Fear of Flying Policy

It is now practice policy that we will not be prescribing diazepam for patients who wish to use this for a fear of flying.

This decision has been made for a number of reasons

1. National prescribing guidelines do not allow the use of diazepam to treat phobias. Any doctor prescribing diazepam for fear of flying would be taking a significant legal risk to prescribe against these guidelines

• Diazepam is a sedative. This means it usually makes people more sleepy and relaxed. This may cause you to fall into an unnatural non-REM sleep which means normal movements during sleep are reduced and this can increase the risks of bloods clots (DVT). In addition your ability to concentrate and follow instructions may be impaired which could result in risks to yourself or fellow passengers in case of an on-board emergency

• Although most people who take diazepam get a sedative effect for a small number of people it actually has the opposite effect. This can lead to disinhibition and even aggressive behaviour which could affect your own or fellow passenger’s safety. 

We appreciate that a fear of flying can be very distressing and debilitating but there are safer and more effective treatments for this. Several airlines run Fear of Flying courses which can be very effective with long lasting effects.