Celebrity Justice
John Travolta's Son: Meds Ultimately Didn't Work

TMZ has learned more about the medical condition of John Travolta's son, Jett, and the medication that ultimately didn't work.

We're now told the grand mal seizures Jett suffered were "frequent and extremely serious." Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott, tell us "each seizure was like a death," with Jett losing consciousness and convulsing.

We now know Jett was taking a drug called Depakote, a strong anti-seizure medication. There have been reports Travolta refused to give his son anti-seizure meds because of Scientology but those stories are not true.

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

Jett took Depakote for "several years," but it eventually lost its effectiveness, according to Ossi and McDermott. They say the Travoltas were concerned about possible physical damage. And, Jett went back to having around one seizure a week. So Travolta and Preston, after consulting neurosurgeons, stopped administering the drug. No one is suggesting withdrawal of the medicine in any way caused the fatal episode.

Reader Comments

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451. I started on tegratol, that was really bad for me. I then went to depakote ER, that worked for a long time with me, then the mood swings that came along with it were awful. So now i am on Lamictal, which is working just fine. I have myoclonic jerks. Those are a total pain in the ass. They happen mainly in the morning, and hinder me from alot of things. I can only drive during a specific time of the day. And until you have one, there is no way a person can say they know what you are going through simply because one of their family members has epilepsy. These seizures are painful, and take alot of energy out of me, they can cause serious migraines, and affect your life forever.

I was told i would outgrow them, that never happened. I am now 37. Mine are not hereditary, no one in my family has ever had them, mine come from serious head trauma when i was younger.

My heart goes out the Travolta family, i can honestly say i know how they feel.

Posted at 8:59PM on Jan 7th 2009 by raiderchick

452. To all those who defend the parents of this boy as having the right to make their own judgement calls regarding his medical care...you have not been paying attention to the court system in this country. For example, in Boston, a Christian Scientist was given a jail sentence (1st degree manslaughter ) for failing to get medical help for his child, who died in horrifying pain from a blocked, then perforated intestine - a situtation that developed for days prior to the child's death. These parents felt they were within their rights to withhold medical based on their religious beliefs. They were wrong. There have also been numerous recent cases where parents have been prosecuted for failing to provide treatment for their children with cancer. Our judicial system has established a very clear precedent that the parental right to decide medical treatment for minor children does not extend to denying them medication or care for life-threatening conditions. And make no mistake about it...grand mal seizures, often associated with epilepsy, autism, brain injury, and sometimes of unknown origin, can kill. A child who no longer responds to a seizure drug is not summarily taken off of it and denied access to alternatives. That is a life-threatening decision. If the Travoltas claim that they took Jett off Depakote and failed to replace it with another antiseizure med, they are complicit in his death. The fact that we all like John Travolta, and feel real sympathy for his family's loss, in no way mitigates or excuses this negligence. If they claim that they did this under a doctor's supervision, then the Board of Medical Registration in the doctor's state MUST remove this doctor's license to practice. And for all those who think that sympathy for the family means that a coherent, informed conversation about cause of death shouldn't take place, they may need to upgrade their understanding of our free speech rights as stated in our Constitution.

Posted at 12:25AM on Jan 8th 2009 by Eeyore

453. I can't believe how some people can be so cruel. Have you ever lost a child? Can't you find something inside yourself that would allow you to feel compassion for a couple who have lost their only son. Whatever his condition, whatever medication he was or was not taking, is not anyone's business but theirs. I may not agree with their religious beliefs, but I do respect everyone's right to worship as they please. Come on, people, put yourself in their place, and stop these cruel comments. Let them grieve in peace!

Posted at 5:55PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Disgusted

454. Hi. I am a father of 3 beautiful children. I hurt everytime I read the paper or am involved in an investigation in which a child has lost his life. I don't believe in Scientology but I respect other peoples belief's. The Travolta family is entitled to worship a religion of their choice. Scientology is their choice. If you look at the pictures all over the place the last couple of days you could see that they had alot of love for this child. If there was something in this world that would have kept Jet alive I'm sure they would have tried it. This was an accidental death & is a tragedy. IMy deep condolences to the Travolta family. They need our support, not criticism.

