"please keep me updated about oximeters "
Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
New? Free Sign Up
Then check our Welcome Center to a Community Caring about Sleep Apnea diagnosis and Sleep Apnea treatment:
CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea surgery and dental appliances.
CPAP Supplies
Latest Activity
Murder Blamed on Sleep Apnea
Pennsylvania v. Ricksgers. In 1994, Michael Ricksgers was convicted of the murder of his wife. He claimed he'd accidentally killed her during a sleepwalking episode, which defense lawyers argued was provoked by a medical condition, sleep apnea. Prosecutors presented an alternative explanation: that Ricksgers was upset that his wife was planning to leave him. Ricksgers told police that he awoke to find a gun in his hand and his wife bleeding in bed beside him. He said that he might have dreamed about an intruder breaking in. That didn't sway the jury. Ricksgers was sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to the Associated Press.
Views: 892
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Chris on
-
That was harsh. The only thing I blamed on apnea was being late for work! LOL
-
Permalink Reply by Mike on
-
LOL. i blame apnea on taking a leak in the middle of the night.
Chris said:That was harsh. The only thing I blamed on apnea was being late for work! LOL
-
Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
-
I wonder if he was taking a sleep aide? I know Ambien can cause one to do things in their sleep and not remember doing it. I had a coworker that would actually cook in the middle of the night and eat and not know it until she saw the dirty dishes the next morning. Once she even drove her car -- now that is scary!!!
-
Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
-
Not sure Carol. I wonder if they new the side effects of ambien then. Sleep eating is a pretty crazy thing. People will wake up to an empty fridge and cubbards. Along with a mess and a tummy ache to boot.
-
-
I know many drugs are recognized as being "the answer" many times when they first come out and only later is it discovered that many of those drugs have serious side effects.
I am unsure how long Ambien has been out, but in 1994 it probably was still a fairly new drug and many of the dangers probably weren't known.
I know I was prescribed Ambien back a few years ago because I wasn't sleeping. I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown and ended up hospitalized for a about a week or so. I took it for a very short time and didn't have a problem with it, but I do know that my pysch doctor told me that it was a drug that HE would not prescribe himself as it had due to side effects and that it had become a recreational drug for many.
-
Permalink Reply by Duane McDade on
-
It should have read "MURDER BLAMED ON PARASOMNIA" Sleepwalking is done during (DEEP) Delta sleep. Most Apnea patients dont get too much of the deep sleep, and no one remembers dreaming, or sleep walking. Now on the other hand REM dreams are remembered most of the time. The reason being is REM is a very light sleep. Here's the clincher... the man was lying you can't nmurder someone while your dreaming because you're paralized and you would not remember dreaming if you were sleep walking. Man if Alferd Hichcock was here now! wow I just got goose pimples, Ha!
-
-
If used properly I don't believe ambien is that bad. Sleeping pills are made to be a sleep aid. They are supposed to help you find your normal sleep schedule again. This should not take more than a week or 2 max. If this does not fix the problem then the patient and the doc should try something else. The problem rises when people take them for too long.
sleepycarol said:I know many drugs are recognized as being "the answer" many times when they first come out and only later is it discovered that many of those drugs have serious side effects.
I am unsure how long Ambien has been out, but in 1994 it probably was still a fairly new drug and many of the dangers probably weren't known.
I know I was prescribed Ambien back a few years ago because I wasn't sleeping. I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown and ended up hospitalized for a about a week or so. I took it for a very short time and didn't have a problem with it, but I do know that my pysch doctor told me that it was a drug that HE would not prescribe himself as it had due to side effects and that it had become a recreational drug for many.
-
Permalink Reply by Belinda Haman on
-
Sleepycarol:
I am interested in what you had to say about Ambien......I have never taken this for sleep but currently I am taking remeron and trazadone because I was originally diagnosed with insomnia......I am new to cpap therapy I am wondering if I should continue with my meds or start to wean myself off with the help of my doc.... I am just starting to keep my mask on for the whole night, granted my mouth falls open I am waiting for my new chin strap.....
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated:)
-
-
insomnia is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom of something else. It is important that you try and figure out what is causing your insomnia. It could be something as simple as making small changes to your sleep pattern or schedule. Sleeping pills our ment to readjust your sleep and should never be taken for an extended period of time.
-
Permalink Reply by Marie Davis on
-
I had vivid dreams on Ambien and all were very violent. It was like an out of body experience. Very scary, I stop taking even though my doctors kept encouraging me too. I am so happy I have my CPAP now and am getting healthy sleep without drugs that sedate your brain to sleep. However, I think there is some truth to people acting out in their sleep. I knew someone that walked through a plate glass porch door and continued walking in his pajamas all bloody, until the police picked him up. When he awoke he was in the police car and didn't remember a thing.... he ended up getting divorce....you can understand why!!
-
-
I can't believe that you all are missing the point! Ambien has nothing to do with this. Parasomnia is a brain disorder not drug induced. It may be drug inhanced but taking ambien is not going to set you on a primevil murder rampaged. Oh my #$%^&! god!
© 2025 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
