Criminal Mischief Episode 13: Alice In Wonderland Syndrome

Suspense Radio

SHOW NOTES:

One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small

And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all

Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall

White Rabbit, The Jefferson Airplane

And then there was this excellent question from my friend and wonderful
writer Frankie Bailey that was published in SUSPENSE MAGAZINE as part of my
recurring Forensic Files column:

What Drugs Might Cause Side Effects in My Character With Alice in
Wonderland Syndrome?

Q: I have a question about Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) My
character is in his mid-30s. From what I've gathered from reading about this
syndrome, it is fairly common with children and with migraine sufferers and it
is controllable. However, I want my character to have side-effects. In other
words, even though the AIWS and his migraines are under control, he is
increasingly erratic. Insomnia, impotence, and irritability would all be a
bonus. Could he be dosing himself with some type of herb that he doesn't
realize would have these side-effects when combined with the medication
prescribed for AIWS. Or is there a medication for AIWS that might cause these
kind of side-effects but be subtle enough in the beginning that the person
becomes mentally unstable before he realizes something is wrong?

FY Bailey

A: Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is also known as Todd’s Syndrome. It is a
neurologic condition that leads to disorientation and visual and size
perception disturbances (micropsia and macropsia). This means that their
perception of size and distance is distorted. Much like Alice after she
descended into the rabbit hole and consumed the food and drink she was offered.

AIWS is associated with migraines, tumors, and some psychoactive drugs.
It is treated in a similar fashion to standard migraines with various
combinations of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta blockers, and calcium
channel blockers. Both anticonvulsants (Dilantin, the benzodiazepines such as
Valium and Xanax, and others) and antidepressants (the SSRIs like Lexpro and
Prozac, the MAOIs like Marplan and Nardil,, and the tricyclic antidepressants
like Elavil and Tofranil, and others) have significant psychological side
effects. Side effects such as insomnia, irritability, impotence, confusion,
disorientation, delusions, hallucinations, and bizarre behaviors of all
types–some aggressive and others depressive. Beta blockers can cause fatigue,
sleepiness, and impotence. The calcium channel blockers in general have fewer
side effects at least on a psychiatric level.

As for herbs almost anything that would cause psychiatric affects could
have detrimental outcomes in your character. Cannabis, mushrooms, LSD, ecstasy,
and other hallucinogens could easily make his symptoms worse and his behavior
unpredictable.

Your...