Benzodiazepine Tapering & Dependence
Treatment in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dr. Leeds is a concierge telemedicine physician specializing in benzodiazepine tapering, psychiatric medication deprescribing, opioid dependence treatment, and the Sinclair Method for alcohol use. Serving patients throughout Florida from Fort Lauderdale.
If you are struggling with benzodiazepine dependence, or if you need help tapering off psychiatric medications, Dr. Leeds provides expert concierge care using proven, evidence-based protocols.
Dr. Leeds specializes in gradual benzodiazepine tapering based on the Ashton Manual and modern hyperbolic tapering methods. He works with compound pharmacies to create custom liquid taper formulations, allowing for precise, individualized dose reductions that minimize withdrawal symptoms.
His approach also incorporates guidance from the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, the most comprehensive clinical reference for safely discontinuing psychiatric medications. Whether you are tapering a benzodiazepine, an antidepressant, or another psychotropic medication, Dr. Leeds develops a customized plan for your situation.
In addition to deprescribing services, Dr. Leeds provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence using buprenorphine (Suboxone), and treats alcohol use disorder with the Sinclair Method using naltrexone.
As a concierge telemedicine physician, Dr. Leeds offers direct access, weekly video appointments, and 24/7 text availability to his patients throughout the State of Florida. If you are looking for a physician who listens, understands medication dependence, and takes the time to get your taper right, please contact our office.
Dr. Leeds operates his concierge telemedicine practice from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving patients across the entire state. Fort Lauderdale, situated in Broward County along the southeast coast, is well known for its beaches, marinas, and vibrant community.
While the city has long been associated with addiction treatment facilities — many of which advertise beachside recovery — Dr. Leeds takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than residential rehab programs, he provides private, one-on-one physician care delivered through secure telemedicine visits.
This means that whether you live in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, or anywhere in Florida, you have access to the same level of expert care. There is no need to travel or check into a facility.
Dr. Leeds has been providing telemedicine services since before the pandemic, and his patients benefit from the convenience and privacy that virtual care offers. For patients dealing with benzodiazepine dependence, opioid dependence, or alcohol use disorder, the ability to see your doctor from home — without disrupting work or family life — can make all the difference.
Dr. Leeds provides individualized, evidence-based treatment plans focused on safe medication tapering and dependence treatment. Every patient receives a customized protocol designed around their specific medication, dosage, and health history.
OUR STORY
Dr. Leeds is a board-certified physician serving patients throughout Florida via telemedicine. While based in the Fort Lauderdale area, his concierge practice reaches patients in Miami, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and beyond. If you need expert help with benzodiazepine tapering, psychiatric medication deprescribing, or treatment for opioid or alcohol dependence, Dr. Leeds is available for a consultation.
SERVICES AT GLANCE
Dr. Leeds provides the following specialized services to patients in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the State of Florida.
Many Fort Lauderdale residents find that their relationship with alcohol has become problematic. Whether it has progressed to a full alcohol use disorder or falls into what is known as gray area drinking, medical treatment can help.
Dr. Leeds offers the Sinclair Method, a pharmacological approach that uses naltrexone taken one hour before drinking. Over time, this evidence-based protocol reduces cravings and helps patients regain control over their alcohol consumption. The Sinclair Method has strong clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness, and it does not require abstinence to begin treatment.
For patients who prefer an abstinence-based approach, naltrexone can also be used as a daily medication to reduce the desire to drink. Dr. Leeds works with each patient to determine which treatment approach fits their goals and lifestyle. Contact our office to learn more about alcohol dependence treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
Benzodiazepines — including Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) — are widely prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and related conditions. While they can be effective short-term, long-term use often leads to physical dependence and tolerance, making discontinuation extremely difficult without proper medical guidance.
