About one in seven people in the UK now take antidepressants, but some patients say they are not receiving adequate advice about potential side effects. A recent case highlights the risks: Dylan Stallan, from Glasgow, was treated for body dysmorphia and depression with Fluoxetine from age 16. At 18, his medication was switched to Sertraline, and within two months he took his own life.
His mother, Seonaid Stallan, says neither she nor her son were warned about possible side effects when the medication changed. She claims they were not told he might feel worse before feeling better, and were advised it was safe to drink alcohol while on the new drug. NHS guidance recommends avoiding alcohol when starting Sertraline until you know how it affects you, and the leaflet inside the box also advises against alcohol.
The night before his death in 2015, Dylan had consumed a 'considerable amount' of alcohol. Seonaid believes the advice from the clinic played a role in his decision to end his life. The private clinic expressed condolences but declined to comment on individual treatment.
Professor Bernadka Dubicka notes that up to one in 50 young people on antidepressants may experience increased suicidal thinking in the first few weeks. Only Fluoxetine is commonly prescribed to under-18s in the UK, but upon turning 18, patients can be prescribed any antidepressant. Experts say current pressures on GPs mean side effects are not always fully discussed.
Seonaid hopes better research and understanding of side effects could be life-saving as prescription rates rise. Her story is featured in a new BBC iPlayer documentary on young people's experiences with antidepressants.
