️ I recently had a baby and I can’t drink while flying anymore so I’m planning to ring my GP and ask for Valium. Has anyone got any experience with flying on Valium? I’m going to add that I am scared of crashing not claustrophobic or anything else, will it still help?

It will make you less anxious. You probably won’t be capable of looking after a baby. If you don’t have medication seeking behaviours they’ll probably give it.

Mum has been using Valium for as long as I can remember.

She is very out of it during the flight and says the first day of arriving at her destination makes her so hazy due to the medication which ruins the holiday if she’s going for a long weekend away.

A decent GP would not prescribe Valium for this. Sorry OP.

I'vd had it a few times for long haul flights. Doctor wasnt keen to prescribe it last time and I had to grovel. Then it gave me a headachde for a good few days the after the flight.

You need to get CBT for this. You are playing roulette by using valium. Its easy to fix with specific CBT. Valium is not the answer.

My DM took it for decades for flying but has been a lot better in recent years and has managed some without. There’s no way she’s be able to look after any age child once she’s taken it though, will you have your DP with you to take care of baby?

My GP has given me Valium for 20+ years for flying. It helps (I couldn’t fly without it) but does give me a terrible “hangover” because I take a fairly high dose. They can also prescribe beta-blockers which can also help with episodic anxiety such as flying.

@ThisisMax

You need to get CBT for this. You are playing roulette by using valium. Its easy to fix with specific CBT. Valium is not the answer.

Sorry this is not easily fixed with CBT. at all! Fear of flying is not always about flying and unless you can get to the root CBT won't touch it, I say this as a CBT trained therapist and person with a huge fear of flying. I have taken Vallium on flights but I only take a half 30 minutes before take off so completely with it.

I always take Valium when I fly and still manage to look after my kids! I couldn’t fly without taking them I get too anxious and it just takes the edge off so I can just about function!

@crosbyrose could you tell me what’s your dosage? Of course I’m aware it works differently for everyone

This is not what the NHS is for.
Please go to a private GP for this

I'm sure I was given some kind of beta blocker for this years ago before our honeymoon (a few flights in little planes).

@Gnomechomsky
CBT is literally the treatment for fear of flying - it very strange that as a trained CBT therapist you would say this. No GP worth their salt will prescribe a benzo for this.
www.langleycornersurgery.co.uk/website/Y00351/files/Fear%20of%20Flying.pdf

@Gnomechomsky thats interesting. I had extremly bad fear of flying. I had a long term piece of work with a CBT therapist and got some relief but often slipped back. However I changed to a new CBT therapist who I really did not click with but boy she was great. Got me flying properly with a whole different approach. Using drugs, mantras, affirmations, distractions etc were not allowed. She was absolutely excellent.

@mabel12345 I think the dr prescribes me 10 x 2.5mg and I take 5 on the flight there and 5 on the flight back and it works well. I start taking them about an hour before the flight leaves and just see how I go and take another when I feel the anxiety creeping back in.

[quote Hottubtimemachine]@Gnomechomsky
CBT is literally the treatment for fear of flying - it very strange that as a trained CBT therapist you would say this. No GP worth their salt will prescribe a benzo for this.
www.langleycornersurgery.co.uk/website/Y00351/files/Fear%20of%20Flying.pdf[/quote]
I thought so too. Worked for me. Eliminating safety seeking behaviours was key for me.

@takemetomars

This is not what the NHS is for. Please go to a private GP for this

Do you keep a list of what you deem acceptable?

Perhaps you could share it with us...

I thought GPs won’t prescribe Valium now.

[quote crosbyrose]@mabel12345 I think the dr prescribes me 10 x 2.5mg and I take 5 on the flight there and 5 on the flight back and it works well. I start taking them about an hour before the flight leaves and just see how I go and take another when I feel the anxiety creeping back in.[/quote]
Diazepam are most commonly used as a 2mg tablet. To take 5 at a time for flying would never be recommended by a GP
Our surgery no longer prescribe any medication for holidays and tell you to go to a private GP or use online service

I’ve not flown since covid so no idea if drs are no longer prescribing it. Mine used to though.

How long is the flight? Is anyone travelling with you, or just the baby? Are you breastfeeding?

Diazepam has a long half life and passes into breast milk, so many people might initially sleep, but wake up drowsy for many hours - baby too! There are other, shorter acting meds a GP 'might' prescribe, but I'd be very surprised if they prescribe diazepam! It also can be highly addictive after taking for a short period of time.

Have you done any of the fear of flying courses that many airports/airlines run?
fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/

www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-services/Travel-advice/fear-of-flying/

www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence

This is not what the NHS is for. Please go to a private GP for this

Yes, how ridiculous to approach an NHS GP for anxiety treatment. They should all go private along with all the other pesky people bothering NHS GP's with their MH issues.

I get Valium for travelling - but it’s for all forms of long travel journeys by trains - claustrophobic - my dr prescribes me 6 tablets at a time - I tried CBT - didn’t work for me sadly!

My GP prescribes me valium for severe anxiety no problem. I can't travel without it. Take it maybe twice a year.

2mg does literally nothing for me though, I need 10mg. I don't even feel 2mg.

You need to be aware that people react differently to Valium. I was not capable of finding my passport on landing. It was clearly visible in my handbag, which I then emptied on the airport floor.