Dr. Leeds specializes in helping patients taper off benzodiazepines safely and comfortably. His protocols are grounded in the Ashton Manual, written by Professor C. Heather Ashton, which remains the foundational reference for benzodiazepine withdrawal management. Dr. Leeds also applies modern hyperbolic tapering principles, which recognize that dose reductions should become progressively smaller as the total dose decreases — reducing the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms during the final stages of a taper.
For patients who need precise dose adjustments beyond what commercial tablet sizes allow, Dr. Leeds works with compound pharmacies to create custom liquid taper formulations. Liquid tapers allow for exact dosing at every stage, making it possible to reduce by fractions of a milligram when necessary.
Dr. Leeds also references the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, a comprehensive clinical manual that provides evidence-based guidance on tapering psychiatric medications, including benzodiazepines. This resource, combined with the Ashton Manual and clinical experience, allows Dr. Leeds to develop highly individualized taper schedules.
If you have been taking a benzodiazepine and want to explore tapering, or if a previous taper attempt was unsuccessful, Dr. Leeds can help. He understands the complexity of benzodiazepine withdrawal and provides the close medical supervision that a safe taper requires.
Medication dependence and substance use disorders are medical conditions that respond to individualized, evidence-based treatment from an experienced physician.
Stimulant dependence, including issues with medications like Adderall or illicit stimulants, can be addressed with medical evaluation and treatment planning.
Opioid dependence is highly treatable with buprenorphine (Suboxone) therapy, which reduces cravings and withdrawal while restoring normal functioning.
Benzodiazepine dependence requires careful, gradual tapering under medical supervision. Dr. Leeds offers expert benzo tapering using the Ashton Manual, hyperbolic methods, and compound pharmacy formulations.
Dr. Leeds offers a concierge telemedicine model that is fundamentally different from traditional rehab programs. There is no group therapy, no facility to check into, and no cookie-cutter treatment plans. Instead, patients receive private, one-on-one care from a physician who specializes in medication tapering and dependence treatment.
For patients tapering benzodiazepines or other psychiatric medications, this means weekly video visits where Dr. Leeds reviews symptoms, adjusts the taper schedule, and ensures the process stays on track. He is also available by text 24/7 for urgent questions between appointments.
This level of access matters. Benzodiazepine tapering is not a set-it-and-forget-it process — it requires ongoing physician involvement, flexibility, and the willingness to slow down or adjust when withdrawal symptoms emerge. The same is true for patients tapering antidepressants or other psychotropic medications.
For opioid dependence, Dr. Leeds provides buprenorphine (Suboxone) maintenance with the same concierge-level attention. For alcohol use disorder, the Sinclair Method offers patients a proven pharmacological approach without requiring abstinence upfront.
If you are looking for a physician who takes the time to listen, develops individualized treatment plans, and remains available throughout your care, contact Dr. Leeds today.
Buprenorphine is a unique opioid medication with properties that make it highly effective for treating opioid dependence. It reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings while allowing patients to think clearly and function normally.
Buprenorphine is available in several formulations. Suboxone, the most widely known, combines buprenorphine with naloxone. Subutex contains only buprenorphine and may be appropriate for certain patients, such as pregnant women or those who have adverse reactions to the combination product.
Dr. Leeds prescribes buprenorphine as part of a comprehensive medication-assisted treatment plan. Unlike high-volume clinics that rush patients through appointments, Dr. Leeds provides concierge-level care with extended visits and direct physician access.
If you are dependent on opioids — whether prescribed pain medication, heroin, or fentanyl — buprenorphine treatment can help you regain stability and begin recovery. Contact our office to discuss your options.
Suboxone has been the gold standard of opioid dependence treatment for over two decades. Its active ingredient, buprenorphine, was first synthesized in the 1960s and has a long track record of safety and effectiveness.
Patients who take Suboxone as prescribed are able to think clearly, work, and engage in daily life without the fog of opioid cravings or the threat of withdrawal sickness. Suboxone treatment is not trading one addiction for another — it is evidence-based medicine that gives the brain time to heal.
Dr. Leeds provides Suboxone therapy as part of his concierge telemedicine practice, with the individualized attention that patients deserve. If you are ready to stop using opioids, contact our office to get started.
