As a practice, we DO NOT prescribe sedatives such as Diazepam ( Valium ) for anxiety or claustrophobia related to medical procedures such as MRI scans, or for flying. We understand this might be disappointing, especially if you have been prescribes these for similar reasons before, but advice and guidance has changes and it is important that we update our practice to reflect this. Please see below why we do not prescribe there, and advice on what can help.
MRI Scans:
- Side effect: diazepam s likely to cause you to feel drowsy, confused and unsteady. This will make it difficult to get yourself to and from hospital and to look after yourself for the rest of the day
- If sedation is truly needed for the scan, oral diazepam may be insufficient for this and the hospital team arranging the scan can discuss giving you the right medication, and crucially, carrying out the appropriate monitoring. This may mean needing to travel elsewhere to have scan
- Appointments often run late and are sometimes cancelled at short notice. This may mean medication will have worn off by the time you get your scan, or you will have taken risky medication unnecessarily.
- While Diazepam is usually sedating, some patients have the opposite reaction and become very agitated
- The British National Formulary ( the prescribing manual for all doctors use ) states that diazepam should not be prescribed for phobia e.g claustrophobia, or for short term anxiety about procedures. Prescribing this therefore is contradicting national guidelines and may mean the doctor would face consequences if anything went wrong.
- What can help instead :- Listen to some calming music, carry out deep breathing exercises and take a trusted relative or friend to your appointment.
- Talk to the hospital team arranging the scan. They might be able to arrange proper sedation in a safe setting, or using different equipment such as an open MRI, although this might mean travelling outside Fife for scan.
Flying :
In addition to the risk described above, there are other reasons why taking Diazepam for flight anxiety is unsafe
- Sedative drugs reduce your alertness and can cause confusion and difficulty mobilising. In the event of an emergency this would make it difficult to follow instruction and evacuate quickly putting yourself and others at risk. It would also affect your ability to help children and any vulnerable adults travelling with you
- When sedated with drug like Diazepam you are much less mobile than when sleeping normally. As a result your circulation is poorer and on longer flights this would increase your risk of DVT ( Blood clot in leg )
- As mentioned above, some people who take diazepam can become very agitated and behave unpredictably, obviously a difficult situation on board a plane.
- Diazepam is classified differently in different countries and is illegal in some places. You could therefore face legal consequences if you are found carrying it, even with a valid prescription.
- What can help ? If you have a severe fear of flying but need to travel, several airlines offer courses to help overcome this. Please check your airline.
