Leeds medical student died after buying banned weight loss drug on internet

Sarah Houston, 23, who was found dead in her bedroom by a flatmate, had been suffering from bulimia and depression and had been seeing a

psychiatrist for three years to treat her condition.

The hearing into her death was told that Sarah had been prescribed the antidepressant Fluoxetine by her doctor but she was taking fat-burning drug DNP in secret alongside her medication.

DNP, which is a weight loss drug popular with bodybuilders, is an industrial chemical used as a pesticide and is extremely toxic.

Following Sarah’s death, 62 capsules of the drug, which was first used to treat obesity in the 1930s but was banned as a food substance due to its dangerous side effects, were found in her bedroom and 38 capsules from the packet were missing.

The inquest heard Sarah had complained of feeling hot and unwell and had been breathing heavily on the evening of September 24 last year.

Flatmate Sarah Carpenter told the hearing she noticed Sarah’s eyes were yellow and she had to have two cold showers that evening to try and cool herself down.

Despite being encouraged to call an ambulance by her flatmate, Sarah insisted it wasn’t unusual for her to feel that way and said that her symptoms would pass.

She texted her friend later that day but was found by another flatmate that evening. Paramedics were called and pronounced her dead at the scene in Leeds, at around 5.15pm on September 25.

Matthew Wade, a toxicologist who specialises in the analysis of prohibited substances, confirmed DNP was detected in Sarah’s blood at a level of 23 milligrams per litre.

Mr Wade told the inquest in Wakefield: “Because it is a banned substance, we don’t really know what would be a safe level to have in the body. The drug affects different people in different ways.

“We have heard of several deaths caused by DNP and we know that whatever the dose, it can be life-threatening. It is not intended for human consumption and it is a poisonous substance. It therefore seems likely DNP consumption caused Sarah’s death.”

Coroner David Hinchliff, who said Sarah would have made an “excellent doctor”, said: “The only way to combat the use of DNP is to bring to the attention of the public how dangerous a substance it is. This is not a one-off case and it needs bringing to the public’s attention.”

The inquest is due to finish later today.