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| Paracetamol death: Desiree Phillips died after taking too many, inquest told | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 20-year-old mother from Carmarthenshire died after taking too many paracetamol, an inquest has heard. | |
| Desiree Phillips, from Llanelli, was buying the painkillers over the counter and the coroner, Mark Leyton, said she may have exceeded the normal dose. | Desiree Phillips, from Llanelli, was buying the painkillers over the counter and the coroner, Mark Leyton, said she may have exceeded the normal dose. |
| She died in August after suffering liver failure. | She died in August after suffering liver failure. |
| The coroner recorded a narrative verdict and said it was not clear whether a gradual build-up or a large dosage was responsible for her death. | The coroner recorded a narrative verdict and said it was not clear whether a gradual build-up or a large dosage was responsible for her death. |
| Her grandfather Desmond Phillips told the hearing in Llanelli: "Desiree's death was sudden, tragic and unexpected. | Her grandfather Desmond Phillips told the hearing in Llanelli: "Desiree's death was sudden, tragic and unexpected. |
| "She's had routine surgery for lumps in her breasts which were not cancerous. | "She's had routine surgery for lumps in her breasts which were not cancerous. |
| "Afterwards she was in a lot of pain - we had to look after her baby because it hurt her too much to hold him. | "Afterwards she was in a lot of pain - we had to look after her baby because it hurt her too much to hold him. |
| "She had taken paracetamol to ease the pain - she was taking a few too many over the daily dose but we never expected this to happen." | "She had taken paracetamol to ease the pain - she was taking a few too many over the daily dose but we never expected this to happen." |
| The inquest also heard from Simon Dewi Jones, Ms Phillips' ex-boyfriend and father of her son Jayden, who was 11 months when she died. | The inquest also heard from Simon Dewi Jones, Ms Phillips' ex-boyfriend and father of her son Jayden, who was 11 months when she died. |
| The couple had separated a few months before her death, although she was in a new relationship when she died, the inquest was told. | The couple had separated a few months before her death, although she was in a new relationship when she died, the inquest was told. |
| On 22 August last year, Mr Jones went to her house, and she explained that she wanted to get back together. | On 22 August last year, Mr Jones went to her house, and she explained that she wanted to get back together. |
| Mr Jones said he did not want to resume the relationship, and he left the property after an argument. | Mr Jones said he did not want to resume the relationship, and he left the property after an argument. |
| Ms Phillips was later found by her new boyfriend Andrew Laycock at her home and he found a number of empty paracetamol and co-codamol boxes around her. | Ms Phillips was later found by her new boyfriend Andrew Laycock at her home and he found a number of empty paracetamol and co-codamol boxes around her. |
| She was taken to hospital where doctors diagnosed liver failure due to paracetamol poisoning. | She was taken to hospital where doctors diagnosed liver failure due to paracetamol poisoning. |
| She was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but died there on 26 August while awaiting a liver transplant. | She was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but died there on 26 August while awaiting a liver transplant. |
| 'Drug poisoning' | 'Drug poisoning' |
| The cause of death was liver failure caused by paracetamol toxicity. The inquest heard that there were high levels of painkillers in her bloodstream. | The cause of death was liver failure caused by paracetamol toxicity. The inquest heard that there were high levels of painkillers in her bloodstream. |
| Mr Laycock told the inquest: "I was concerned because I'd not had any texts from Desiree so I went around to the house. | Mr Laycock told the inquest: "I was concerned because I'd not had any texts from Desiree so I went around to the house. |
| "She was curled up on the sofa and I could see she's been sick. There were packets of paracetamol there. | "She was curled up on the sofa and I could see she's been sick. There were packets of paracetamol there. |
| "I called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital. | "I called an ambulance and she was rushed to hospital. |
| "A doctor told me it was serious so I waited through the night with her." | "A doctor told me it was serious so I waited through the night with her." |
| The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire coroner said: "Desiree was using paracetamol for pain relief and may have been exceeding the normal dose. | The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire coroner said: "Desiree was using paracetamol for pain relief and may have been exceeding the normal dose. |
| "But it remains unclear whether it was a build-up or whether she took a large single dose." | "But it remains unclear whether it was a build-up or whether she took a large single dose." |
| Mr Leyton added: "The question of intent remains unclear". | Mr Leyton added: "The question of intent remains unclear". |
| 'Infectious personality' | 'Infectious personality' |
| Ms Phillips' son Jayden, who is now 18 months old, is being cared for by her family. | Ms Phillips' son Jayden, who is now 18 months old, is being cared for by her family. |
| After the inquest, her mother Ayshea, 39, said: "Desiree was beautiful and had an infectious personality, she was always bubbly and we were always having a laugh. | After the inquest, her mother Ayshea, 39, said: "Desiree was beautiful and had an infectious personality, she was always bubbly and we were always having a laugh. |
| "She loved Jayden, she couldn't do enough for him. He doesn't deserve to be growing up without a mum because of this." | "She loved Jayden, she couldn't do enough for him. He doesn't deserve to be growing up without a mum because of this." |
| A Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency spokesman said: "Paracetamol is a safe and effective painkiller when used correctly and when dosage recommendations are followed. | A Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency spokesman said: "Paracetamol is a safe and effective painkiller when used correctly and when dosage recommendations are followed. |
| "Every pack has a warning about overdose and instructions not to take more than eight tablets in any 24-hour period." | "Every pack has a warning about overdose and instructions not to take more than eight tablets in any 24-hour period." |