Mexborough Health Centre does not prescribe sedatives for fear of flying. This decision has been made by the GP Partners and applies to all prescribers in the practice.
There are several important reasons for this policy:
- Diazepam and similar drugs can impair concentration and reaction times in emergencies, putting you and others at risk.
- These medicines cause unnatural sleep, increasing the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), especially on flights longer than four hours.
- A small number of people experience paradoxical effects such as agitation, aggression, or disinhibition, which can cause unsafe behaviour.
- Prescribing guidelines (BNF/NICE) state benzodiazepines are not licensed for treating phobias such as fear of flying. GPs risk acting outside clinical safety standards by prescribing them.
- Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in some countries and may lead to confiscation or legal issues abroad.
- These medicines remain in your system and may cause a failed drug test if your job involves random screening.
We understand that fear of flying is genuine and distressing. However, the safest and most effective long-term solution is a structured Fear of Flying course run by airlines.