Sedative Prescribing for Fear of Flying

The Guildhall & Barrow Surgery 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. The
reasons for this can be found below:

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 serious safety 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 developing a blood clot (DVT) in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots are very
   dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than four hours.
3. Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have
   paradoxical agitation and in 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 your mental health and not going on a flight.
5. Diazepam and similar drugs are 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 your 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 number of
these below.
Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com Tel 0203 8131644
British Airways www.flyingwithconfidence.com Tel 01252 793250
Virgin www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk Tel 01423 714900