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No diazepam for fly...
 

No diazepam for flying anymore.

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[#13178512]

Apparently someone took some and was naughty on a plane.

Therefore it can't be prescribed anymore.

Getting paralytic on booze is perfectly acceptable.

What else can I take ,who can I moan to?


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 11:30 am
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I've only taken it once for a 28 hour flight (South Korea then Guam) and it just knocked me out.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 11:56 am
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Dunno, but if you can't fly without drugging yourself

and

'2 hours is as long as we can tolerate in cattle class.'

Why don't you just knock flying on the head?


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 11:57 am
dc1988, chipster, imnotverygood and 15 people reacted
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Why don’t you just knock flying on the head?

Until they start a train service to Mustique I'm stuck with flying.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:17 pm
dyna-ti, Caher, dyna-ti and 1 people reacted
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Was it just one for the flight and one for the way back? or a few packets of the things?

I guess you'd have to show a prescription in any case as it's a drug that is frequently abused/sold.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:18 pm
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Some people have a phobia about flying. The doctor that gave me diazepam did. Mine has eased but not gone away.

2 on the way 2 on the way back. 10 years ago now - never taken it since.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:21 pm
 Drac
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Methaqualone?


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:29 pm
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Pretty sure I've seen milk used every effectively on a large chap when I was very young. It might have been on TV though, it was such a long time ago...


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:32 pm
doomanic, peekay, jamj1974 and 31 people reacted
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"**** luuuuudes maaaan!!!"


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:34 pm
footflaps and footflaps reacted
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why d'you want it? If it's just sedative, then there are plenty on the market, just talk to your GP although TBH, sedated on airplane in an emergency is not something I'd want to experience.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:39 pm
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It’s been the case for a while, someone famous nearly died on a Plane didn’t help, but also the airlines don’t want an unconscious person to move if it can be helped during an emergency.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:39 pm
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Some of the more autocratic middle eastern countries aren't keen on you having it on you either.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 12:50 pm
 Drac
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It’s been the case for a while, someone famous nearly died on a Plane

It’s also do with just handing out diazepam without a ‘real’ need for them.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:01 pm
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My friend who goes to the same surgery was given some a few weeks back for flying.

I shall try a different doctor.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:18 pm
footflaps and footflaps reacted
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It’s been the case for a while, someone famous nearly died on a Plane

Context? More info?

Are we to assume they took one 5mg diaz? Multiple? Washed down with a bottle of Cristal? Other substances?

Half a story. If even true. 😀


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:27 pm
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I'm surprised they won't give them out? My Dr has no problem giving me a 5mg tablet to take before the dentist but then I do have long history of anxiety problems. They don't knock me out or make me sleepy, just take the edge off the panic and actually stop me putting off going to the dentist which is a good thing in my book.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:42 pm
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Getting paralytic on booze is perfectly acceptable.

It absolutely, categorically, is not (airline worker).


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:44 pm
J-R, steveb, steveb and 1 people reacted
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I'd much rather go to the dentists than go on a flight,!

A quick google throws up a death in 1999 so not exactly common.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:44 pm
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Amitriptyline ??


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:53 pm
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When i worked with the police i saw a couple of fokk who hadbeen taken off planes for their behaviour after taking diazepam

Its a nasty dangerous drug with unpredictable effects


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:55 pm
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It’s been the case for a while, someone famous nearly died on a Plane didn’t help, but also the airlines don’t want an unconscious person to move if it can be helped during an emergency.

Colleague did this, on a flight from China to UK, took his normal sedatives and went to sleep. Last minute flight checks found a fault, everyone had to move to another plane. He had to be carried off my four flight attendants, unable to walk...


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 1:55 pm
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Colleague did this, on a flight from China to UK, took his normal sedatives and went to sleep. Last minute flight checks found a fault, everyone had to move to another plane. He had to be carried off my four flight attendants, unable to walk…

Crikey, how much did he take? I think your only supposed to take enough to chill you out a bit, not enough to drop an elephant! I suppose that's the danger... if someones got a packet of the stuff there's nothing stopping them taking more than strictly nessesary, mix that with a few beers and...


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 2:16 pm
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absolutely don't think it's something that you should use an NHS appointment for (and technically it doesn't qualify for one), but a private GP should be able to sort you out with a prescription. It'll cost you though.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 2:21 pm
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Seek help to treat the phobia rather than dulling the symptoms? I believe there are courses you can take.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 2:36 pm
crossed, ayjaydoubleyou, ayjaydoubleyou and 1 people reacted
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I've spent a fortune on hypnotherapy. The first time worked for a bit. Never had any joy with the next 2 attempts.

Diazepam just works.

Me having an "episode" on the plane would not be good for anyone.

If planes and airports were dry I could understand the supposed safety angle .


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 2:52 pm
J-R, Caher, footflaps and 3 people reacted
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Some of the more autocratic middle eastern countries aren’t keen on you having it on you either.

Or any drugs, unless you carry them fully packaged along with your prescription showing exactly what they are. The Zapain tablets I have for arthritis would be an absolute no-no, because they have Codein in them.
In fact, I’m fairly certain that it’s advisable for any travel destinations, to avoid awkward conversations about what the anonymous little pills are you have in your carry-on.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:01 pm
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maybe being a pilot isn't for you then


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:01 pm
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anonymous little pills are you have in your carry-on.

Stick them in a Viagra box, hiding in plain sight, lol!


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:03 pm
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I absolutely don’t think it’s something that you should use an NHS appointment for

I will have to respectively disagree eg if you have to travel for work and find it traumatising, then asking for professional help to be able to live your life is perfectly within the remit of the NHS.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:04 pm
J-R, Ogg, Ogg and 1 people reacted
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Me having an “episode” on the plane would not be good for anyone.

