Should You Bring “Just-in-Case” Medication When You Fly? What Most Anxious Flyers Don’t Realize
For many anxious flyers, the question isn’t just “Should I take medication before I fly?”
It’s:
“Should I at least bring medication… just in case?”
If that’s you, you’re not alone. I talk to so many people who pack an emergency pill in their bag (even if they never plan to take it) because the idea of not having it feels unbearable.
Before we go further, one important note:
This isn’t medical advice. Always talk to your prescriber about what’s right for you, especially because “anxiety medication” can mean very different things. Daily medications like SSRIs (Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro) serve a totally different purpose than fast-acting benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan).
What I’m talking about here is specifically the quick-acting, “take-it-on-the-plane” type.
And with that said… let’s talk about the hidden role “just-in-case” meds tend to play in the fear-of-flying cycle.
The Three Groups I Usually See When It Comes to Flight Anxiety + Medication
Over the years, I’ve noticed people generally fall into one of these categories:
1. Medication works well for them.
Great! They feel calmer, it does what it's supposed to do, and it aligns with their goals.
2. Medication doesn’t help much.
They take it… and still feel anxious, panicky, or shaky.
Some even feel sedated but still terrified inside.
3. They don’t take it—but feel like they must bring it.
This is the “just-in-case” group.
The pill never leaves the bottle… but the idea of flying without having access to it feels terrifying.
This last group is where I see the biggest unexpected pitfalls—and it’s usually the part of the anxiety cycle people haven’t been taught to recognize.
Why “Just-in-Case” Medication Feels Necessary
People who bring medication just in case typically fear:
“If I panic and don’t have it, I won’t be able to handle it.”
“I might completely lose control.”
“I’ll have a meltdown in front of everyone.”
“What if something happens and I have nothing to calm me down?”
It’s not the medication itself—they’re afraid of their own internal experience.
And that fear becomes the real issue.
The Hidden Problem with Safety Behaviors
Here’s the tricky part:
Even if you never take the medication, bringing it “just in case” sends your brain a powerful message:
“Flying is scary and I can’t handle it.”
This reinforces the fear loop:
You feel anxious.
You reach for a safety behavior (medication, alcohol, rituals, checking, etc.).
Your brain concludes: “Good thing we did that, otherwise something bad would have happened.”
Anxiety strengthens.
Safety behaviors, even small ones, feed the belief that you’re incapable of coping.
And if you are wanting to work on changing your fear of flying, we have to start by breaking that cycle.
A Quick Story From My Practice
I worked with a woman who had relied on medication for every single flight.
The problem was that even with the medication, she was still anxious. It wasn’t actually helping. But the idea of flying without it felt unimaginable.
Through our work together, she practiced flying without taking the medication—and eventually felt ready to get on a plane without even bringing it.
After her most recent trip, she messaged me:
“You helped me get my life back.”
And what changed wasn’t the flight itself or even that she had zero anxiety—it was the belief that she could handle her anxiety rather than outrun it.
When Medication Can Be Helpful
Let me be clear, I’m not anti-medication.
There are absolutely times when fast-acting medication makes sense. For example:
You have to fly soon and haven’t learned skills yet
You’re early in the process and medication is part of your plan
Your provider has recommended a short-term strategy
What matters is your long-term goal.
If you ultimately want to fly confidently without medication, it’s important to treat it as a temporary support…not something you rely on to feel safe.
So… How Do You Start Moving Away from “Just-in-Case” Medication?
Here’s a small reframe that can help:
Instead of asking,
“How do I guarantee I won’t feel anxious?”
Try asking:
“What would help me handle anxiety if it shows up?”
That shift is the work.
You don’t have to throw away your safety behaviors all at once.
Tiny steps work beautifully.
Here are a few possible “first steps,” depending on where you are:
Bring the medication, but delay taking it
Practice feeling anxiety at home without immediately fixing it
Learn skills for riding out discomfort rather than numbing it
Watch what your mind predicts—and practice not responding to those urges
You get to choose the step that matches what you are willing to do.
Why Skills Matter More Than Substances
One of the biggest lessons I teach inside the Fearful Flyers Blueprint is to:
stop fearing the sensations of anxiety
put less effort into trying to eliminate anxiety entirely
learn how to experience discomfort without spiraling
build genuine confidence instead of relying on control strategies
Medication’s goal is often “make this feeling go away.”
My approach is more like “let’s help you not fear the feeling in the first place.”
That shift changes everything.
A Personal Moment That Taught Me This Lesson
I used to rely on alcohol to get through flights. It wasn’t something I took “just in case”—I felt like I needed it.
But when I flew while pregnant, drinking wasn’t an option.
I was nervous… but also curious.
And you know what?
I was okay.
Not because I numbed discomfort—but because I allowed myself to feel it.
It was the first time I truly saw:
I could handle this without trying to change how I felt.
That moment shaped how I now help anxious flyers.
The Bottom Line: Bringing Medication Isn’t “Bad”… But It Might Be Holding You Back
If medication truly helps you and aligns with your goals—great.
But if the only reason you bring it is fear that you can’t handle your own anxiety, then it’s worth exploring whether this safety behavior is actually reinforcing your fear.
Confidence doesn’t come from eliminating anxiety. It comes from learning that you can handle it even when it’s uncomfortable.
You’re far more capable than your fear lets you believe.
Want Support Building Confidence Without “Just-in-Case” Meds?
👉If you’re ready for structured, step-by-step support, you’ll love the Fearful Flyers Blueprint. It’s where I teach the exact skills that help you fly confidently, without relying on safety behaviors.