Contact us today to discuss benzodiazepine tapering, psychiatric medication deprescribing, or treatment for opioid or alcohol dependence. Dr. Leeds is here to help you or your loved one.
Fort Lauderdale has no shortage of residential rehab facilities. However, inpatient treatment is not the right fit for every patient, and for many conditions — including benzodiazepine dependence and alcohol use disorder — outpatient medical treatment with an experienced physician produces better outcomes.
Benzodiazepine tapering, for example, is a process that takes months or longer. It cannot be accomplished in a 30-day residential stay. It requires a physician who understands withdrawal pharmacology, monitors symptoms closely, and adjusts the taper schedule based on how the patient responds.
Dr. Leeds provides this level of care through his concierge telemedicine practice. Patients stay in their own homes, maintain their jobs and family routines, and receive weekly physician visits via secure video — along with 24/7 text access for urgent questions.
For patients who do benefit from a higher level of care, Dr. Leeds can provide referrals to reputable programs. But for most patients seeking treatment for medication dependence or substance use disorders, concierge outpatient care is the most effective and least disruptive option.
Many patients who are considering rehab or sober living discover that outpatient medical treatment is a more practical and effective option. With concierge telemedicine, you receive expert physician care without leaving home or putting your life on hold.
For opioid dependence, buprenorphine treatment can begin immediately and provides relief from cravings and withdrawal within the first day. For alcohol use disorder, the Sinclair Method allows patients to reduce drinking gradually using naltrexone. For benzodiazepine dependence, a carefully managed taper is far more appropriate than any short-term residential program.
Dr. Leeds works with patients at every stage — whether you are just considering treatment or have tried other approaches that did not work. Contact our office to discuss your situation.
While naltrexone is best known in standard doses for treating opioid and alcohol dependence, it can also be prescribed at very low doses — typically 0.5mg to 6mg — for pain syndromes related to autoimmune conditions and other chronic health issues. Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is prepared by compound pharmacies and has shown promise in clinical research.
For more information on whether LDN may be appropriate for your condition, please call Dr. Leeds.
Methadone has been available for opioid dependence treatment since the 1960s. While it remains an option, most patients today prefer buprenorphine (Suboxone) because it can be prescribed in an office setting, does not require daily clinic visits, and has a more favorable safety profile. Dr. Leeds provides buprenorphine treatment as part of his concierge practice.
Physical dependence on opioids — whether from prescribed pain medication or illicit use — is a medical condition, not a moral failing. When opioids are discontinued abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and debilitating.
It is important to understand that physical dependence is distinct from addiction. Many patients who take prescribed opioids for chronic pain develop dependence through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, healthcare workers do not always understand this distinction, which can lead to inappropriate treatment in hospital settings.
Dr. Leeds provides compassionate, evidence-based care for opioid-dependent patients. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) treatment eliminates withdrawal symptoms and cravings, allowing patients to stabilize and resume normal functioning. For patients ready to eventually discontinue buprenorphine, Dr. Leeds develops gradual taper plans to minimize discomfort.
As a concierge physician, Dr. Leeds is available 24/7 to his patients for urgent issues — including situations where hospital staff may not understand a patient’s maintenance medication regimen. Having a physician who advocates for you when it matters most is one of the key advantages of concierge care.
Patients who have developed dependence on oxycodone — whether through prescription use or otherwise — have effective medical options available. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) is the preferred treatment, providing relief from withdrawal symptoms and cravings while allowing patients to function normally.
Dr. Leeds provides buprenorphine treatment as part of his concierge telemedicine practice. Treatment can often begin quickly, and patients receive ongoing support through weekly video visits and 24/7 text access. If you or someone you know is dependent on oxycodone or other opioids, contact our office to discuss treatment options.
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South Florida is saturated with treatment facilities that market themselves as luxury or VIP programs. Many of these rely on flashy advertising — stock photos of sandy beaches and promises of resort-style recovery — while delivering cookie-cutter treatment plans and minimal physician involvement.
