Best Anti-Anxiety prescription for traveling?
 

I have developed a slight nervousness when flying in planes.....will be seeing my doc for my routine check up and wanted to talk to him about this. I do not want a prescription for any sort of sleep aid that may make me too drowsy upon landing...but rather something that will help with anxiety.

What are your suggestions for those of you who have used anti-anxiety prescriptions for flights?

Fortunatley I have not had to take anything for almost a year now, but, back in the day xanax was my best-friend:
"Xanax ( Alprazolam ) is an anti-anxiety agent benzodiazepine used primarily for short-term relief of mild to moderate anxiety and nervous tension. Alprazolam is also effective in the treatment of activity depression or panic attacks"

I have something that works great and doesn't require a prescription. It's called Dewars. A few of those over ice and I'm relaxed as can be.

Alcohol and drugs? Wow, those are some great choices!

I sometimes get a little nervous when flying, too, so I ask God to protect me and my fellow passengers. It doesn't cost a thing, and there's no pesky hangover.

I sometimes have an anxiety issue and I have Xanax. It is a low dose and I usually only need one. I haven't needed one the last couple of trips, but it is in my purse just in case.

Whatever works for you is great - drugs, booze or prayer or all three!

I agree Xanax is a gift from above. It's not enough to make you sleepy or knock you out, but it makes you really not care. When we went to check in for our flight home and the girl said we couldn't go because we needed paper tickets and all we had was an email with an electronic ticket I was cool as a cucumber....xanax baby!

I love my xanax as well. However, it definitely DOES make me sleepy, which is a big part of why I take it on long flights.

I just posted this on the Ambien thread. Maybe someone could help here:

Quick question: I went on a field trip with my daughters class a few years back. We were on a sailing ship in the SF BAy. I took a Bonine for sea sickness. At lunch I had a cocktail and it knocked me out for the rest of the afternoon & evening. Should I try this on our trip to Spain in June?? I can never sleep on the plane and deal w/ jet lag for several days.

Thanks,

MY

Prayer and just letting it go.

Oh...and remembering that if the plane does go down there's nothing you can do about it!

I like the way Neo thinks ((D))

I take xanax if I am particularly nervous, but I seem to be getting over that..so I just hang on tight to my poor husbands hand when the plane takes off.. Now my husband might wish I took the xanax as his hand looks kinda beat up :)

Is Xanax stronger than oaxezepam? I have tried oxazepam and lorazepam and they both just made me spacey--but did not help with the racing heartbeat. :(

Michelle,
I suffer from terrible motion sickeness and I didnt' like the way the patch made me feel. I found this amazing gum at the pharmacy in Italy, I think it's simply called "travel gum" but I'll let you know it's exact name. I was amazed! Zero side effects. It makes you mouth numb for the first 30 seconds, then after that it was like regular gum. It was so liberating, I could enjoy car rides again!

You may want to take along a few bags of chamomile tea - it's known for its relaxing qualities. Or there are lots of "calming" tea blends you can find at natural food stores.

This link shows a few that are available:
http://tinyurl.com/m4bb2

They are all in the same family.

Xanax is benzodiazepine, Valium is Diazepam. If the two "-zapams" you mentioned above did not suit you, likely these two wouldn't either.

Author: flsd
amen

You can try the Bach flower Rescue Remedy. It's homeopathy. No Rx req. No side effects and handy in case of emergency. You can get it at places like Whole Foods market etc. Should be about $15.00 for the bottle. It's small and easy to travel with. I keep one in my purse for things like flying, going to the dentist etc.

Have tried many different herbal rememdies induling the rescue remedy---those products usually do not work well for me, or I end up having to take such a high dosage that it just makes me tired. :(

This is a question for a physician or other clinician who knows you and who can take at least a minimum of history - - not other travelers. I'm glad you're going to be discussing this with your doctor.

Since the flight you're taking (eastbound) trans-atlantic is overnight (or at least I assume that it will be, since 95% of eastbound trans-atlantic flights are overnight), sleep IS an appropriate goal, in conjunction with reduction of your anxiety.

There is a slightly separate question as to what anti-anxiety approach might be best for your return (westbound), daytime flight - - when you might reasonably wish to avoid sleeping (thorough) the (entire) flight.

Best wishes,

Rex

Whoops, sorry, didn't read correctly the prescription part of your post.
I think you should have a personal massage therapist travel with you : )
At least get a massage before you go. I saw chair massage set up in Seattle airport and thought that was a great idea.
Good luck.

