valium as a relaxant

Hi, i have a fear of flying and am due to travel soon. I have been advised by a friend to take some valium which should help. Would this be advisable, and also, if i was to take it how long would it take before it leaves my system?

Cheers

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

Your question is a very good one and quite a common one.

Valium is a drug that falls within a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Valium's half-life is rather long compared to other benzodiazepines (around 6-8 hours for the side effects such as drowsiness). Valium may not be completely "cleared" from your body (for the purposes of drug testing) for up to 30-60 hours.

There are other shorter acting benzodiazepines that may be prescribed for anxiety related to anticipated air travel. There are also other classes of medications that can be prescribed to promote sleep on long flights.

A common question regarding the use of medications to reduce anxiety related to air travel is: when should I take the medication? This is a difficult question because ideally you would take the medication after you are sure that the plane is actually going to take off. Many people do not want to be "impaired" if their flight is canceled or if the flight is delayed. For example, you may need to travel to a hotel or back to your home.

However, some people have anxiety that begins long before they arrive at the airport. Management of this type of anxiety can require a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy with a small dose of short-acting medication.

I would recommend that you consider alternatives to benzodiazepines as possible strategies to alleviate your "fear of flying"--such as listening to music, cognitive behavioral therapy, watching movies, meditation techniques--just to name a few.

I hope this is helpful to you. As always, you ought to discuss the use of prescription medications with your health care provider.

~*~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.