Travolta's lawyers: Jett's anti-seizure meds stopped working
According to John Travolta's lawyers who have been getting the word out via TMZ, his son, Jett, had been taking an anti-seizure drug called Depokate "for several years."
They say the reports that Travolta refused to give his son anti-seizure meds because of his Scientology
beliefs are simply and patently not true.


Jett had been having seizures on an average of every four days, until he started taking Depokate.
Lawyers Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott say the drug initially worked, reducing the seizure frequencies to approximately once every three weeks.


Eventually, the drug lost its effectiveness, according to Ossi and McDermott, who say "it began to cause serious physical damage," including damage to Jett's liver.
And because Jett was back to having at least one seizure every four days, Travolta and Preston, after consulting neurosurgeons, stopped giving him the drug. It's not conclusive whether the seizures caused a fall and the subsequent head injury.
Are there no other anti-seizure medications on the market?
Just asking because someone is bound to ask soon.
Related posts:
Family lawyers say Jett's death caused by head trauma.
John Travolta's son, Jett, 16, dies in the Bahamas.
Photos: WireImage
Actually there are lots and lots of anti-seizure meds out there, and there is a diet, the ketogenic diet, kinda like the atkins diet that can help control seizures. I happen to have a child that has a seizure disorder, takes a med called tagamet, was previously on a med called keppra until an allergic reaction occurred. There are "breakthrough" seizures that can occur and as awful as this sounds, the way that we stop the seizures if they go on for more than 5 minutes is to give our child valium, rectally. It's quite horrible, but it does stop the seizure. Seizures can be fatal if uncontrolled, we've also been told by our neurologist. & in the for what it's worth dept. we also have another child that no doubt has ADHD, but is NOT on meds for such. We feel, as parents of a child that has a several severe disabilities, that we are constantly criticized, and I can't imagine the pain that the Travola's are experiencing. My heart goes out to the family....I hope they are able to find peace...eventually.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your percious son. Please know that it is more than obvious that you love and cherish your children above all else. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Noticed that your son had an allergic reaction from Keppra. My son may have experienced the same, but does not know it. Can you please list some of the symptoms? May save me a heartbreak.
I too have children with medical problems and you can't always monitor or watch them and things do happen not because you let them but because of life. I know theTravolta's love their children and knowing the good hearts they both have I am sure they did everything possible to prevent this type of disaster - I hope people will show them compassion and care during this hard time. We always second guess ourselves and there is probably plenty of self-doubt and guilt going on in there minds and I am also sure that there was nothing they could have done to prevent this accident. God Bless.
I take Trileptal, which helped me immediately.
im sorry for his lose i too have a son who has had seizures for 6 of his 7 years he too has had all the meds but not tagament ( lorazapam deppakotte zarontin dialantent topamax keppra ) all these meds
were taken three times a day for six years not all listed were the same time differnt times in his life now were are waiting for surgery later this mont for the vaiguil nerve stimulis in his chest his seizures went from 8 aday now too about 4 a month he also was diagnosed with ADHD he cant live a normal life he also has what they call staring or blinking seizures all day
he also gets the valuim when he does have a long one and it does take him out of it if he is sick thats a differnt story we documented all of his seizures because they were all different we even video a couple of them for the doctor to see her self
Let me get this straight. Jett's anti-seizure medication stopped working, so his parents removed him from medication altogether? And tehn left him unattended in the bathroom? My daughter has been on seven different medications, and some worked better than others, and the ketogenic diet has worked best of all. I'm afraid to think what would happen if I suddenly stopped all treatment -- I sure wouldn't leave her unattended. This is tragic, and the family's lawyer's statement doesn't clear anything up.
If Jett was taken off Depakote as stated,#1 he would have to be weaned off it and #2 have another anti seizure med added ,or he would go into status epilepticus,. why aren't these peple being charged with negligent homicide???
Dear Readers:
Status epilepticus (SE) refers to a life-threatening condition in which the brain is in a state of persistent seizure. Definitions vary, but traditionally it is defined as one continuous unremitting seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes or recurrent seizures without regaining consciousness between seizures for greater than 30 minutes.
If you know or have someone who suffers from this condition, I suggest calling the American Epilepsy Society. (703) 960-1213
All the best,
Andy Wilson
It's shocking to hear of Jett Travolta's death, especially from a seizure. He may have had a condition known as epilepsy in which the drug
Depakote (an anticonvulsent) is used in the treatment of epileptic seizures.
If Jett was only given one medication (depakote) and still having seizures, he could have been placed on a combination of medications, which is routine, to prevent seizures. There is no way he should have been taken off depakote without being placed on a new medication. It's just too dangerous, and any physician would alert the parents to this.
There are many options for the treatment of epilepsy and seizures, including highly successful brain surgery performed at Cleveland Clinic
With all their resources and world-wide connections, it seems that the Travolta's would have exhausted any and all possibilities in the treatment of Jett's condition and maybe just maybe, his death might have been prevented with the proper treatment. I am hoping, like millions of others, that his parent's involvement and beliefs in Scientology did not keep Jett from receiving the proper medical treatment.
It is a tragedy that such a very young man died.
My sympathy goes out the Travolta family Their pain is palpable.