Prescriptions

We are unable to resolve queries on collected prescriptions after 6pm.

At John Ryle medical practice, we will not prescribe Diazepam for patients who wish to use this for fear of flying or for phobias in relation to medical and dental procedures. We have made this decision due to the following reasons:

1. Diazepam is a sedative. This means the medication makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there were to be an emergency during the flight, this could impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions or react to the situation. This could seriously affect the safety of you and the people around you.
2. Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however, when you sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means, your movements during sleep are reduced and this can place you at an increased risk of developing blood clots (DVT). These blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk further increases if your flight is over 4 hours long.
3. Although most people respond to benzodiazepines like Diazepam with sedation, a small proportion experience the opposite effect and can become aggressive. They can also lead to disinhibition and make you behave in ways you normally wouldn’t. This could also impact your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers or could lead you to get in trouble with the law.
4. National prescribing guidelines followed by doctors also don’t allow the use of benzodiazepines in cases of phobia. Any doctor prescribing diazepam for fear of flying would be taking a significant legal risk as this goes against these guidelines. Benzodiazepines are only licensed for short-term use in a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the problem you suffer from, you should seek proper care and support for your mental health, and it would not be advisable to go on a flight.
5. In several countries, diazepam and similar drugs are illegal. They would be confiscated, and you might find yourself in trouble with the police for being in control of an illegal substance.
6. Diazepam has a long half-life. This means it stays in your system for a significant time and you may fail random drug testing if you are subjected to such testing as is required in some jobs.

We appreciate a fear of flying is very real and very frightening and can be debilitating. However, there are much better and more effective ways of tackling the problem. We recommend you tackle your problem with a Fear of Flying Course, which is run by several airlines. These courses are far more effective than diazepam, they have none of the undesirable effects and the positive effects of the courses continue after the courses have been completed.

Fear of Flying Courses

• Easy Jet –  www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com. A free downloadable e-book is available or online courses from £89 – Tel: 0203 8131644
• British Airways – https://flyingwithconfidence.com/. Online courses are available from £79.99 – Tel: 01252 793 250 Virgin Atlantic

• https://www.flyingwithoutfear.com/. Face to face courses are available at various airports with prices from £299
• Love fly with Virgin Atlantic Free ebook from LoveFly, podcasts and webinars. 

For phobias, patients should consider a self-referral for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) via the Nottinghamshire talking therapies: www.everyturn.org/talking-therapies/how-are-you-feeling/phobias/

If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk)

Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.