Policy Prescribing Diazepam for Fear of Flying and Investigative Procedures
Fear of Flying
Our practice does not prescribe diazepam or other benzodiazepines for fear of flying or to help patients sleep during flights.
Diazepam is a sedative medication and a Class C/Schedule IV controlled drug in the UK. There are several important reasons why it is not appropriate for this purpose:
- National prescribing guidance (the British National Formulary) states that benzodiazepines should not be used to treat phobias, including fear of flying.
- They are not recommended for short-term mild anxiety and are only licensed for specific short-term uses, such as acute crises associated with generalised anxiety disorder.
- Sedation can reduce alertness and slow reaction times, which may affect your ability to respond appropriately in the unlikely event of an emergency during a flight.
- Sedative-induced sleep is different from natural sleep and reduces movement, which may increase the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly on flights lasting more than four hours.
- A small number of people experience unexpected side effects, including agitation, aggression, or disinhibition, which could affect their own safety and that of other passengers.
- Diazepam is subject to strict legal controls and may be restricted or prohibited in some countries.
- Travel insurers may require you to declare both your medical conditions and any prescribed medication. Failure to do so could affect your insurance cover.
Fear of flying does not form part of the NHS General Medical Services (GMS) contract, and GP practices are not obliged to prescribe medication for this purpose.
If you experience fear of flying, we recommend considering one of the following aviation industry-supported programmes:
Patients who still wish to explore the use of medication for flight anxiety should seek advice from a private GP.
Diazepam for MRI Scans and Other Investigative Procedures
Our practice does not prescribe diazepam or other sedative medication for MRI scans or other hospital
investigations.
This decision has been made to ensure safe, consistent, and appropriate patient care.
The reasons include:
- Low doses are often ineffective, while some patients may have unpredictable or adverse reactions, even with small doses.
- Delays to hospital appointments may mean the medication is taken too early or too late to be effective.
- GPs are not routinely trained, assessed, or equipped to provide procedural sedation.
- Hospital clinicians requesting or performing the investigation are able to prescribe any medication required to facilitate the procedure.
- Patients receiving sedation should be appropriately monitored throughout the procedure to ensure their safety.
- National guidance from the Royal College of Radiologists recommends that sedation for imaging should be managed by experienced healthcare professionals within the hospital setting.
If you feel you may require sedation or additional support to undergo your scan or procedure, please discuss this with the hospital department or the consultant who arranged your investigation. They are best placed to assess your needs and arrange appropriate care where necessary.
