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What Happens at a First Consultation With Dr. Leeds
Key Takeaways A first consultation is a one-hour conversation with Dr. Leeds, by video or audio, about your options. A consultation is not a medical…
What the 2020 FDA Boxed Warning Says About Benzodiazepine Dependence
Key Takeaways Since September 23, 2020, every benzodiazepine label in the United States carries a boxed warning about physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. The label…
When Should a Benzodiazepine Taper Pause? Holds and Stabilization Explained
What is a hold in a benzodiazepine taper? A hold is a decision to stay at your current dose for a while, instead of making…
Why Do Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms Come in Windows and Waves?
Key Takeaways A window is a stretch of hours or days when symptoms ease, and a wave is their return, often with no change in…
When Valium Makes You Sleepier Over Time, Even After a Dose Cut
Key takeaways Diazepam (Valium) and its active metabolite build up over days to weeks, so drowsiness can keep rising even after a dose cut. What…
What the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines Add to the Ashton Manual
Key Takeaways The Ashton Manual taught patients and doctors to come off of a benzodiazepine slowly, and the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines explain why the steps…
Micro-Tapering Benzodiazepines With a Liquid
What is micro-tapering, and why do so many benzodiazepine tapers end up there? Micro-tapering is a way of coming off of a benzodiazepine by making…
How Low Should a Benzodiazepine Taper Go Before You Jump Off?
Key Takeaways The last step off a benzodiazepine should feel like just another step, not a leap. A practical rule: stop when the dose that…
Can You Stop a Benzodiazepine Cold Turkey After Only a Few Days or Weeks?
Key Takeaways A few days of carefully prescribed use, such as after surgery, can usually be stopped without a problem. Withdrawal can follow even several…
How Does a Person Rebuild Work and Identity After a Benzodiazepine Taper?
Benzodiazepine injury does not only take comfort. It takes years, careers, friendships, and for many patients the sense of who they were before the prescription.…
Why the Evening Dose Matters Most in a Valium Taper
Key Takeaways The evening dose of a Valium (diazepam) taper often matters most, because it covers the longest gap of the day and supports sleep.…
When the End of a Valium Taper Becomes Intolerable: Updosing and Reinstatement
Key Takeaways The last few milligrams of a Valium (diazepam) taper are often the hardest part, not the easiest. Tolerance withdrawal can cause symptoms even…