Dr. Leeds takes a different approach. His concierge telemedicine practice provides genuinely private, one-on-one physician care. There are no group sessions, no shared facilities, and no revolving door of counselors. You work directly with Dr. Leeds throughout your treatment.
Whether you need expert benzodiazepine tapering, psychiatric medication deprescribing, opioid dependence treatment with buprenorphine, or the Sinclair Method for alcohol use, you receive individualized care built around your specific needs. This is what concierge medicine actually looks like.
Benzodiazepine tapering is both an art and a science. A successful taper requires understanding the pharmacology of each benzodiazepine, the individual patient’s history and symptom patterns, and the principles that guide safe dose reductions over time.
The Ashton Manual, written by the late Professor C. Heather Ashton of Newcastle University, is the foundational resource for benzodiazepine tapering. It provides detailed protocols for crossover tapers — typically converting a patient from a short-acting benzodiazepine like alprazolam or lorazepam to the longer-acting diazepam — and then tapering the diazepam gradually over months.
Modern approaches have refined these principles further. Hyperbolic tapering recognizes that benzodiazepine receptors respond non-linearly to dose changes. This means that reducing from 20mg to 15mg has a relatively modest effect on receptor occupancy, while reducing from 2mg to 1mg represents a proportionally much larger pharmacological change. Hyperbolic tapering schedules account for this by making progressively smaller dose reductions as the total dose decreases.
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, published by psychiatrists at King’s College London, provide comprehensive evidence-based protocols for tapering benzodiazepines and other psychiatric medications. These guidelines align with the hyperbolic tapering model and provide clinicians with practical tools for developing individualized taper schedules.
For many patients, achieving the small dose reductions required in the later stages of a taper is not possible with commercially available tablets alone. This is where compound pharmacies become essential. A compounding pharmacist can prepare custom liquid formulations or precisely dosed capsules that allow for reductions as small as fractions of a milligram.
Dr. Leeds works with compound pharmacies to ensure his patients have access to the exact formulations they need at every stage of their taper. He monitors withdrawal symptoms closely during weekly video visits and adjusts the schedule based on how each patient responds. Some patients move through their taper relatively quickly, while others need a slower, more cautious approach — and both are perfectly acceptable.
If you have been taking a benzodiazepine and are considering tapering, or if you have attempted to taper in the past and experienced difficulties, Dr. Leeds has the expertise to guide you through the process safely. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Safe benzodiazepine tapering requires a gradual, individualized approach under medical supervision. Dr. Leeds uses protocols based on the Ashton Manual and hyperbolic tapering principles, often working with compound pharmacies to create custom liquid formulations for precise dose reductions. The taper schedule is adjusted based on each patient’s symptoms and response, and the process typically takes several months or longer.
The Ashton Manual is the foundational clinical guide for benzodiazepine tapering, written by Professor C. Heather Ashton. It provides detailed protocols for gradually reducing benzodiazepine doses, often through a crossover to diazepam. Dr. Leeds uses the Ashton Manual as a core reference alongside modern resources like the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.
The Sinclair Method is an evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorder that uses naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, taken one hour before drinking. Over time, the medication reduces the brain’s reward response to alcohol, leading to decreased cravings and consumption. Unlike abstinence-based approaches, the Sinclair Method works by gradually changing drinking behavior through pharmacological extinction.
Yes. Dr. Leeds provides buprenorphine (Suboxone) treatment through his concierge telemedicine practice, serving patients throughout Florida. Telemedicine appointments are conducted via secure video, and patients receive 24/7 text access to Dr. Leeds for urgent questions. This approach provides the same quality of care as in-person visits with added convenience and privacy.
Family Practice Physician 3290 NE 33rd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
info@drleeds.com
Monday – Friday
10 am – 2 pm
By Appointment
Opioid Detox Therapy
Concierge Medical Services
Family Medicine
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