Beloved son Luke Reeves took his own life after course of acne medication

Essex Coroner’s Court ruled Luke Reeves, 21, took his own life by taking a drugs overdose in April. He was found dead in his bedroom in Copford.

But dad Richard said his personality changed four years earlier after he took a course of roaccutane in a bid to clear up troublesome acne.

According to Mr Reeves, Luke became much more irritable and lethargic before eventually attempting to take his own life twice before he died.

During the inquest Mr Reeves said: “We know what the gun was and we know what pulled the trigger.

“The drug company are murdering people.

“The affects of it are under reported and he was still suffering from them four years after taking it.

“There is enough anecdotes about it - surely at some stage it becomes evidence.”

Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said it was outside her remit to decide whether the drug had an affect on Luke’s mental state - but conceded he was clearly not in his right mind.

She said: “I think he was probably in a bad place.

“I am going to record a conclusion that Luke Reeves killed himself but I am also going to add a rider to say the balance of his mind was disturbed.

“I think very carefully before I say things like that but I think in this situation he was not thinking straight.”

Mrs Beasley-Murray also expressed her sympathy to Luke’s family.

Heartbreak - Luke's mother and father Rebecca and Robert Reeves

Speaking after the inquest Mr Reeves said: “There has been research carried out which shows there can be a 21 per cent reduction in the orbitofrontal cortex of the brain after taking the drug for four months.

“This is the area of the brain responsible for decision making and cognitive processing.

“Luke tried to explain to friends he couldn’t be his real self.

“He couldn’t explain how he felt, he just knew he wasn’t the way he used to be or the way he wanted to be.

“Luke was never the same after taking roaccutane.

“It permanently changed him physically but more importantly it permanently damaged his brain.

“It changed his personality, it changed his ability to rationalise.

“They have withdrawn the drug in America and you expect to be protected by a drugs company.

“I believe the Government should investigate every suicide which has occurred since the drug was introduced and check each person’s medical records.

“I will do whatever I can to raise awareness and want to stop people from taking it.”

After previous suicide attempts, Luke spent time in the Lakes mental health unit at Colchester General Hospital.

Mr Reeves praised staff individually but said the service was underfunded.

He said: “We fought for support from a psychiatrist but it was never quite there.

“We did not think he would try to do it again - he seemed happy to be alive.

“It was unexpected.”

Dr Rav Seeruthun, medical director at Roche - the company which manufactures the drug known in medical circles as isotretinoin said:"Further to the conclusion of today’s inquest, we are deeply saddened by the death of Luke Reeves and offer our sympathies to his family.

“We recognise that severe acne can lead to changes in mood, self-esteem and in some sufferers lead to depression.

"This is why the information provided with isotretinoin carries a warning that some patients may experience mood changes, including an increase in depression.

"And whilst authors recognised several limitations in their research, a retrospective study published in the BMJ in 2010 didn't establish a link between isotretinoin and an observed increased risk of suicide.

"Additionally, the MHRA concluded in December 2014, that whilst a causal link cannot be ruled out, it was not possible to identify a clear increase in risk of psychiatric disorders in people who take isotretinoin compared to those who do not.

"The patient information leaflet, which is inside every pack of isotretinoin tablets, also tells patients that – before they start taking the medicine - they must tell their doctor if they are depressed, or if they have felt this way in the past.

"If anyone believes they have suffered a side effect to any Roche medicine they should report it to us directly or to the MHRA via its yellow card system. 

"Particular care needs to be taken in patients with a history of depression and all patients should be monitored for signs of depression and referred for appropriate treatment if necessary.

"However, discontinuation of isotretinoin may be insufficient to alleviate symptoms and therefore further psychiatric or psychological evaluation may be necessary.

"Isotretinoin is a prescription only medicine and therefore can only be safely used under the care and supervision of suitably qualified healthcare professionals.

"This way, specialists with the most experience can advise patients about the important safety issues associated with isotretinoin."