A warning about an anti-acne drug prescribed in Ireland, which has been linked with suicide, is expected from the Irish Medicines Board within the next two weeks.
Warnings have already been introduced in the US, the UK and France for Roaccutane which is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals.
The father of a 20-year-old UCD student who took his own life last year while on Roaccutane has questioned the delay by the medicines board in ordering a change in the product information for the drug.
In March Mr Liam Grant, a Dublin accountant, told The Irish Times he wanted an international investigation into the side-effects of the drug. His son Liam, an outgoing student who had not suffered from depression previously, committed suicide last June. His family is convinced his death was caused by depression brought on by Roaccutane In the UK last week an inquest was held into the death from suicide of 18-year-old David Tebby, in Newport, south Wales. The coroner Mr David Bowen stated there was a possibility Roaccutane had played a part in his death.
A spokeswoman for the IMB said yesterday that the board was in "active discussion" with its own experts, Roche and EU counterparts concerning the drug. She said it had issued warnings in March to dermatologists, who prescribe Roaccutane, about depression.
"The Irish Medicines Board is working in strengthening the wording with its EU counterparts," said the spokeswoman.
She said once that was complete the new wording would be circulated in the IMB's safety newsletter due to be published within the next fortnight.
Mr Grant said there had been warnings about Roaccutane in medical journals dating as far back as 1993. At present in Ireland product information warns of "mood swings".