Sedative Medication for Fear of Flying

We understand that fear of flying can be very distressing and can significantly affect travel plans. After careful consideration of current prescribing guidance and patient safety issues, our practice has adopted a policy of not routinely prescribing diazepam or other benzodiazepines solely for fear of flying.

The reasons for this decision include:

• Safety during air travel: Diazepam and similar medications can cause drowsiness, slowed reaction times, impaired concentration and reduced awareness. In the event of an in-flight emergency, these effects may affect your ability to respond appropriately to instructions or evacuate the aircraft safely.
• Risk of blood clots: Sedative medication can result in reduced movement and unnaturally deep sleep during flights. Prolonged immobility, particularly on longer journeys, may increase the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Unexpected reactions: Although these medicines can reduce anxiety in some people, a small number of individuals may experience agitation, aggression, disinhibition or behavioural changes, which can be difficult to manage in the confined environment of an aircraft.
• National prescribing guidance: The British National Formulary advises that benzodiazepines should generally be used only for the short-term treatment of severe anxiety that is disabling or causing extreme distress. They are not recommended for the routine treatment of isolated phobias, such as fear of flying.
• More effective long-term approaches: Research suggests that psychological strategies, including cognitive behavioural techniques and structured fear-of-flying programmes, are more effective in helping people manage this fear over time

For these reasons, we are unable to provide diazepam or similar medication for this purpose.

If your anxiety extends beyond flying or is affecting other aspects of your daily life, we would encourage you to make an appointment to discuss this further with a healthcare professional, as there may be other forms of support and treatment available.

Some airlines also offer dedicated fear-of-flying courses, which many people find beneficial.