Fear of Flying

Fear of flying (aerophobia) is an extreme fear of flying in airplanes or a fear of aspects of flying such as take-off or landing. Individuals with aerophobia may even have anxiety around the anticipation of flying or from just thinking about flying.

Quick Answer

What it is

Key findings

Grade C: Phobia Symptoms (Yohimbine)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts

Quick Facts: Fear of Flying

Supplements Studied:1
Research Trials:1
Total Participants:48
Top Supplement:Yohimbine (C)

1 trials

48 participantsppts

1 supps · 1 outcomes

Evidence-Based Protocol

Supplement stack ranked by research quality

Limited Evidence

Primary Stack (Tier 1)

L-TheanineB

200-400mg 30-60 minutes before flight; can repeat during flight

Promotes relaxation without sedation; reduces anxiety; safe to take before and during flights

8 studies | 400 participants

MagnesiumC

200-400mg glycinate before flight

Supports nervous system; may help reduce anxiety response; calming effect

8 studies | 400 participants

Supporting Stack (Tier 2)

PassionflowerC

250-500mg extract before flight

Traditional anxiolytic herb; may help with situational anxiety

5 studies | 200 participants

ValerianC

300-600mg before flight

Calming effects; may cause drowsiness; useful for night flights or to sleep on plane

5 studies | 250 participants

Lavender Oil (Oral)B

80-160mg oral lavender preparation

Silexan (oral lavender) has anxiolytic effects; may help with anticipatory anxiety

6 studies | 300 participants

GABAC

100-200mg before flight

Inhibitory neurotransmitter supplement; may help with acute anxiety (limited crossing of blood-brain barrier)

4 studies | 150 participants

B-Complex VitaminsC

B-complex daily leading up to travel

Supports nervous system function; may help with stress response

5 studies | 200 participants

How It Works

Fear of flying (aviophobia) is one of the most common specific phobias, affecting about 25% of people to some degree. It can range from mild anxiety to complete avoidance of air travel.

WHAT TRIGGERS THE FEAR:

•Loss of control

•Heights

•Enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

•Turbulence

•Takeoff and landing

•Fear of crashes

•Fear of terrorism

•Fear of having a panic attack

SYMPTOMS:

•Anticipatory anxiety (days or weeks before flight)

•Rapid heartbeat

•Sweating

•Trembling

•Shortness of breath

•Nausea

•Dizziness

•Panic attacks

MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS:

•Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Most effective treatment

•Exposure therapy: Gradual exposure to flying situations

•Fear of flying courses: Many airlines offer these

•Virtual reality therapy: Emerging effective option

•Medications: Short-term benzodiazepines or beta-blockers for acute anxiety

COPING STRATEGIES:

•Learn about how planes work and flight safety

•Practice relaxation techniques (breathing, mindfulness)

•Choose an aisle seat if claustrophobia is a factor

•Avoid caffeine and alcohol before/during flight

•Distraction (music, movies, reading)

•Inform flight crew (they can be supportive)

* L-Theanine is a gentle option that promotes calm without drowsiness.

* Passionflower and valerian may help with acute anxiety.

* Oral lavender (Silexan) has good evidence for anxiety.

Expected timeline: Supplements help with immediate symptoms. Long-term treatment (CBT, exposure) addresses the underlying phobia.

Generated from peer-reviewed researchSchema v2.0

Supplements for Fear of Flying

Sorted by strength of evidence

CYohimbine

1 outcome · 1 study

↓Phobia SymptomsImproves

Detailed Outcomes

Phobia Symptoms

Small Improvement

1 study48 participants

small↓Improves

Research Citations (11)

Melatonin responses to clonidine and yohimbine challenges

J Psychiatry Neurosci

PMID: 7647083

Psychological and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and to the administration of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, in highly trained endurance athletes in comparison to untrained healthy controls

Pharmacopsychiatry

PMID: 21710402

Effects of yohimbine on cerebral blood flow, symptoms, and physiological functions in humans

Psychosom Med

PMID: 10949101

Yohimbine treatment of organic erectile dysfunction in a dose-escalation trial

Int J Impot Res

PMID: 11896474

Yohimbine for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

J Urol

PMID: 9649257

Yohimbine: the effects on body composition and exercise performance in soccer players

Res Sports Med

PMID: 17214405

Facilitation of fear extinction in phobic participants with a novel cognitive enhancer: a randomized placebo controlled trial of yohimbine augmentation

J Anxiety Disord

PMID: 19223151

Pharmacologically induced alcohol craving in treatment seeking alcoholics correlates with alcoholism severity, but is insensitive to acamprosate

Neuropsychopharmacology

PMID: 21289601

Effect of anti-obesity drugs promoting energy expenditure, yohimbine and ephedrine, on gastric emptying in obese patients

Aliment Pharmacol Ther

PMID: 1777550

Comparative efficacy of yohimbine against pyridostigmine for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in autonomic failure

Hypertension

PMID: 20837887

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