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Introduction
Grange Road Surgery policy states that the surgery will no longer be prescribing diazepam or related medications for flying.
In the UK, Diazepam is a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug. People often request the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or to assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, making you sleepy and more relaxed. Your doctor follows the national prescribing guidelines (British National Formulary) which states that "the use of benzodiazepines to treat short-term 'mild' anxiety is inappropriate" and that diazepam is contraindicated (not allowed) for treating phobias (fears).
Your doctor would be taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licenced short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight.
Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
In the rare occurrence that there is an emergency on the plane, the concern is that diazepam can reduce your awareness and reaction time, which poses a significant risk to yourselves and others.
Diazepam and other sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, but this is an unnatural non-REM sleep, and therefore you will not move around as much as normal. This can increase your risk of developing a blood clot (Deep Vain Thrombosis - DVT) in the leg or the lung, which can be dangerous or fatal.
In some countries, diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal, and they may be confiscated, or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
In regard to travel insurance, it is important to declare all medical conditions and medications you take to your travel insurer. If not, there is a risk of nullifying any insurance policy you may have.
Given all of the above we will no longer be providing diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety and instead suggest the below aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.
Flight anxiety does not come under the remit of General Medical Services as defined in the GP contract, and so we are not obliged to prescribe for this. Patients who still wish to take benzodiazepines for flight anxiety are advised to consult with a private GP.