Another ex colleague is terrified of flying and gets very drunk to manage it. He's a body builder and ex bouncer and when he has an episode you don't want to be anywhere near him as it will take half a dozen big blokes to sit on him to stop him once he's kicked off, which has happened. At one point he was barred from BA after an episode.

No one else from work would travel on the same flight as him.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:08 pm
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@zippykona, some airlines run fear of flying courses, that is what I'd recommend.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:11 pm
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Can I just add, "phobic states", of which a fear of flying is one, are specific contraindications to benzodiazepines in the BNF.

Generally because they tend to make the problem worse not better.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:26 pm
 Drac
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I will have to respectively disagree eg if you have to travel for work and find it traumatising, then asking for professional help to be able to live your life is perfectly within the remit of the NHS.

It I had a fear of flying I wouldn’t pick a job that involved flying.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:28 pm
jmmtb, ayjaydoubleyou, jmmtb and 1 people reacted
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Another ex colleague is terrified of flying and gets very drunk to manage it.

Getting drunk isn't really "managing it", is it?


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:34 pm
J-R and J-R reacted
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I’m amazed people can get in a state on Diazepam, must be going way over dosage or drinking with it?
I have accidentally taken too much in the past as combined with Codeine my already crap memory was much worse, no outwardly noticeable harm done, a bit more clumsy than normal.
I guess you get used to it after a while.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:36 pm
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It I had a fear of flying I wouldn’t pick a job that involved flying.

If a simple tablet took away the fear, why wouldn't you?

Every tablet you get prescribed has a huge list of what could happen if you take it.

I can't see why my tablets have been singled out.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:37 pm
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some airlines run fear of flying courses, that is what I’d recommend.

That's what I was referring to rather than hypnotherapy. I saw a documentary on it on TV years ago, it's supposed to be highly effective.

I don't have a fear of flying, but then my first experiences of planes involved jumping out of them. 😁 Aside from take-off and landing it's all a bit dull really. I know turbulence can be scary for some people, but it's really just the air equivalent of potholes in the road.

Phobias usually aren't rational. Mine aren't.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:48 pm
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I can’t see why my tablets have been singled out.

Because they're not meant to be used for that purpose, it specifically says in the guidance.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:51 pm
gowerboy, nickc, Drac and 3 people reacted
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I always struggle with writing off a fear of flying as a 'just' a phobia.

I know turbulence can be scary for some people, but it’s really just the air equivalent of potholes in the road.

I remember hitting some severe turbulence in the middle of a flight to the Middle East once.  The cabin crew hadn't finished clearing away all the meals.  At one point the plane just dropped. I saw the trays fly up in the air and then shoot across the cabin as the wing dipped down and it felt like the plane was dropping sideways.  It sounded like the whole plane was screaming.

I'm sure everyone was perfectly safe but I doubt anyone was 'happy' getting on a plane for a while after that.  I know I wasn't.

I'm just not sure if having a fear of getting onto a vehicle that can drop hundreds of feet with little to no warning is entirely irrational.

I wish I had the sense to ask for some diazepam for the next few flights I took.  Would have made life a lot easier.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:52 pm
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I wish I had the sense to ask for some diazepam for the next few flights I took.  Would have made life a lot easier.

And conversely could have made you feel that you needed diazepam to fly, when clearly you don't.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 3:57 pm
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I saw a documentary on it on TV years ago, it’s supposed to be highly effective.

Phobias usually aren’t rational

A

n d there in lies this issue.  If you understand and a comfortable with all the noises and goings on, the only thing left is maybe an irrational fear which needs brain training and constant practice to remove.

I did the easyJet course.  In two parts the first was Pilot and cabin crew explaining procedures, noises and process which is helpful ( ost of this and more available on YouTube these days)  and then an afternoon of various relaxation / distraction / calming techniques to help your mental state.  The second day was a 45 minute flight full of explanation.  None of this logical explanatory worked for me becuase my fear is irrational.   So for me the course was a process of elimination leaving just the irrational bit to conquer.

The most calming thing for me was a cockpit visit after last years flight across the Atlantic.  There were a lot of these storms so I was shitting myself from the start but we only encountered 1 bit of light-medium turbulence, yet after the flight the pilot showed me his iPad which showed the storms and flight route which winding through them, even though I hadn’t noticed much deviation mid flight.  It gave me confidence.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 4:04 pm
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Would have made life a lot easier.

0r conversely made it much worse as happens sometimes and you end uo being dragged off the plane by police and chucked in jail.  I have seen this happen.  50year old middle class woman.  Got a broken arm and a criminal record


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 4:08 pm
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 and you end uo being dragged off the plane by police and chucked in jail.

Seen the same thing, Woman in her late 60s going to the US, she was getting fed drink from the cabin crew and stuffing Gawd knows what down herself. She'd just buried her mum, wasn't a good flyer and wasn't coping well with 8 hours on a plane. I had to tell the crew to stop bringing her drink in the end,  It all kicked off when we landed and she couldn't find her passport and started getting hysterical. Last I saw her she was being manhandled by the TSA into the "small windowless room" they have for fun-times.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 4:18 pm
 J-R
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I’m just not sure if having a fear of getting onto a vehicle that can drop hundreds of feet with little to no warning is entirely irrational.

It is entirely irrational if you don’t have a greater fear of getting into a motor vehicle or on a bike.  Let alone ride a motorcycle!

People’s perception of risk is notoriously irrational.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 4:20 pm
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Most phobias are rational.

Being scared of alien abduction is irrational.


 
Posted : 05/03/2024 4:24 pm
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