Mark Leeds, D.O. is an osteopathic physician and deprescribing specialist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He helps patients come off benzodiazepines and sleeping pills with a slow, patient-directed taper guided by the Ashton Manual and the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines. Physical dependence is not addiction, and a careful taper is measured in months, not days.
Can benzo withdrawal cause sour armpit odor? Plausibly, yes. Sweating is a recognized benzodiazepine withdrawal symptom, and the sweat that comes with stress smells stronger…
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, and long-term use produces physical dependence in many people who take them daily for more than…
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorder, insomnia, and even seizure disorders. These medications, classified as central nervous system (CNS) depressants, act…
Benzodiazepines are among the most widely prescribed medications for conditions like anxiety disorder, panic disorder, seizure disorder, and alcohol withdrawal. These prescription drugs act as…
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can feel overwhelming. For those looking to stop benzodiazepine use safely, the Ashton Manual taper schedule offers a medically sound, gradual approach. Developed…
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and seizures. Taken daily for more than a few weeks, they produce physical dependence in most…
In short: Long-term benzodiazepine use changes how the brain regulates itself: the brain reduces the number and sensitivity of its receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA),…
How long does a benzodiazepine taper take under the Ashton Manual? Almost every patient starting a benzodiazepine taper wants a date. It is a reasonable…
Can small daily habits help with benzo withdrawal? Small daily habits can help, in a modest way. Regular meals, enough water, a steady bedtime, a…
Do benzodiazepines cause Alzheimer’s disease? Do benzodiazepines cause Alzheimer’s disease? Nobody knows, and anyone who answers with a flat yes or a flat no is…
The Concept of “Low Dose” Benzodiazepines The term “low dose” in relation to benzodiazepines can be misleading for patients. This terminology often gives a false…
Why do so many doctors miss benzodiazepine dependence? Benzodiazepine dependence is an iatrogenic, or doctor-caused, condition. A patient takes a medication exactly as prescribed, and…
