Woman built up lethal amount of codeine

A DUBLIN woman who was taking large amounts of over-the-counter prescription drugs built up a lethal level of codeine in her blood in the hours and days before she died, an inquest heard yesterday.

Carmel Monaghan, 48, of 198 Coultry Road, Ballymun, was pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital on July 5, 2006, following a weekend in bed during which she woke up just to take tablets, Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard.

A subsequent toxicology screening revealed that Ms Monaghan had a fatal level of codeine in her blood at 2.6mg per 1ml and she died from respiratory failure due to codeine toxicity.

Ms Monaghan also had paracetamol and sedative drugs in her bloodstream at the time of her death, the court heard.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he did not believe that Ms Monaghan had taken all the medication in one go and recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

“The level of codeine had built up over the days before Ms Monaghan died. She was waking up — taking codeine — and going asleep. She possibly overdid it and was taking too much,” he said.

Ms Monaghan’s husband, Jim Monaghan — who was separated from his wife — told the court his wife was on anti-depressants and painkillers for pain in her back, but she said that it didn’t work and she regularly would drink half a bottle of vodka.

He said Ms Monaghan had been admitted to the Mater Hospital three or four years ago with pancreatitis, which she had got from taking solphadine, “which she was hooked on”.

Her daughter, Sarah, told the court that her mother was “drinking all the time” and was dependent on tablets.

She said she never knew what her mother was taking and had tried talking to the doctor on her behalf, but to no avail.

On the night of July 4 both Mr Monaghan and Sarah Monaghan had discovered Ms Monaghan unconscious lying on the floor of her bedroom on numerous occasions and had put her back to bed. They did not contact the emergency services until the following morning because they had seen her in the condition so many times before and did not believe she was in danger.