Just got some oxazepam for my phobia of flying. Got some questions.

Hey,

Among all the other things I'm anxious about I also have a phobia of flying. I've been very scared of it for as long as I can remember.

I lived abroad for two years and during that time I had to force myself to fly quite a bit to visit family etc., and things got a little better. I got over my fear of airports after a while and even flying got a bit easier. Not easy, but easier. I no longer panicked, even though I was still very anxious, and didn't really experience the physical symptoms of a panic attack.

However, a couple of years ago I had a bad flight and that completely ruined everything I had worked on (when it comes to the phobia) for the past three years or so. After that flight I was right back to square one. I think I might even be more scared now than before it got a little better. I've been avoiding all air travel since then.

Anyway, I unfortunately have to fly in the beginning of September and around Christmas and only thinking about flying is enough to trigger a panic attack sometimes. I feel like I can't and won't set foot in an airplane unless someone drugs me, so today I got some medication. The doctor prescribed 1 x 10 mg of oxazepam (maximum 2 per day). I've never taken anything stronger than beta blockers and hydroxyzine (both for other kinds of anxiety) before. Certainly not benzodiazepines. I've got a couple of questions I hope someone might be able to answer:

1. The doctor told me to try the medication at home to see what kind of side effects I can expect, so I'm thinking about trying it tomorrow. The thing is I'm not always super anxious when I'm at home so how will I know if the medication actually works?

2. How do I know if 10 mg is enough for me not to panic when it's time to fly? I've heard oxazepam is quite mild and I'm really worried I'll get to the airport, board the plane and realise the medication isn't working. Then I will seriously think I'm going to die and thinking you're going to die isn't pleasant so I'd like to avoid that.

Thank you.

Hey! You will know by how relaxed you are. Take an anxiety rating quiz before and 30 mins after...

I'm not sure about the second question...

But what if I'm not really anxious when I take the medication tomorrow? (The reason I want to take the medication tomorrow and not necessarily wait until someday when I'm really anxious is because my boyfriend will be here and since I've never tried anything this strong before I think I would feel safer if someone was here when I did. Maybe that's silly. I don't know.)

I also have a phobia about flying, so I understand. Could you try taking one tomorrow, then, assuming you don't have any bad side effects, try taking one when you are feeling really anxious?

I actually find that taking Dramamine calms me enough on flights since it has a bit of a sedative quality (at least for me), plus I also have emetophobia (fear of vomiting), so it takes away that fear on the plane, too. Also, I can be really anxious before a flight, but a few minutes after takeoff, I'm mostly OK (well, I do get scared right before landing...). I think because once we're in the air, there's nothing I can do. Which sounds like it would just cause more anxiety, but it's like, "Well, here I am, OK, may as well make the best of it." Whereas if I'm having a panic attack in a car, it's like, "Do I pull over, or tell the driver to pull over? Should I try to wait it out? What do I do?" I'd also recommend noise-cancelling headphones.

Well, do you have any other fears? Maybe try some of those out :3. I have a fear of cockroaches, and they come out when I walk my dog. My test for my medicine is to walk my dog, and if I can look at a cockroach without feeling lightheaded and gagging, I am doing well...

I totally understand about having someone there. Whenever I take a new medication, I sit and watch TV with my family to make sure I don't die...

I understand, I can't fly over the ocean without thinking someone hijacked the plane... I think we are all going to die, and it's horrible. Also, on plane flights over the US, I constantly watch the speed on the plane wifi, to make sure the engines don't fail during flight. One time I had a very bad experience on a plane, so when I hear the engines being slowed I freak out...

Sorry for my really short answers, I am on my phone...

LonesomeTonight & AnxietyMaster:

For me it's the worst before takeoff (especially when the plane has started to move but is still on the ground because then it's so obvious that it's no longer possible to get off the plane) but the anxiety and fear is there throughout the whole flight. I can't relax and I keep catastrophizing. I'm always hyper-vigilant when flying. All the noises scare me because I'm not used to them and there's this moment during flights (perhaps you've noticed it) when it feels like they completely shut down the engines. It really scares me, even though it happens every time I fly.

I'm scared of a lot of things and I'm pretty much always worried about things. However, my anxiety is more of a generalised kind of anxiety so I don't have panic attacks that often anymore (I used to have a lot more before). Instead I have more constant and nagging but less acute anxiety. Do you know what I mean?

That's actually a good idea. I think I'll try to do just that. The problem (in this situation) is, as I wrote above, that I don't experience panic attacks that often anymore so I'm not sure it'll work. Anyway, I'll give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion!

Not sure anyone will read this but yeah, I tried 10 mg of oxazepam at 6pm. It's now 8:25pm and since the medication should be at its peak (its highest concentration) 2 hours after taking it I probably should've felt something by now. I don't really feel anything. I'm a little tired but that might just be because I went up early this morning and it's almost 8:30pm. I wasn't anxious when I took the pill but I reckon I should've felt something.

Perhaps I'd better call the doctor tomorrow and ask her about it.

I really, REALLY, hope you find something that works for you. Maybe call and ask for something stronger?

Oh and yes I totally understand what you mean by constant anxiety. It's like carrying around a big bag of worry, and it has a hole that sprinkles all that worry on your life lol. I could've totally missed but this is what I got from it.

I called the doctor today and it sounded like she thought I was really weird for calling (I obviously can't know that for sure though). She said I probably didn't feel that much (anything) because I wasn't anxious when I took it. She said 10 mg isn't a low dose and that it should work. I didn't ask for anything stronger and she told me she didn't think it was necessary to prescribe stronger medication. The doctor did say I'm allowed to take either take 15 mg (instead of 10) or to take 10 mg, wait at least 5 hours and then take another 10 mg. Apparently she had never really had anyone tell her the medication doesn't help so she thinks it'll work for me too, once I'm really anxious. Can't say I feel reassured.

Some medication just dosen't work in some people. Doctors shouldn't think you are weid for calling, so she most likely didn't. 10 mg is the lowest dose available to my knowledge... When discussing benzos I worry about doctors thinking I am drug seeking... This is your GP right? I think she should've offered an alternative.... You should feel more relaxed in general, not only if you are under a lot of anxiety... Maybe do something you are afraid of, I know it's more general, but now you know it won't kill you. Take 10 mg, and go to the mall or something... Have someone else drive/stay with you though!

Not to sound offensive or anything, but is this doctor new/young? Drugs don't work for patients all the time. You have to offer alternatives...

Nah, the lowest dose is 5 mg.

She is a GP but not necessarily my GP (for some reason I always end up with different doctors when I call/go to the clinic, or whatever it's called in English). I've never met her. She sounded young though.

Anyway, I guess we'll see whether or not the medication actually works. If I'm on the airplane and I still feel like I'm going to die then I'll know the medication obviously doesn't work. I actually asked her what to do if that happens (you know, for the return flight) and she just said the medication should work. Not sure how experienced she is. But yeah, perhaps she's right. It might work just fine. I hope she's right.

Really?!? I've never heard of nor seen a 5mg oxazepam...

I see. When is your flight? I wish you luck, and I hope it works for you!! Lol, I can't believe she didn't even offer you an alternative strategy....

Yep. Over here the lowest dose is 5 mg. Might vary depending on where you live I guess.

Thank you. My flight is on the 4th of September. Ugh. Don't even want to think about it. Hopefully I'll survive.

I take 5 mg oxazepam PRN for anxiety or panic. It's enough to take the edge off; then I can use coping skills to deal with the rest. I take 10 mg PRN for agitation/racing thoughts. That's also enough to take the edge off.