Posted at 2:43PM on Jan 8th 2009 by Griff

455. My heart goes out to John, Kelly, and Ella. I can't even begin to imagine losing a child. I understand that Jett was on Depakote and was taken off of it. I wouldn't have thought to give Depakote for grand mal seizures. I took Depakote for Bipolar Disorder. If he had so many seizures then he must have suffered from Epilepsy. They should have kept trying medications until they found one that worked. My friend is on medication for her epilepsy and since I've known her I have never known her to have one seizure. When a child has that many seizures he cannot go without medication. Your brain can only take so many seizures. Rest in peace, Jett.

Posted at 7:40AM on Jan 9th 2009 by julie

456. If you keep hearing all these scientologist defending their church, about "no we don't stop them from taking their PHYSICAL medicationg. Jett didn't need PHYSICAL medication, he needed NEUROLOGICAL medication. Seizures are cause by the brain. Medications that scientologist are agains't = Psych drugs.. medication that deals with the brain.

Find out the truth http://newsblaze.com/story/20090109140326zzzz.nb/topstory.html

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

Posted at 10:10PM on Jan 9th 2009 by imariscent

457. There sre so many good medicines today even hyperbaric treatments which I gave my son helped. I have heard the church is resonsible for all the detox they gave this kid....what a shame..thank God Posh and Beckham left town and would not stop the medication to one of the boys...and Marc Anthony ran away,,and Nicole Kidman was able to get away...this religion is a cult....just look at Cruises wife....I cannot believe this religion has so much control...May God protect the children

Posted at 7:54AM on Jan 10th 2009 by IC

458. dear john,

i admire your work !!! i couldn't have done any better !!! good luck with your next patient, bleu !!!

best wishes. sincerely,
dr kevorkian

Posted at 7:46AM on Jan 11th 2009 by practicing medicine wo a license !!!

459. no thats sad! doesnt anyone in this world have a heart? his son DIED and people need to leave him and what he choose to believe. everyone else does.

Posted at 11:05PM on Jan 11th 2009 by shelly mcjingles

460. I've suffered from grand mal seizures since 2000 (I'm an adult, aged 53) and Depakote ER is the drug that was prescribed to me immediately. I consulted with at least 4 neurologists and all felt that it was the drug of choice for my type of epilepsy. It has very unfortunate side effects like huge weight gain, hair loss, but as long as it is tolerated by the liver, it is very effective.

And sikedoc is correct - a responsible neurologist doesn't pull you off a med. It takes time to build up in your blood stream. To change meds, you have to built up to two simultaneously and then back off of one.

Grand mal seizures are among the most dangerous type - it affects the brain stem which controls heartbeat and respiration - someone having a prolonged grand mal seizure can die from it or become brain damaged.

Posted at 2:18AM on Jan 12th 2009 by ustabee

461. All that I can say is I'm sorry John and Kelly about your son, There is nothin i can say, I'm one of your Biggest fans, Thats all. TAKE CARE!!!!!

Posted at 10:48AM on Jan 13th 2009 by William

462. My last girlfriend experienced grand mal seizures when we had missionary sex, and that was the best sex I ever had. I just had to make sure that she never gave me oral sex.

Posted at 9:32PM on Jan 12th 2009 by Poopy

463. Hello Dearest faimily.

My name is ~Joanne beechy and i am a bereavred parent, i am 7 years away from th moment he was stillborn, i drank 4 7 months . painted myself greern and set a fire and got put in prison.
I woke up herard the radio, and i started crying, for , you, mothet fathert, last image will haunt me for ever.

I just want to day. i am angry our sons get taken your son, 10 times different to mone
But i loved hin as mush.

I have opened a Friends od Ashley on my facebook,

If you would ever like to talk . Pleas e-mail me or join group, with different name.

All my love light and Faith>

Love
Joanne Beechey
x

Posted at 9:50AM on Jan 15th 2009 by Joanne beechey

464. Wow, i am embarresed by the inhumanity being posted on this page. are you people so self absorbed that you can't say something comforting to a family in mourning, no matter their beliefs. it makes me sick that i have to live on this planet with such non-compassionate "people", if that is what i have to refer to you as...

Posted at 9:48PM on Jan 19th 2009 by tammy

465. My daughter was on Depakote for Bi Polar Disorder. I was aware that it was a anti seizure medication as well. I can attest that it looses it's effectiveness after several years of use and we had to find another medication that worked.
My heart goes out to the Travoltas in their time of loss and I pray they find peace and that people will allow them that and not judge for whatever reason. It won't bring their child back to them.

Posted at 4:24PM on Jan 22nd 2009 by chris

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