A YOUNG father who claims his life has been ruined by a "wonder" acne treatment is planning to sue the pharmaceutical giants Roche.

Michael Alderson, 20, of Bengal Street in Leigh, is calling for the drug Roaccutane to be banned -- or at least given an 18 age restriction.

He also wants to hear from any other young people in the area, who have endured terrible side effects after being prescribed the drug, with a view to starting an action group.

Michael said his horror began at the age of 12 when he began to suffer from severe acne. He tried all kinds of remedies but the condition worsened.

At 15 he was seen by a specialist at Leigh Infirmary and a six months course of the new drug was prescribed.

He said: "The side effects were horrendous. My joints started to seize up, I had nose bleeds and my skin started flaking off, but I carried on taking them. All I cared about was getting rid of the spots and it certainly did that.

"Not long after I started to get suicidal thoughts. I eventually had a breakdown and at the end of last year was admitted to the psychiatric unit at Leigh.

'I took an overdose and tried to slit my wrists. I also started cutting myself with razor blades and have since tried to kill myself several times. I know what I am doing, but the thoughts won't go away.

"I left St Mary's High in 1999 after taking the drug in my last year and went on to Wigan and Leigh College where I was studying to become an electrician.

"I became so depressed I left a month before the end of my course and took a job as a warehouse operative. Then everything went wrong. I lost my job, split up with my daughter's mother and had to go back home. Shortly after I ended up in the unit.

"After my experience I feel the drug should not be prescribed to young people. It has wrecked my life in a big way.

"I am still under treatment and have done cognative behavioural therapy with my care worker and everything comes back to the course I took of this drug.

"I am planning to sue the makers, Roche, and want to hear from anyone else locally who has suffered the same side effects."

According to the Roaccutane Survivors' Group more than 100 US lawsuits are taking shape against Roche, but British lawsuits have so far been found to be financially prohibitive.

Roche Holding AG, the maker of Roaccutane, insists the medication is safe.

For further details contact Michael through Lesley Richards at the Journal.