Womans death sparks overdose warning (From Western Telegraph)

Womans death sparks overdose warning

Pembrokeshire Coroner Mr Michael Howells warned at a Milford Haven inquest on Thursday of the dangers of inadvertent paracetamol overdose. Recording a verdict of accidental death on 35-year-old Amanda Jane James, of 27 Lewis Street, Pembroke Dock, who died at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, on July 27th of acute liver failure, due to an overdose of the drug, he said paracetamol was extremely dangerous if taken in excess of therapeutical requirements.

If someone takes too many tablets it can cause irreversible damage to the liver but that damage is not known for several days and it is very difficult to effect any kind of cure, he added.

Her husband Paul had said that she had taken only about ten tablets over a period of three days, but the inquest heard that she was too ill in the intensive therapy unit to be transferred to a Birmingham hospital where specialist treatment was available. A post mortem revealed the presence of a significant quantity of paracetamol.

The Coroner said he was satisfied that the level of the drug in Mrs James system did not suggest any deliberate intention and the overdose was taken inadvertently.