According to pharmaceutical and medical Web sites, Lamictal, also known as Lmotrigine, was approved for distribution in the U.S. in 1994 as a treatment to reduce seizures or convulsions. In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration approved its additional use as a mood regulator for bipolar disorder. Among the reported side effects of the drug are agitation, anxiety, concentration problems, confusion, depression, emotional instability, irritability, and mania.
Now it seems that one of it's side effects is public nudity, as seen in this report.
A prescription medicine may be at the root of a Hamilton city prosecutor's nude walks through the Government Services Center last week, as well as his nudity in a traffic accident last year.
Attorney Scott Blauvelt, 35, remains on paid administrative leave while Hamilton city officials sort through a psychiatric report that concludes his behavior might have been the result of medication he was taking for bi-polar disorder and seizure control.
"This isn't some damned invention of a defense lawyer," said attorney Michael Gmoser, who is representing Blauvelt in disciplinary proceedings initiated by the city and criminal charges brought by the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
Blauvelt was arrested Monday on two misdemeanor counts of public indecency after security cameras captured footage of him walking nude around the Government Services Center the evenings of Oct. 4 and 5.
Wednesday, during a predisciplinary conference with City Law Director Hillary Stevenson, Gmoser presented a letter from a psychiatrist who has been treating Blauvelt since 2005.The psychiatrist, whom Gmoser declined to identify, "finally connected the dots on (Blauvelt's) unusual behavior," Gmoser said.
The psychiatrist wrote that Blauvelt was placed on a medication called "Lamictal" about two weeks before a 2005 car crash which left him with brain injuries. Investigators at the crash scene found an injured and nude Blauvelt had been thrown from his car. His clothing was inside the car, Gmoser said.
Blauvelt's use of Lamictal was suspended while he recovered from his injuries. He was placed back on the drug about three weeks ago to control seizures he was experiencing as a result of the brain injury.
"That's the rub of this," Gmoser said. "Until these recent incidents in the Government Services Center, no one was able to connect the dots and explain why (Blauvelt) was found in the nude after his accident last year.
"It appears that all three incidents of Mr. Blauvelt walking about in the nude were brought about by his use of Lamictal," Gmoser said, quoting the psychiatric report.
[...]
Stevenson now has five days to decide whether to take disciplinary action against Blauvelt. That action could range from suspension with pay to dismissal.
Stevenson and Gmoser both said there likely would be no reason to review any cases that Blauvelt prosecuted.
"Ultimately, it's a judge or jury that renders decisions," Gmoser said. "Not the prosecutor or defense attorney."
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