Prescribing Sedatives for Flying, MRI Scans, or Dental Treatment

Why We No Longer Prescribe Sedatives for Flying, MRI Scans, or Dental Treatment

At Arundel Surgery, your safety is our priority.

Following national medical guidance, we no longer prescribe sedative medicines — such as diazepam or zopiclone — for fear of flying, anxiety during MRI scans, or nervousness before dental treatment.

This decision is based on strong safety concerns, explained below.

Fear of flying

Sedatives like benzodiazepines can:

Cause drowsiness, slow reactions, and reduce judgment.
Sometimes have the opposite effect — increased agitation or aggression.
Reduce movement during long flights, increasing the risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism).
Interact with lower oxygen levels in aircraft cabins (15% vs. 20.9% at ground level), which can worsen breathing problems — even in healthy people.

Why this matters: In an emergency, slower reactions or confusion could put you or others at risk.

MRI scans

We understand MRI claustrophobia is real — around 2 million scans worldwide aren’t completed each year because of it.

Why we don’t prescribe sedatives for MRI anxiety

Low doses (e.g., 2 mg diazepam) often aren’t effective, but can still cause agitation in some people.
Higher doses increase the risk of breathing problems.
The Royal College of Radiologists states sedation should only be given by a trained hospital team, with full monitoring before, during, and after.
GP surgeries cannot provide this level of monitoring safely.

Alternative help

Use online NHS and MRI provider videos to see exactly what to expect.
Speak to the MRI team in advance about your concerns.

Dental treatment

If you need sedation for dental work:

Your dentist can prescribe it directly — NHS dentists for NHS patients, and private dentists for private patients.
Dentists can prescribe sedatives if they believe it’s appropriate, and take full responsibility for that prescription.