Among the many Seroxat induced side effects, one of the most controversial has been the focus on the
drugs propensity to induce suicide. This recent news story is shocking, not because it is another
disturbing and upsetting case of Seroxat-induced -suicide, but because it is astounding to me why this
drug is still being prescribed.
Seroxat is one of the most controversial medications of the last decade, that notoriety has been long
earned, is it time to pull this drug?

Bereaved and depressed man hanged himself after his pet dog died
A BEREAVED dog owner was found hanging in a wooded area of Lincoln after a locum doctor failed
to refer him to psychiatric services.
Marine engineer Stuart Reed’s body was found hanging from a tree by a dog lead at Botany Baytruthman30.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/seroxat-induced-suicide-why-is-seroxat-still-on-the-market/ 2/3
Plantation off Birchwood Avenue at 6am on May 7.
Yesterday, an inquest into Mr Reed’s death heard that the 29-year-old had suffered from depression
since childhood and had taken the recent loss of his 11-year-old dog Roger badly.
Coroner Stuart Fisher heard that the former Ancaster School pupil had taken the drug
paroxetine, more commonly known under its brand name Seroxat, for many years to treat
symptoms of anxiety and social phobia.
On October 27 he paid a visit to locum GP Dr Paul Stratton at the Crossroads Medical Practice in
Lincoln Road, North Hykeham, where he had been registered since birth.
The inquest heard that Mr Reed told Dr Stratton that he felt Seroxat was no longer helping
his anxiety and he was suffering from suicidal thoughts.
He and the locum decided that he should be referred for psychiatric help,
But Dr Stratton failed to make the referral and Mr Reed never received an appointment to talk to a
psychiatric nurse.
Mr Fisher told the inquest: “It could be argued by members of his family that if he had seen a
psychiatric nurse it is possible that this tragedy could have been avoided.
Dr Stratton replied: “It is almost impossible to comment either way.
“I’m not a specialist in the field of psychiatry and to say whether a referral will have affected the
outcome is almost impossible.”
Mr Reed’s mother, Chris Jammeh, told the inquest that Crossroads Medical Practice had another
opportunity to help her son when he visited the surgery in February.
But she said that as electronic records were not kept, the doctor who treated him did not realise he
should have been referred to psychiatric services.
“If the referral had been recorded on a computer screen then it would have been picked up by that
doctor,” she said.
Mr Fisher recorded an open verdict.
Practice manager at Crossroads Medical Practice, Mark Ebb, later told the Echo: “This was a tragic
case and we would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Reed.
“Following this tragic event we undertook a review of the case and as a result we have taken a number
of steps to prevent a similar incident happening in future.”