Scunthorpe Telegraph
(Front Page Headline News)
A man who spent more than a decade living in a state of 'suicidal depression' after being prescribed powerful drugs by his GP has agreed a £40,000 settlement.
Raymond Nimmo, of Parkin Road, Bottesford, was prescribed diazepam, commonly known as Valium, by his doctor and he took it thinking it would make him better.
Unfortunately for Mr Nimmo, what followed was what he describes as a 'twilight world of tranquillisers'.
He said: "I was suicidal, I couldn't do anything. I lost my job - my wife and son lost a husband and a father - our lives were wrecked."
However, Mr Nimmo's wife Diane (46) and his son Daniel (19) have stood by and supported him.
Grimsby Evening Telegraph Newspaper:
A depressed Grimsby woman tied herself to train tracks using washing line and weights after being taken off valium in 2000 after taking them for over 30 years, a jury was told.
The verdict was 'suicide' for the 53 year old woman who had been given no follow-up care or treatment after being taken off the drug, a benzodiazepam. She had been put on Prozac after complaining of depression many months before, but was on no medication the day she took her life on July 18th.
Her husband said that his wife had suffered panic attacks and anxiety since she was 19 years old. She struggled to cope after being taken off her medication and her moods changed. She had attempted suicide twice before with pills.
Her husband added that he 'lived for his wife' and remains devoted to her. The diazepam (valium) he said, 'had kept her alive.'
The coroner concluded 'There was little follow-up, is this an area to be looked at?
I don't know'... he then added 'She needed that help which diazepam had given her'....
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