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Acne drug blamed for suicide of Sittingbourne man James Sillcock

James Sillcock took his own life after taking acne drug Roaccutane
James Sillcock took his own life after taking acne drug Roaccutane

A devastated parent whose child took his own life after taking an acne drug has warned others to beware of its side effects.

Well-known Sittingbourne photographer Melvin Sillcock spoke out following an inquest into the death of his son James.

The 26-year-old was found dead in his bedroom at the family home in Scoones Close, Bapchild, by his father on December 9 last year. He died from plastic bag suffocation.

"I haven't been the same person since. I live every day in misery, helplessness, despair and regret..." - James Sillcock's suicide note

In a 20-page letter left to his parents and found beside his body, James outlined how his life changed - saying his life had been "perfect", but the drug left his world "in tatters".

The heartbreaking note read: "Even to this day, I just can't believe how easily things can change, and how NEEDLESSLY it did change for me.

"I could never of [sic] ever dreamt that taking Roaccutane, in the summer of 2002, ten years ago, could have brought the hell it has given me, changing my world completely, and leaving it in tatters.

"I haven't been the same person since. I live every day in misery, helplessness, despair and regret.

"How my life would have been, had I not taken Roaccutane, I will never know now. All I ever think about is 'what if'. What if I had never taken the drug?"

Sittingbourne photographer Melvin Sillcock
Sittingbourne photographer Melvin Sillcock

Speaking after the inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, 61-year-old Mr Sillcock pleaded for youngsters using the drug to "stop taking it now".

He said: "It's not worth the risk of what can happen to you and your body."

Mr Sillcock told how James was a "normal, healthy football-loving child" before he took Roaccutane at the age of 16 to help clear up a skin problem.

He was prescribed the drug by a specialist at Canterbury's Chaucer Hospital and took it "on and off" for 18 months.

Mr Sillcock said although it cleared his son's spots, a "physical and mental deterioration" set in soon afterwards.

He told the inquest: "Unfortunately, once he'd taken it, he couldn't get it out of his body.

"He started becoming withdrawn, stopped seeing friends and worked on his own."

"We miss James dearly and his death was so unnecessary. I can't describe what could've been if he hadn't taken it..." - Melvin Sillcock

According to his father, James - who ran an online t-shirt business - became anxious, fatigued and had problems with his vision.

Mr Sillcock said when he tried to persuade the 26-year-old to see an eye specialist, his son replied: "They can't help me, nobody can help me."

Having tried counselling and herbal remedies - including Chinese medicine to help ease his problems - 10 days before he died, James watched a TV documentary called for Dying for Clear Skin with his parents.

It told the story of a man who suffered "dark thoughts" after taking Roaccutane and ended up committing suicide.

Mr Sillcock, who has a daughter and one grandchild, said: "After watching the show I asked James, 'Are you having any dark thoughts?' but he didn't reply."

Roaccutane was pulled from US shelves in 2009 for "economic reasons", according to its producers. It remains available on prescription in the UK.

Latest figures show that in the year to September 2011, there were nine recorded suicides of people who were taking the drug.

In its patient product information, manufacturer Roche said one-in-10,000 people might suffer "suicidal thoughts" as a side effect.

Mr Sillcock said he will make his feelings about Roaccutane officially known via the yellow card scheme run by the MHRA, which regulates medicines.

The inquest was at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone
The inquest was at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone

Mid Kent and Medway Coroner Patricia Harding said she will report the circumstances leading to James's death to the "relevant authority".

Mr Sillcock said: "As a family we are heartbroken to have lost our son.

"We miss James dearly and his death was so unnecessary. I can't describe what could've been if he hadn't taken it.

"We would like to contact similar families who have suffered the same tragic circumstances through Rocaccutane to try and stop this happening to any other person and family in the future."

A Roche spokesman said: "We are committed to ensuring our medicines are taken as safely as possible.

"RoAccutane has transformed the lives of many acne sufferers, but like most medications it can have side effects.

"Whilst no definitive cause and effect relationship has been established to directly link mood swings and depression with the drug, there have been rare reports, amongst both those taking RoAccutane and acne sufferers in general.

"As a caution we recommend that anybody experiencing these, or other possible side effects with the treatment, to tell their doctor immediately.

"A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2010 concluded that people who suffer from acne are at an increased risk of suicide.

"It also concluded that there was an increased risk of attempted suicide during and after treatment with isotretinoin, but that this additional risk is most likely due to the acne rather than the treatment."

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