Fear of Flying

The fear of flying, or aerophobia, is when you experience an intense fear of being on an aeroplane. It affects around one in ten people.

Help with fear of flying

The following organisations offer Fear of Flying courses. They are more effective than drugs and have none of the side effects. The positive effects of the course continue after you have completed it.

For further information on how to overcome a fear of flying, see:

How to manage flight anxiety

Diazepam and other sedatives

Many practices in the UK do not prescribe sedatives for fear of flying. This is the case for our practice. No one at the practice will prescribe Diazepam (Valium) or other sedatives for you to take on a flight.

If you still wish to take a sedative for fear of flying, you will need to consult with a private GP or travel clinic.

Why we don’t prescribe sedatives

  • Safety in an emergency. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you more sleepy. If there is an emergency during the flight, it may affect your ability to follow instructions. This could put the safety of you and those around you at serious risk.

  • Risk of clots. Sedative drugs make you fall asleep. But this sleep is not a natural sleep, so you won’t move around as you would with natural sleep. This can put you at increased risk of developing blood clots in the leg (DVT) or lungs (PE). Blood clots are very dangerous and, in some cases, can be fatal.

  • Side effects

    • Low oxygen levels. Sedative medications can affect your breathing and cause low oxygen levels. There is already less circulating oxygen on an aeroplane. Reduced oxygen combined with sedative medications can be very dangerous.

    • Agitation. Most people find taking Diazepam makes them sleepy. A small number of people become agitated and aggressive instead. This can put both you and other passengers on the plane at risk, and can get you into trouble with the law.

  • Medical guidelines. The prescribing guidelines (BNF) state that Diazepam should not be prescribed for phobias. If your doctor does not follow these guidelines they are taking a significant legal risk.

  • Illegal in some countries. Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in some countries. As a result they may get confiscated, or the local police may be involved.