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" Question I have a real fear of flying. I am terrified.  I would like to take something to help me stay calm and maybe sleep during the flight, is there anything you can suggest?  I have tried all the relaxation exercises, but nothing works. Answer Fear of flying is a surprisingly common problem, and it is such a shame as it can make going on holiday such an ordeal.  There are two ways of dealing with this;  One takes a long time and is not usually available on the NHS. This is a form of desensitisation therapy, where patients are talked through their fears and learn to conquer them, and often involves an actual flight with the therapist to help sufferers overcome their fears. Private courses are available for this, but they can be quite expensive.  The short-term approach is to give the patient some medication to help keep them calm. Doctors are rightly cautious about this approach, because if a passenger is sedated too heavily, they can be a liability and a danger to themselves and to other passengers.   The medication I tend to use is a beta-blocker. These do not make the patient unduly sleepy or sedated, but block the response to anxiety, so that the sweating, rapid pulse, stomach churning and feelings of fear are all dampened down.  The alternative is to use an actual sedative in a small dose, such as diazepam or buspirone.  These can dampen down anxiety, but care must be exercised to make sure the dose is right for the individual.  You would need to discuss these alternatives with your doctor. And remember that flying is the safest form of transport there is, much, much safer than going on a car journey.  I hope you are able to control your symptoms and enjoy your holiday. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Alternative travel sickness remedies Aspirin before flying Dealing with altitude sickness Decreasing the risk of DVT Ear pain in aircraft I felt pain in my eye and temple while flying Taking aspirin to avoid DVT Will my asthma prevent me from taking aspirin to combat DVT? Would my son who has chickenpox be able to fly?  Last updated 30.06.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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