Hucclecote Surgery position on Benzodiazepines (including Diazepam) for fear of flying

Sometimes doctors get asked to prescribe Diazepam or similar medications for patients who are nervous about going on a flight.

Prescribing such medication is no longer recommended, and so the doctors at Hucclecote Surgery will not prescribe Diazepam for fear of flying.

Some of the reasons for this are:

  • Diazepam is a sedative and so, should there be an emergency on the plane, it could reduce your alertness, slow your reaction time and make you less able to act in an emergency.
  • In a small number of people, there is the opposite effect, and they become agitated and aggressive, rather than sleepy. If this happened on a flight, this could pose a risk to both your safety and that of others on the plane
  • The sedative effect of Diazepam can slow your breathing down, which in people with breathing problems (diagnosed or otherwise), or those who have taken alcohol, can be dangerous, particularly as there are lower levels of oxygen on a plane than in normal situations.
  • If the Diazepam sedates you enough to sleep or be less active than normal, your risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis is increased. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot in the leg, which can be triggered by prolonged sitting, and which can have both life threatening, and life-long, complications
  • Side effects from this medication include poor memory, concentration and coordination. These side effects are different for different people, and last different lengths of time in different people. Therefore, taking Diazepam may endanger you for whatever you are doing after your flight.
  • Diazepam is a controlled drug in the UK which means there are restrictions on its prescribing, and it is a common “drug of misuse”.
  • Prescribing guidance that doctors are guided by, says that Diazepam should not be used for phobias, and should only be prescribed in anxiety if you have a condition called “generalised anxiety” and are having a crisis. If you suffer from this condition and were having a crisis it would not be recommended that you take a flight. Therefore, there are no conditions where it would be recommended to prescribe Diazepam for flying.

Other considerations include:

  • There are some countries where it is illegal to take Diazepam into the country.
  • There are also circumstances where travel insurance would not cover you if you needed medical attention or had an accident when you had taken Diazepam.

What Can I do if I have a fear of Flying?

Fear of flying is a common fear, and we recognise it can be debilitating and stressful. It is increasingly recognised by airlines as well, and many major airlines run Fear of Flying courses which for many people, help them long term so they are able to approach flying without panic or fear. There are some links below of some of the more common ones: