A coroner has warned of the dangers of taking too much paracetamol after a mother-of-three who was taking tablets for osteoporosis died when she then also took Lemsip for her flu.
Michelle Walker, 52, of Heaton, in Bolton, Greater Manchester, died of multiple organ failure after being rushed to hospital.
The 52-year-old had been self-medicating with tablets to deal with pain caused by her bone condition - but in the days before her death had started using Lemsip which also contains paracetamol, an inquest heard.
A coroner has warned of the dangers of taking too much paracetamol after mother of three who was taking tablets for osteoporosis died when she then also took Lemsip for her flu (file picture)
It is the latest paracetamol-related death where a Briton has tried to self-medicate on the easily available tablets.
Assistant Coroner Rachel Griffin said the tragedy served to remind the public of the importance of sticking to recommended doses of pain killers.
Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Mrs Griffin said: 'I am satisfied she did not intend the consequences to be her own death.
'Sadly and tragically, Michelle's death highlights the importance of taking medication at the dose prescribed or stipulated.
'There is no suggestion that she has taken an overdose. I believe she has been taking tablets to try and ease her pain.'
But she added that it is not possible to say how much extra paracetamol Mrs Walker was taking, adding: 'The only person who does know is Michelle herself.'
Her heartbroken husband Craig Walker told the inquest in Bolton that his wife was sociable and focused on her family.
Mother-of-three Michelle Walker had been self-medicating with tablets to deal with pain caused by her bone condition (file picture)
He revealed she not only kept paracetamol in her housecoat pocket - but he suspected that she was taking it in greater doses than recommended.
Early on October 29 his wife became restless. Paramedics were called and rushed her to the Royal Bolton Hospital.
Mrs Walker, of Heaton, in Bolton, was drowsy and doctors discovered her liver and kidneys were failing.
Consultant anaesthetist Jeremy Wood said everything possible was done to treat Mrs Walker, but her condition deteriorated, with other organs failing and she died the next day.
Mrs Walker had previously struggled with alcohol dependency and blood tests requested by her GP and taken two weeks before her death revealed abnormal, but not life threatening, liver disease.
Pathologist Angela Ong stressed that because her liver was not functioning properly, Mrs Walker was more susceptible to paracetamol toxicity, which is likely to have caused the organ to fail.
In 2011, a study found that slightly exceeding the recommended dose of paracetamol on a regular basis can lead up to a 'staggered overdose' and cause acute liver failure and death.
Experts suggested that unintentionally taking too much of the drug could be even more dangerous than a large, one-off overdose - because it is harder to diagnose and treat.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have said of the pain killer: '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.'
In recent years, several grief-stricken families have demanded that paracetamol be only available via prescription - after their loved ones died from accidental overdoses when self-medicating.
In July last year a coroner heard how Georgia Littlewood, 17, accidentally killed herself with an overdose of paracetamol tablets after complaining she was ill with stomach ache.
Her inquest heard she called in sick at her hairdressers in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire but took a quantity of pills up to three times the recommended dose.
Unaware of the deadly consequences, she went to stay with her boyfriend but her condition suddenly deteriorated and she was rushed into hospital with severe liver damage.
She died the following day.
Miss Littlewood's family condemned the ease with which she was able to buy paracetamol, stressing: 'You can buy paracetamol at 19p a packet in supermarkets.
In 2012 the grieving family of single mother Desiree Phillips, 20, from Llanelli, South Wales, called for paracetamol to only be available via a prescription.
Ms Phillips died in hospital after being diagnosed with liver failure after accidentally taking only 'a few' pills more than the recommended daily dose to cope with pain from a routine operation.
Her grandfather Desmond Phillips said: 'If a painkiller is that dangerous, it should be prescribed.'
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