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Manhattan Mom Was Reporting Son’s Seizure When Attacked


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Article Link: http://newyork.cbslo...o-be-arraigned/

It was very sad for this to have happened. I don't know if the above article states, but on another page with the article (which I don't remember the link) said the medications he was on were Keppra and Lamictal.

ETA: Here's another article link: http://gothamist.com...gs_to_blame.php

ETA: And another: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/lawyer-mom-murder-suspect-henry-wachtel-blames-epilepsy-drugs-article-1.1059828

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Wheezy, my experience with my husband's post-ictal fugues is that he is combative, but not violent: If you approach him and startle him, he might take a swing at you, but he doesn't "seek" violence, if you know what I am saying. This is what I hear is usually the case with post-ictal patients, and I heard that from both neurosurgeons and paramedics.

Of course there are always exceptions, but it isn't the norm.

And netsavvy says he was on Keppra. Keppra can cause big mood swings, mostly negative (the joke among users is that they suffer from "Kepprage"). I've never heard of anyone getting overwhelmingly happy on it.

When my husband took it, he was hell on wheels. He never was a danger to me, as the Keppra was probably the best med he took for seizure control. That meant he wasn't ever in a post-ictal fugue while he was on it, so even though his mood sucked, I never felt threatened.

BUT his daily behavioral and mood issues were so bad that he had to stop taking it, in spite of its usefulness for seizures.

This story is heartbreaking. That kid is going to be incarcerated. He will probably have a mitigated sentence, as it won't be too difficult to prove his medication and post-ictal state of mind combined that were a trigger. But he is going to have to live with this, and I hope he is watched carefully for the next few weeks. I mean, I hope he is under suicide watch.

Unless they can prove he was non-compos mentis. It is always possible, I guess. If he *was* in a fugue state, it would be hard for him to assist in his own offense, which in theory (in theory) would mean they couldn't hold a criminal trial. But if he isn't sent off to jail, he is going to be sent to a hospital, even though he isn't insane.

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Post-ictal I experience extreme levels of fear. Some call it hyper fear. The fight or flight response is wide open. I would not attack random people for no reason but if I felt provoked or cornered I am likely to defend myself. For example, if someone was on top of me, trying to do CPR or whatever when I became conscious I would strike out.

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