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?

Given some of the worries expressed up thread a bit of info for context.

It certainly used to be the case that at least one airline used to carry in the medical kits onboard their aircraft both Lorazepam (could be administered by cabin crew ) and Diazepam (for use by or on advice of health care professionals). I doubt they were the only aircraft so equipped.

Not sure what the current general state of play is, somebody may be more up to speed than I am these days.

@Soontobe60
That link actually says that the practice will prescribe benzodiazepines for flight anxiety on a private prescription!

They list the boiler plate precautions for prescribing as are listed in the medication insert or patient prescription guidelines. There are no references to NICE guidelines on that link.

I get that people are scared of flying, and Valium masks that feeling. But it doesn't tackle the root cause. Flying is statistically incredibly safe and fear of flying is actually pretty irrational. I could be scared of horses or getting in a lift - but a doctor wouldn't prescribe Valium for that. They would be much more likely to recommend CBT.

Ironically, I’ve had private prescriptions for Valium and a prescription of 30 x 10mg Valium costs about 40pence. So when I get a NHS GP prescription of 10 Valium and pay £9.35, that’s an insane markup to cost ratio.

But how much did the private consultation cost? The NHS prescription charge doesn’t relate to the cost of the medication. It’s to help cover the cost of the consultation/ wages/ premises etc by just a tiny amount. It’s not a markup. It’s a huge discount.

[quote 74MyrnaHay]@Soontobe60
That link actually says that the practice will prescribe benzodiazepines for flight anxiety on a private prescription!

They list the boiler plate precautions for prescribing as are listed in the medication insert or patient prescription guidelines. There are no references to NICE guidelines on that link.[/quote]
I posted 3 links. I think it’s safe to say that GP practices model their prescribing policies on Nice guidelines rather than plucking them out of thin air.
bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summary/hypnotics-and-anxiolytics.html
The use of benzodiazepines to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate

But how much did the private consultation cost? The NHS prescription charge doesn’t relate to the cost of the medication. It’s to help cover the cost of the consultation/ wages/ premises etc by just a tiny amount. It’s not a markup. It’s a huge discount.

The private consultations are £95 but those are in Knightsbridge and unnecessarily high. Their routine GP appointments are 30 minutes long so that’s at a huge disparity with the NHS. (I do not think the private practice GP is any more skilled or qualified, they have more time and resources, that’s all.) I’ve no idea of a more reasonable cost of private practice consultations.

My understanding from seeing the NHS GP prescribing software at our practice is that the GP does see the cost of the prescription to the practice when prescribing. So GPs do have a prescribing budget, I have been given migraine melts that were very costly and given only 3 at a time due to the burden of cost on the NHS.

I do realise the cost of a prescription to the NHS isn’t as straightforward as my above comment, however, Valium is very inexpensive- a lot less expensive than a course of in-practice NHS CBT would be.

Take it OP. It is only going to have a debilitating effect if you take more than 10mg at a time, although some can tolerate that. I cannot understand the moralising tone of some posters. Fear of flying can be crippling, and is an anxiety disorder just like many others are and are medicated for.

Far better to be chilled out and relaxed rather than going off the wall on alcohol like many do on flights, but I don't see any moves to ban alcohol.

Drugs are there for a reason. The issue is misuse and addiction, which is hardly going to happen if you only take one on the way out and another on the way back. Happy mum happy everybody!

I posted 3 links. I think it’s safe to say that GP practices model their prescribing policies on Nice guidelines rather than plucking them out of thin air. bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summary/hypnotics-and-anxiolytics.html The use of benzodiazepines to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate

Apologies, @Soontobe60 I thought the previous links were one long link, did not see the 3 separate links.

The NICE guidelines also state: “Benzodiazepines are indicated for the short-term relief (two to four weeks only) of anxiety that is severe, disabling, or causing the patient unacceptable distress, occurring alone or in association with insomnia or short-term psychosomatic, organic, or psychotic illness.”

Of course GPs don’t prescribe without guidelines, I’m not sure if I gave that impression. However, many prescriptions are given for off-label symptoms, entirely outside of prescribing guidelines and at the discretion of the prescribing practitioners.

As quoted above from the NICE guidelines, the interpretation of when benzos could be prescribed would be at the clinical assessment of the practitioner as to the severity, longevity, and impact of the anxiety.

Anyway, I agree with @Inerve - great post!

They would be much more likely to recommend CBT.

CBT did absolutely fuck all for me. It was as useless as a chocolate teapot. Ditto hypnosis, ditto SSRIs, ditto beta blockers, ditto therapy and counselling. The only thing that has ever worked for my severe anxiety is valium.

DP took half a Valium for a flight once. He doesn't normally take it. He turned into a zombie and I had to look after him. He absolutely definitely would not have been able to look after a child.

My GP just called me to say that they are no longer allowed to prescribe Valium, I am a mess... This is my way of getting on a plane.. it's a longer story than just needing valium please don't judge me but has anyone else been told this?

Can anyone recommend anywhere private I can go to to get a prescription? Xx

Most private GPs will give it to you. Just Google private GP in whatever area you're in. The appointment will cost you more than the medication.