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Hundreds of alerts over deaths linked to antidepressants taken by Thomas Kingston

The UK’s medicines regulator is reviewing safety alerts for 30 common antidepressants

Rebecca Thomas
Health Correspondent
Wednesday 04 December 2024 12:29 EST
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Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella Windsor after their wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2019
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella Windsor after their wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2019 (PA Archive)

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Hundreds of alerts have been made to the UK’s medicines regulator over deaths linked to antidepressants taken by Thomas Kingston in the weeks before he took his own life.

A coroner ruled on Tuesday that Mr Kingston, the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston, fatally shot himself after an adverse effect to the medications he had been prescribed, which included the common antidepressant citalopram.

The UK’s medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has received more than 216 alerts over fatalities linked to the antidepressant citalopram since 2014, according to data analysed by The Independent.

The data, called yellow card alerts, also shows 704 alerts over fatal adverse reactions linked to sertraline, another antidepressant taken by Mr Kingston, over the same period.

During the inquest, Lady Kingston called for better warnings for patients over side effects linked to antidepressants which can include anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

The findings come after The Independent revealed the MHRA is undertaking a review of safety warnings for 30 antidepressants including citalopram and Prozac.

The MHRA review, commissioned by former minister Maria Caulfield, is looking at the effectiveness of safety warnings following families’ concerns over the loss of their loved ones.

The MHRA said it could not provide an update on the review as it is ongoing.

Kingston was taking the common antidepressants citalopram and sertraline before his death
Kingston was taking the common antidepressants citalopram and sertraline before his death (PA Archive)

It said: “It’s important to note that the patient information leaflet provided in packs of citalopram as well as the summary of product characteristics for healthcare professionals includes information about the possibility of feeling increased anxiety at the start of treatment as well as the risk of having thoughts about suicide with the advice that patients should contact their doctor or go to hospital straight away.”

Citalopram and sertraline, which Mr Kingston had been prescribed before his death, are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). He had also been prescribed zopiclone which is a sedative drug.

The most recent data shows 5.2 million patients were prescribed SSRIs in 2021, up from 4.2 million in 2015-16.

Yellow card data from the MHRA shows 28 alerts, since 2014, over fatalities linked to patients with suicidal thoughts who were taking citalopram. For sertraline, 83 alerts have been made over fatalities linked to suicidal behaviour.

However, the data does not determine whether the drug was the direct cause of death.

According to evidence given at his inquest, Mr Kingston had complained sertraline was making him anxious.

A medical expert at the inquest, Dr David Healy, suggested this was a sign SSRIs “did not suit him” and that he should not have been prescribed citalopram following this.

He said the guidelines and labels for SSRIs were not clear enough about the effects of using the drugs, or of moving from one to another.

“We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldn’t have otherwise,” he said.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to befrienders.org to find a helpline near you

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