Student's suicide linked to acne drug

Daily Express Oct 21, 2004

A student doctor's suicide was linked to the powerful drug he took to clear up his acne, a coroner revealed.

Jon Medland, 22, was tipped for a bright future after starting his fourth year at university.

But three weeks after taking Roaccutane for spots on his face and back he suffered depression and was found hanged with a suicide note.  Coroner Leonard Gorodkin said there was a "likely link" between the death and the drug. He has now called for more information about Roaccutane, which has been linked to more than 100 suicides.

The coroner added: "He was a very clever young man and had lots of friends. It's possible the way Mr Medland acted in taking his own life was an adverse reaction."   The Manchester inquest was told Mr Medland, from Devon, started taking the tablets last December. But he was soon unable to sleep, eat or concentrate and became depressed.

Flatmates in Withington, Greater Manchester, said they saw a dramatic change in Mr Medland, described by his girlfriend as "bubbly, easy­going, friendly and charming".

He had threatened suicide earlier and his worried family convinced him to stop taking his tablets and see a GP for help after slash marks were spotted on his chest.

The next day he was given anti-depressants, but that night he wrote a note saying goodbye to his parents. He used his belt to hang himself from the back of a wardrobe door.

His family were told of his death on January 13 on their way to see him for a surprise visit.

His father Jonathan Medland, 47, said: "He achieved wonderful things in his life.  There was no one on this earth that loved life more than Jon.  People are dying because of this drug." The inquest heard his son had researched the drug after other antibiotics had failed to clear his problem. But a consultant had warned him think it could cause permanent depression.

Mr Gorodkin recorded a verdict of suicide. Drug manufacturer Roche said yesterday they advised patients that the drug may cause mood changes. "We were very saddened to hear of Jon's suicide," added a spokeswoman. .

The drug carries a warning that women should not take it if they are pregnant.