THE sister of a County Durham man found hanged has spoken out about her fears that his withdrawal from a controversial drug may have changed his personality.

Steve Sanders, 38, a former chef from Logan Street, Langley Park, was prescribed the anti-depressant Seroxat at the end of summer last year. He was found hanged at his home on April 15.

His sister, Dianne Sanders, 36, who lives in Torquay, South Devon, believes her brother became addicted to the prescription tablets.

She said that when he suddenly stopped taking the drug his character changed.

She said: "My big issue is that my brother had withdrawal symptoms after he had stopped taking the tablets. A close friend has told me how his character changed suddenly in the week before he was found hanged.

"She said the Saturday before he died, he threatened a 94-year-old man. It was so out of character, what was going on in his head?"

Mrs Sanders spoke out after a Government watchdog released advice about the drug.

Officials say new data on Seroxat, the country's most widely-prescribed anti- depressant, had come to light from manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.

As a result of the information, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recommended people should not stop taking the drug.

The MHRA report states that nine studies, based on more than 1,000 children, had shown the risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm was two to three times greater among those on Seroxat compared with those on a placebo drug.

Seroxat was also the recent subject by the BBC's Panorama programme, which looked at links between the drug and violent behaviour and suicide - claims denied by GlaxoSmithKline.

A spokesman for the manufacturer, which has a plant in Barnard Castle, County Durham, insisted the drug was safe, saying millions of patients worldwide had taken it over the past ten years and that no valid scientific research had shown it caused suicidal thoughts or actions.

An inquest into Mr Sanders' death was opened and adjourned on April 17 this year by North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle, pending the outcome of toxicology reports.