"Concerns Rise Over Popular Mental Health Medication Following Grandmother's Unexpected Death"

A CORONER has issued a warning over an antidepressant taken by thousands of Brits following the “unexpected” death of a grandmother.

Grace Uludag, from Gravesend, “wanted to get better” and “lived for her family and grandchildren”, an inquest heard.

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The 55-year-old had been prescribed sertraline, a common Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), at the time of her death on November 11.

One day earlier Grace, a assistant, had reported feeling dizzy, being short of breath and had been told to call an ambulance.

But she was often reluctant to attend .

The following day, however, after feeling dizzy again she fell at home and hit her head on a wall.

Despite her daughter ringing for an ambulance and paramedics attending, she suffered a cardiac arrest and died at home.

Assistant coroner Venessa Holt told the inquest in Maidstone that toxicology tests had found 1.94 milligrams of sertraline per litre of blood which suggested an overdose.

The toxicologist had also noted that a above 1.5 milligrams per litre of blood is known to be a contributing factor in death.

In her conclusion, the coroner said: “I am satisfied she died as a result of an overdose but there is no evidence it was intentional.

“There was never any indication of her being suicidal.

“She contacted the the day before because she felt unwell and dizzy.”

The medical cause of death was recorded as an accidental sertraline overdose which the coroner said was both an “unexpected and unintended consequence”.

It comes as the last month warned of a potentially lethal side effect of , which occurs when levels of serotonin become too high.

Credit: PA

This is usually triggered when an SSRI with another medication or substance that also raises serotonin levels, they noted.

Symptoms include confusion, agitation, muscle twitching, sweating, shivering and diarrhoea.

A major antidepressant study published in The Lancet last year also found that certain , including sertraline, could cause a fluctuation in weight, heart rate, and cholesterol levels within the first eight weeks of starting treatment.

Scientists concluded that treatment guidelines should be updated to reflect differences in risk by drug.

Writing in the journal, the researchers from Kings College London also found that there was “strong evidence of an increase in alkaline phosphatase” levels after taking sertraline.

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme found throughout the body, primarily in the liver, bones, intestines, and kidneys, that breaks down proteins and aids in metabolic processes.

A statement read on behalf of the family explained that there was never any indication their mum was suicidal, and she had never expressed any wish to die.

“She lived for her family and grandchildren, who brought her joy and miss her,” it read.

During the inquest, her daughter had questions for the coroner as to how an overdose could have occurred.

“She [Grace] wanted to feel better. She did not expect all of this,” she said.

“My concern, was it the dose, was it too high? I am very confused on why that happened.”

UK: For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.

US: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.