I agree that a doctor's advice is preferable to ours. For the various drugs you are asking about, a quick "google" will find you fact sheets with preliminary information.

Xanax, no sleepiness but life is good.

Xanax, no sleepiness but life is good.
Rescue and Valerian root.
Rescue in spray seems like it relaxes me but I think it is more feeling that 'I took something it'll be ok now...' but it doesn't hurt, herbal!

Xanax as needed. That doesn't stop me from active prayer, books, and chamomille tea. Nothing will stop me from travel, including panic attacks!

After several cross-Atlantic trips, I've found that one is sleepy enough without the added effect of drugs or alcohol (I have yet to be able to fall asleep on an airplane), which is why I would discourage the use of same. As noted above, if something terrible is happening to your plane, there's nothing you can do about it anyway (apart from praying).

Since it is a "slight nervousness" maybe it would be a good idea to head this off at the pass now.
Meditation might be an answer for you, there are some great techniques or cds, plus it gives you something to do while your flying.

As a pharmacist, I can tell you that Xanax (alprazolam) is the benzodiazepam of choice for anxiety. I would not recomend other drugs in this class ( oxazepam is more for sleep disorder, diazepam and clonazepam are more for seizure control ). Check with your physician for the corect dose b/c xanax is availible in 4 different doses and you don't want to take the wrong one. Also, make sure you are not taking any other drugs that can interact with Xanax and also NO alcohol.
Another solution that seems to work for me - at any nervous moment start counting from 100 backwards by 3 ( 100, 97, 94... ) or by 7 ( 100, 93, 86...)
Good luck

What do you mean no alcohol? Isn't 'Xanax and booze' a kit?

Ziggy--is .25 mg alprazolam stronger than 1 mg oxazepam?

I also have anxiety flying and have a prescription for xanax. My prescription is for .25mg and when I've taken it in the past, it hasn't really helped. Is it safe to take .50mg.

.25 is my perscritpion. I only take it when really on the edge (you know when you're about to have a panic attack). If it hits fast and strong (on occasion) I've taken two - my doctor's recommendation. I think as with all percriptions it depends on the body weight and the doctor's advice. A true panic attack feels very much like a heart attck (for me) I sweat, my heart races, I can't catch my breath, I get instant intestinal problems, my chest tightens, and I want to be left entirely alone (preferably in my bath at home with a good book). I can't concentrate on the book but who cares?

This is very different from anxiety. I regularly fight anxiety. Flying does not make me anxious anymore because I do it so often.

Check with your doctor for best advice.

BDGT, is your anxiety about flying in general? Or is it the feeling of being strapped into a confined area for a period of time?

Either way, I seriously think a little trip to the therapist/psychologist would be most helpful in working out your issues. And this goes for everyone who has flying anxiety.

Pills only help deal with just the physical chemistry of your anxiety, not the mental part, therefore it's not a cure-all.

I never drink when flying, as I find that having all my faculties in tact at 30 thousand feet is a good thing! I suffer from panic attacks but have found that an engaging novel does wonders to keep me relaxed when flying.
Safe travels:-)

mcnyc--thank you for your concern. I was a psych major and know all about issues with anxiety, etc. It is just the flying part that makes me nervous....

xannax and valium work for me. But Swiss Air seats are so small I am thinking a morphine drip for my next flight in August. That should relieve the torture.

Hello,
As a few others have said, I believe that the best thing is to nip the anxiety in the bud by addressing your fear of flying. I used to hate flying (irrational fear that came out of nowhere after many years of flying) but managed to get over it by taking one of those online fear of flying courses (www.fearofflyinghelp.com). Now I actually enjoy flying and don't need to worry about taking pills or drinking to relax. A couple of bad celebrity magazines (my sinful secret when travelling) and a good book and I'm all set!

Obviously, those courses probably don't work for everyone but they are a good way of understanding certain aspects of flying phobias and learning to relax.

As an aside, I was prescribed xanax a few years ago for a stress-related problem and absolutely loathed the way it made me feel. Totally spaced out (in an unpleasant way) but still completely stressed. Yuck.

Xanax works like a champ.

kr- excellent idea about the drip. i have always thought airplanes would be a happier place if they sent some nitrous oxide thru those air vents at the beginning of each flight!

I feel they about to do this to keep those of us 'standing up' happy...

I have fear of not flying, that is, fear of being loaded on a plane whose departure has been delayed indefinitely. Nothing like being crammed into steerage, going nowhere. But my fear goes away as soon as we take off. I take propranolol for this, occasionally. (Depends on how complex and time-dependent my plans are upon arrival.)