Knowetop Medical Practice does NOT prescribe sedatives for fear of flying. This policy decision has been made by the GP Partners and is adhered to by all prescribers working in the Practice. This is in line with change in recommendations by the Health Board. The reasons for this are as follows:
1. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and react to the situation. This could have serios saftety consequences for you and those around you.
2. Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. THis means you won't move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at increased risk of develping a blood clot (DVT) in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots asre very dangerous and can even prove fatal. The risk is even greater if your flight is four hours or more.
3. Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. THis could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
4. According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (BNF) benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not allowed) in phobia. Your doctor is taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for you mental health and not going on a flight.
5. Diazepam and similar drugs asre illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
6. Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If you job requires you to submit to random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening. A much better approach is to tackle this properly with a Fear of Flying course run by the airlines and we have listed a few of these below.
Easyjet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com; Tel 0203 8131644
British Airways www.flyingwithconfidence.com; Tel 01252 793250
Virgin www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk; Tel 01423 714900