Some patients ask doctors for medicines like Diazepam (also called Valium) to help with fear of flying. Diazepam is a sedative, meaning it makes you sleepy and calm. But there are important reasons why we no longer give this medicine for flying.
What Is Diazepam?
Diazepam is a drug that’s been around since the 1960s. It was used for problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, seizures, and muscle spasms. But we now know that it can be addictive, cause memory problems, and make it hard to think clearly or react quickly.
Why We Don’t Prescribe It for Flying
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Not allowed for fear of flying: UK medical guidelines say Diazepam should not be used for mild anxiety or fear of flying.
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Not safe in emergencies: If something goes wrong on a plane, Diazepam can slow your reactions and make it harder for you to respond.
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Increased health risks: The drug causes deep sleep without much movement. This can raise the chance of dangerous blood clots (called DVT), especially on long flights.
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Unusual reactions: Some people become angry or overly excited after taking it, which can cause problems on the flight.
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May make anxiety worse: Studies show using Diazepam can stop people from learning how to handle fear, making anxiety worse over time.
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Illegal in some countries: Carrying Diazepam into certain countries can get you into legal trouble.
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Can affect job drug tests: Diazepam stays in your body for a long time and could cause you to fail a work drug test.
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Could affect travel insurance: If you don’t tell your insurer about taking this medicine, your policy might not cover you.
What to Do Instead
Instead of medicine, there are flight anxiety courses recommended by the airline industry that can really help.
Doctors in regular GP practices are not required to prescribe for flight anxiety. If you still want to take this kind of medicine, you’ll need to speak to a private doctor or travel clinic.
For further information:
https://thefearofflying.com/programs/fly-and-be-calm/
https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence
https://www.flyingwithoutfear.com/
[i] British National Formulary; Diazepam - https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/diazepam.html
[ii] British National Formulary; Hypnotics and anxiolytics - https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summary/hypnotics-and-anxiolytics.html
[iii] Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management. NICE Clinical guideline [CG113] Published date: January 2011 Last updated: July 2019 https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg113
[iv] Acute and delayed effects of Alprazolam on flight phobics during exposure. Behav Res Ther. 1997 Sep;35(9):831-41
