Seizures-Zoloft prior Head injury

[clynnm]

Hello and Thank you for any info ou can give me. My son had a severe head injury with bleeding in brain ( right side) 8 years ago. At the time of injury he had seizures he did suffer some brain damage. He started having some problems he said he was afraid to drive thought he would pass out, feeling light headed ect.. He also strted having some obessive compulsive behavior. His primary Care phy. put him on Zoloft. He was on Zoloft for about 5 months when I started noticing twiching of his eye. Then at about 1 year of taking zoloft My son had woke up on floor and didn't know how he got there. He called me at work in a panic asked me to please come home. When I came home he was vomiting his eyes very blood shot and also severe headache. I called doc who nurse said oh he probaly had the flu . When I took him in to see the doc he increased his zoloft to 100 mg 5 weeks later my son has a grand mal seizure while I'm at home. He spent whole weekend in hospital and is now taking tegretol 400 mg daily . Fianlly got to see neurosurgen who wants to wean him off zoloft he is currently taking 50mg of zoloft daily. He doesn,t go back to see neurosurgon till 6-6-01. How long of a process is weaning off zoloft ? I have read patients who have seizures need to to be taken off this medicine.He also had mri they said there is a cyst next to old injury. What could this be ? How serious?
Can zoloft cause seizures like this? I live in a small town and think I should take my son to a larger hospital with more knowledgable doc with this problem. My son is 22 yrs old and ready to start working he can't even drive now. any info I would  greatly appreciate. Thanks Again, Carol

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Carol:

I am sorry to hear about your son.  We usually do not associate Zoloft with inducing seizures.  I would think that is was just bad timing that he began having seizures and the use of Zoloft.  As far as weaning off the Zoloft, we usually wean it over a month or so.  It is difficult to tell you about the cyst, as it might have been there from the healing process many years ago.  Since there is alot of information missing about the cyst, where it is, has it changed over time, I am afraid that I can't tell you much.  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[jan]

Dear Carol,
I can't wait to see the dr's response, because of the mess I am now in. I was being treated for neurocardiogenic syncope (fainting) and had just had zoloft added to my meds. Three days later I am in ER because of an event. Now the dr's are arguing if it is seizure or syncope, if it is neurological or cardiac. Neuro is thinking it may be linked to old stroke because MRI is showing some spot they are saying is from stroke or old trauma. I did have some lesser episodes the week before and wonder if the zoloft brought it on full force. The  cardio who put me on zoloft is the only one who said it is from zoloft and he took me off. My neuro actually wanted to put me on it, again because of the strange sensations I am experiencing off and on, mostly on right side since the seizure type incident. I am so weary of dr's visits and tests, it has been going on for about 3 years and now I have orders not to drive!