A PANIC attack sufferer from Swindon features in a television documentary which looks at claims that anti-depressants can have extreme side effects.

In tonight's HTV programme, West Eye View, cleaner Jenny Stanaway, 53, is one of a number of people who claim the antidepressant Seroxat attacked her sense of balance, gave her headaches, reduced her mobility and gave her backache.

Mrs Stanaway, who was prescribed the drug when she started suffering from panic attacks during her menopause, said: "'I just could not stand the headaches really, it frightened me.

"I just knew something wasn't right and I thought it best to come off. Within four days my right leg started going into spasm, the sweat was pouring off me, my balance went, my legs went from under me.

"I went into withdrawal and I've been like this ever since"

The drugs, such as Prozac or Seroxat, are big business to manufacturers. Last year 22 million prescriptions were given out in England and worldwide the trade is worth many billions.

For most the tablets are a simple and effective treatment for depression, but critics claim the side effects can be much more sinister than the "Non Addictive" labelling suggests.

The programme, Happy Pills, is on HTV at 10.30pm.