Parents' plea over drug

The Gatchells want doctors to prescribe the drug only to over-25s

The parents of an 18-year-old girl who committed suicide have called for better regulation of the drug she was prescribed.

Alfred and Stephanie Gatchell, from Newhaven, blame the anti-depressant Seroxat for the death of her daughter Sharise.

Now the couple, who moved to the UK from South Africa with their daughter in search of a better life, want doctors to be told not to prescribe Seroxat to people of Sharise's age.

Mr Gatchell said: "She was a very quiet, well behaved, articulate child who was a vegetarian, very disciplined.

I noticed that there was just a dramatic personality swing and at times I found her hostile and aggressive Alfred Gatchell

"She used to have her melancholy periods but nothing traumatic."

Mr and Mrs Gatchell claim Sharise's state of mind changed significantly when she was prescribed the drug at the age of 16 to help with depression and shyness.

"I noticed that there was just a dramatic personality swing and at times I found her hostile and aggressive," Mr Gatchell said.

"I couldn't put it together, I couldn't make sense of this dramatic change."

Sharise took Seroxat to help with depression and shyness

Within two years Sharise, a talented artist, took her own life.

Seroxat was licensed in 1991 but featured in a BBC Panorama investigation over claims it could lead to self-harm.

Government advisors ruled in June it should no longer be prescribed to under-18s following a review of claims from patient groups that the drug has serious side-effects and is addictive.

Mr and Mrs Gatchell believe it should not be prescribed to anyone under 25.

'Lives devastated'

Mrs Gatchell said: "Our lives are devastated absolutely, our daughter was so talented.

"We came to this country to provide a better future for her."

The drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, told South East Today there was no link between Seroxat and suicide.

A statement said: "By treating depression Seroxat helps to prevent suicide and the associated suicidal thoughts.

"Numerous investigations by independent bodies made up of doctors who are expert in this field have found no links between Seroxat and suicide."