Selma Blair's lawyer cites missed medication, head injury after in-flight arrest: What doctors say

Selma Blair’s recent in-flight arrest has raised questions about the potential effects when a person with multiple sclerosis misses prescribed medication.

The actress, 54, was arraigned Monday on two counts of second-degree assault after allegedly attacking a police officer and nurse following an altercation with flight attendants aboard a Delta flight into New York City, The Associated Press reported.

In court, Blair’s attorney, Shawn Barnes, said that Blair had missed several doses of Nuedexta, "a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms ," according to multiple outlets.

SELMA BLAIR ACCUSED OF KICKING NURSE HOURS AFTER JFK PLANE ARREST The attorney added that Blair hit her head during the flight, which departed from Los Angeles, and was in "a state of severe confusion and disorientation." He also suggested the altitude may have been a factor.

The incident was the result of a " medical emergency " and not criminal misconduct, he claimed.

Blair was diagnosed with MS in 2018.

Fox News Digital reached out to Blair's representatives requesting comment.

There are three primary treatment approaches for multiple sclerosis, according to Dr.

Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist practicing in Jackson, Tennessee, at West Tennessee Healthcare.

"The first-line treatments we utilize try to prevent recurrent inflammatory attacks," Murray, who has not treated Blair, told Fox News Digital. 'HELICOPTER BRAIN' COULD BE MAKING YOU FEEL SICK: HOW TO SPOT IT AND WHAT TO DO These medications often involve IV infusions, but they can be in the form of pills or injections the patient gives themselves.

"These are oftentimes medications folks take for several years," Murray said.

"The hope of that is to keep the MS suppressed, to keep [the patient] from having MS attacks." When patients experience an MS relapse, doctors may prescribe high-dose steroids, either orally or intravenously, to reduce inflammation and help speed recovery, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Patients with multiple sclerosis often have other health issues , Murray noted.

"For instance, patients with MS may have bladder difficulties, or they’ll develop depression or neuropathic pain," he said.