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.
What is a paradoxical reaction to a benzodiazepine? A paradoxical reaction is the opposite of what the medication is supposed to do. A benzodiazepine is…
What is tolerance withdrawal? Tolerance withdrawal is benzodiazepine withdrawal that begins while the person is still taking the drug. The dose has not changed in…
Key Takeaways Paresthesia means abnormal sensations such as tingling, numbness, burning, or prickling, and it is a common symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal. It happens because…
Can stopping a benzodiazepine cause psychosis? Yes, it can. Hallucinations, false beliefs, and severe confusion have all occurred in benzodiazepine withdrawal. Yet, they occur almost…
What does hitting zero mean, and is it the end of withdrawal? Hitting zero is the phrase patients use for the day a taper reaches…
Is teeth grinding a real symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal? Yes. Waking with a sore jaw, a dull headache and teeth that feel tender is a…
Key Takeaways Muscle twitches, jerks and spasms are recognized symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal, and in most patients they settle as the nervous system calms. The…
Xanax is not a recognized cause of peripheral neuropathy. Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is not a recognized cause of peripheral neuropathy. Its prescribing information,…
Does yoga help with benzodiazepine withdrawal? It can, in a modest way. Gentle yoga, slow breathing, muscle relaxation, and meditation can take some of the…
Does meditation help with benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms? Meditation helps some people with a few of the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. It can quiet a keyed-up…
Key Takeaways Sunlight does not treat benzodiazepine withdrawal and will not make a taper shorter, though morning daylight helps the body keep its days and…
Does acupuncture help with benzodiazepine withdrawal? Acupuncture may help some people relax during a benzodiazepine taper, and a relaxed hour may take the edge off…
