
Nicole is a Physician Assistant residing in Virginia. She obtained a BS at James Madison University in 2000 and then went on to complete the Master of Physician Assistant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2004. She practiced in an Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine setting until severe illness from benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome left her unable to work.
In 2005, she was prescribed Xanax for “work-related stress”. Over the course of five years, she developed many classic symptoms of benzodiazepine tolerance withdrawal, which multiple psychiatrists misdiagnosed as mental illness. This resulted in prescribed polypharmacy to “treat” the troubling symptoms of tolerance, including two benzodiazepines prescribed simultaneously, a Z-drug, an antidepressant, and an antipsychotic. In late 2010, after discovering a magazine article authored by a journalist experiencing similar symptoms from his prescribed benzodiazepine, Nicole was prompted to research further and made the connection between her own troubling symptoms and the medication. This was followed by her immediate decision to withdraw. Unfortunately, lacking the proper guidance or information at the time regarding the absolute need for a slow taper, she was negligently cold-turkeyed in a detox center. This ultimately resulted in a severe and protracted withdrawal syndrome that persists to date.
When symptoms allow, Nicole writes about benzodiazepines and their potential to cause severe and/or protracted withdrawal syndromes and volunteers her time helping with ongoing benzodiazepine awareness initiatives including Benzodiazepine Information Coalition and the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group of the Colorado Consortium. Nicole also co-founded The Withdrawal Project and she does marketing, distribution and outreach for Medicating Normal-The Film. She is an associate at the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. She hopes to continue to use her lived experience to advocate for more education and awareness around benzodiazepine risks and harms as well as for changes in prescribing and withdrawal practices. Nicole currently serves on the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s patient panel that is advising on the development of a clinical practice guideline on the safe tapering of benzodiazepines for the FDA. Nicole is also acknowledged for her contribution to The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, a comprehensive resource describing guidelines for safely reducing or stopping (deprescribing) antidepressants, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids and z-drugs. Other interests include the primal lifestyle.
Common Mistakes Made in Withdrawal, Including Post/Protracted Withdrawal
Benzo Warrior
May 21, 2023
Testimony
Massachusetts Benzodiazepine Bill
November 8, 2021
Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Town Hall 3 – Post-Withdrawal Experiences
Mad in America
2021
Benzodiazepine-Induced Brain Injury: The Hidden Prescription Epidemic
Colorado Consortium
2021
Benzodiazepines in Canada: Is a Withdrawal Crisis Looming?
Mad in America
February 19, 2024
Are benzodiazepines “the worst thing that’s ever happened to people”?
Kevin MD
July 17, 2019
Why Prescribed Benzo Patients Shouldn’t Go To Detox or Rehab
MedShadow Foundation
June 12, 2019
The tip of the iatrogenic benzodiazepine iceberg
Kevin MD
March 1, 2019
Words can hurt those on benzodiazepines
Kevin MD
September 20, 2018
#42 Flumazenil with Nicole Lamberson 🇺🇸
BenzoTired
November 15, 2024
19.1 The Problem with Rapid Benzo Detox; Patient Perspective with Nicole Lamberson, PA
Renegade Psych Podcast
October 29, 2024
The Risks and Challenges of Medication Tapering Explained by Nicole Lamberson
Benzodiazepine Podcast
May 26, 2024
#40: Let’s talk Benzo lingo with P.A. Nicole Lamberson 🇺🇸, medical director B.I.C.
BenzoTired Podcast
May 18, 2024
I was sectioned after being given a tranquiliser for anxiety that triggered a frightening slide into psychosis. But the worst part of my ordeal was how doctors tried to cure me
Katinka Blackford Newman
Daily Mail
April 22, 2024
Prescription Nightmare
Enquête, Radio Canada
February 15, 2024
Rethinking Anxiety Treatments: Are Current Mental Health Therapies a Cause Early-onset Dementia?
ReThink It Podcast with Sande Bargeron
December 28, 2023
#53: Nicole Lamberson
BenzoTired Podcast
November 1, 2023
What patients — and doctors — should know about ‘benzo’ withdrawal
Sharon Goldman
The Washington Post
September 2, 2023
Nicole Lamberson on Benzodiazepine Protracted Withdrawal and Iatrogenic Injury
Dr. Mark J. Leeds, D.O. (Doctor Of Osteopathy) Podcast
2023
Nicole Lamberson, Co-founder Of The Withdrawal Project & Rep Of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC): What You Need To Know About Benzos For Sleep + Info On This MUST-KNOW Benzodiazepine Nonprofit!
Sleep is a Skill Podcast
October, 2022
Show 1315: Are We Medicating Normal Emotions?
The People’s Pharmacy Podcast
September 27, 2022
A Conversation with Mark Leeds, D.O.: Addiction Medicine, Benzodiazepines & More
Medicating Normal
2022
Medicating Normal: Why Are Psych Meds Prescribed So Often?
The Rehab Podcast
2022
Patricia Halligan, MD: 5-10 Benzo Calls Per Week & Addiction Psychiatry
Medicating Normal
2022
Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring: Benzos, Antidepressants, Protracted Withdrawal & the FDA
Medicating Normal
2022
Melanie Davis: REST, Benzodiazepines, & Withdrawal Support
Medicating Normal
2022
Surviving Xanax.. Christy Huff and Nicole Lamberson
Dr. Patricia Halligan
May 18, 2021
Too Many Meds? America’s Love Affair With Prescription Medication
Teresa Carr
Consumer Reports
August 3, 2017
Boland M, Higgins A, Beecher C, et al. Identifying priorities for future research on reducing and stopping psychiatric medication: results of a James Lind Alliance priority-setting partnership. BMJ Open 2024;14:e088266. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088266
Lynch, T., Ryan, C., Bradley, C., Foster, D., Huff, C., Hutchinson, S., … & Cadogan, C. (2022). Supporting safe and gradual reduction of long‐term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use: Development of the SAFEGUARDING‐BZRAs toolkit using a codesign approach. Health Expectations, 25(4), 1904-1918.