A Queensland coroner has declared a drug used to treat nicotine addiction contributed to the death of 22-year-old Timothy John, who committed suicide four years ago.
Mr John took his own life eight days after being prescribed a course of anti-smoking drug, Champix, containing the active ingredient, Varenicline.
But it wasn’t until his mother, Phoebe Morwood-Oldham, spearheaded a petitioned campaign in 2015, that the drug was finally recognised to have played a role.
She spoke with ABC News’ 7.30 program before accumulating 49,000 signatures— enough for an inquest into Mr John’s death to be reopened.
The young man left a box of Champix next to a suicide tape for his mother and brother.
Queensland coroner, John Hutton, has declared a drug used to treat nicotine addiction contributed to the death of Timothy John, 22, who committed suicide four years ago
‘Mum, I love you with all my heart. Peter, you’re the best brother I could ask for,’ he said.
‘I know it doesn’t make sense right now, but it’s for the best, trust me.
‘I’m losing my mind, I’m going crazy. I love you both.’
Ms Morwood-Oldham recalled that her son had never displayed suicidal tendencies prior, and when grading his mental health out of 10, she said up until beginning use of the drug he was 9/10, The Guardian reports.
‘How did he go from a 9/10 to a 1/10 in eight days on Champix?’ she said.
‘The autopsy showed there were no alcohol or drugs in his system other than Champix and Ibuprofen.’
She explained how the night beforehand she’d found Mr John sitting on the floor holding a plugged in electric chainsaw, adamant there were people coming for him.
Coroner John Hutton confirmed on Thursday the harmful effect the drug had on Mr John’s mental health and his decision to end his life, ABC News reports.
‘I find that Champix contributed to Timothy’s death,’ he said.
‘However, I am unable to determine the level of contribution that Champix had on Timothy’s death due to his pre-existing mental health condition.’
Coroner John Hutton confirmed on Thursday the harmful effect that Champix (pictured above) had on Mr John’s mental health and his decision to end his life
He explained Mr John’s doctor, Oliver Yang, was also at fault for not alerting Me John’s family of the drug’s potential dangers.
‘If Timothy’s family had been informed by Dr Yang (or by warnings within the Champix packaging) about the need for Timothy to stop taking Champix and to contact a doctor immediately if he exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms, it is likely that his family would have taken appropriate earlier action, and it is possible that Timothy’s death may have been avoided,’ he said.
Mr Hutton said product labeling was ‘inadequate’ and recommended packaging be updated to include warnings of its detrimental effect.
He also suggested all state and territory forensic pathology services screen for the drug so the extent of Champix’s link to suicide could be better examined.
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636