A coroner has issued a warning regarding the effects of antidepressants prescribed by a Buckingham Palace doctor following the suicide of Thomas Kingston, son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Thomas Kingston, 45, who married Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 in a ceremony attended by the late Queen, took his own life last February after experiencing adverse effects from recently prescribed medication, according to an inquest held last month.
Coroner Katy Skerrett highlighted the potential for increased fatalities if there is no change in the guidance and labeling of these medications. During the inquest at Gloucestershire coroner’s court, it was revealed that Kingston was prescribed sertraline, an antidepressant, and zopiclone, a sleeping aid, after reporting sleep issues and work-related stress.
When Kingston reported that these medications were not alleviating his symptoms, his doctor switched him from sertraline to citalopram, another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). In the days leading up to his death, Kingston had ceased taking his medication; toxicology tests showed traces of caffeine and zopiclone but no antidepressants.
In a prevention of future deaths report, Skerrett raised concerns about how well the risks of suicide associated with such medications are communicated to patients. She questioned the appropriateness of continuing or switching SSRI medications when the patient reported no benefits while experiencing adverse side effects.
Skerrett sent the report to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, and the Royal College of General Practitioners, requesting their response within 56 days.
Lady Gabriella, Kingston’s widow, expressed similar concerns during the inquest, emphasizing the need for increased awareness of the side effects associated with these drugs. A statement she provided through Skerrett read: “I believe anyone taking pills such as these needs to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.”
Recording a narrative conclusion, Skerrett stated that Kingston took his life while experiencing the adverse effects of his prescribed medications. The inquest acknowledged that the antidepressants were prescribed according to NICE guidelines.
Dr. David Healy, a psychiatric expert, testified that zopiclone could cause anxiety and that both sertraline and citalopram, being SSRIs, were essentially equivalent. He noted that Kingston’s anxiety complaints related to sertraline indicated that SSRIs were not appropriate for him and that he should not have been prescribed the same type of medication again.
Healy stressed the need for clearer guidelines and labeling for SSRIs concerning the risks associated with initiating these drugs and transitioning between them. “We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldn’t have otherwise,” he stated.
NICE recommends a gradual reduction of antidepressants, known as tapering, to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and long-term dependence. A spokesperson for NICE confirmed receipt of the coroner’s report, stating, “We will consider the issues raised by the report and respond to the coroner directly.” They emphasized their commitment to maintaining current and accurate guidelines and proactively addressing events that may influence their recommendations.
Credit: The Guardian
