Flying Anxiety & Medication Guidance

Sometimes patients will ask the GP or Nurse to prescribe Diazepam or similar sedative drugs (Benzodiazepines), for fear of flying or to help with sleep during flights.

In light of recent guidelines, prescribing these medications is no longer recommended for the following reasons:

• Prescribing guidelines now say that these medications should be used short-term to treat a 'crisis in generalized anxiety', if you are having such a crisis you are unlikely to be fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalized anxiety disorder.
• Diazepam can put you in an unnatural deep sleep, this means you will not move around as much as in a natural sleep. This will put you at risk of blood clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis), which can be fatal. The risk is even higher if your flight is longer than 4 hours.
• Diazepam and other similar drugs have negative effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration, and can be addictive. It has become more common for these drugs to be abused and so now is a controlled drug.
• Although plane emergencies rarely occur, taking Diazepam may reduce awareness and reaction times meaning you may put yourself or others at risk if you are required to respond to an emergency.
• Benzodiazepines are illegal in a number of countries, they may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
• It is important your travel insurance provider is informed about medical conditions or medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try and make a claim.

If you suffer with fear of flying, we suggest you try one of the following aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses:

• Visit the EasyJet website
• Visit the British Airways website
• Visit the Virgin Atlantic website