Understanding Your Options
If you are taking a benzodiazepine and your doctor is unable or unwilling to help you taper safely, you are not alone. Many physicians lack training in benzodiazepine withdrawal management, and patients are often told to simply stop taking their medication or are subjected to rapid tapers that cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Benzodiazepine tapering requires specialized knowledge.
The Ashton Manual, written by Professor C. Heather Ashton, remains the foundational reference for benzodiazepine tapering. Modern approaches, including hyperbolic tapering and the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, have refined these protocols further. Dr. Leeds applies these evidence-based methods and works with compound pharmacies to create custom liquid formulations for precise dosing at every stage of a taper.
Protracted withdrawal is real.
Some patients experience withdrawal symptoms that persist for months or years after discontinuation. This condition, sometimes called BIND (benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction), can include depersonalization, derealization, histamine sensitivity, autonomic dysfunction, neuropathic symptoms, and cognitive difficulties. These are not signs of a new illness — they reflect a nervous system that needs time and careful management to recalibrate.
Psychiatric medications also require careful tapering.
SSRIs, SNRIs, gabapentinoids, and antipsychotics can all produce significant withdrawal syndromes when discontinued too quickly. Dr. Leeds provides deprescribing services for these medications using the same individualized, gradual approach.
Opioid dependence is treatable.
For patients with opioid dependence, buprenorphine (Suboxone, ZubSolv) eliminates withdrawal symptoms and cravings, allowing patients to stabilize and focus on recovery. Dr. Leeds provides medication-assisted treatment through his concierge telemedicine practice with the privacy and individualized attention that patients deserve.
Alcohol use disorder responds to medical treatment.
The Sinclair Method uses naltrexone to gradually reduce the brain’s reward response to alcohol. This evidence-based approach does not require abstinence to begin and has helped many patients regain control over their drinking. Dr. Leeds offers Sinclair Method treatment through telemedicine.
You deserve a physician who listens.
Whether you are dealing with benzodiazepine dependence, psychiatric medication withdrawal, opioid dependence, or alcohol use disorder, the first step is finding a physician who understands your condition and takes the time to develop a plan that works for you. Dr. Leeds provides that level of care through his concierge telemedicine practice, serving patients throughout Florida.







