[SilkySpeed7]

Will a doctor prescribe me valium for the first time flying because i have a very bad problem with planes?

[LMo]

Don't know... mine prescribed Ativan, but I don't like it. A little bit of benadryl should help, though.

[eskielover]

Be careful of benedryl.....I had a problem with anaphalactic shock from taking benedryl.....very rare side effect, but wouldn't you know....I was one of the unlucky ones that had the side effect.

Valium at a low dose is great for calming me down. I have been having the worst anxiety attacks that I have had in years & I had quit taking valium.....now it is helping again.

Of course, I am on seroquel along with the valium so they both work together to try & calm me downl. To be honest, none of the meds really do any good which is very scarry to feel that out of control & having my pdoc telling me that my best choice is to go into the hospital.

Try the relaxation techniques you have been taught....breathing & just concentrating on relaxing each part of your body. It works pretty good for me until I stop & the anxiety attacks come back again. I feel hopeless & don't really know what to do about it.....my psychologist keeps telling me that this is not a permanent condition & it will go away (but i want to know when!!!!!! I want it to go away NOW!!!!)

At least with the flying, it is only a temporary situation that only lasts for as long as you are in the plane.....then it will be over & hopefully after the initial flight, you will realize that it isn't as bad as you thought it would be.

One of my first experiences with flying was with a friend I had in College. His uncle was a heliocopter piolet in Nam & what a ride he gave us. He wanted to show off & I almost lost it several times.....dont think you will have that kind of experience. Actually flying is very pleasent. I have done many business trips & one long trip to Rome from Los Angeles. The noise was anoying but it was actually pleasent.

Debbie

[LMo]

You know, for 14 years, I was flying pretty much weekly for my job. I never really got over a fear of flying... if anything, I built UP a fear of flying... as if I was playing Russian Roulette and was increasing my odds each time. I had developed a system of taking Tylenol PM to make sure I got enough sleep on redeye flights and it extended to every time I felt any turbulence. However, recently a friend of mine, who is a physician, told me that the ingredient in Tylenol PM that makes you sleepy is Benadryl, so I should take that instead of ingesting the other pain-relieving ingredients if I don't actually need them.

[Azalysa]

If you have a pdoc I would DEFINITELY ask him/her otherwise your GP. I took valium one time in my life and it knocked me out and I slept for hours. (No idea of the dosage.) Now that could be advantageous, but NOT if you're flying alone.

The other meds for anxiety (that I have personally tried) are Xanax and Ativan. They both take the edge off.

Hope that helps!