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Mother dies after developing 48-tablet-a-day addiction to Nurofen Plus
Last updated at 00:22am on 16.12.07
Linda Docherty: She died of kidney failure in March
On some days Linda Docherty, a 49-year-old council worker, took as many as 64 Nurofen Plus tablets. Customers are limited to one packet of 24 at a time.
Her husband Robert told the hearing: "She must have navigated the whole area to buy these drugs. I knew that there was something happening for some time.
"I tackled her time and time again to ask her what she was doing and what she was hiding but she was fiercely secretive.
"I was aware of seeing packets here and there but she mostly hid them. I had no idea to what extent the tablet taking was going on."
Mrs Docherty confessed her two-year addiction to her husband and GP four days before her death.
She was taken to hospital after complaining of feeling weak and breathless and died of kidney failure the next day.
At the inquest in Bury, coroner Simon Nelson called for tougher regulation of the sale of powerful over-the-counter medication.
He suggested a reclassification of Nurofen Plus and other leading brands which contain ibuprofen and the opiate codeine phosphate, which can be highly addictive.
Mr Nelson said: "I do have concerns, having heard of Mrs Docherty's attempts to procure the medication and how easy it is to defeat the system should one wish to do so.
"I feel that the system has to be looked at again.
"I am proposing to write to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society asking them to take on board the facts as I have found them and to ask them to consider whether the requirements they have are sufficiently rigorous to deal with this type of addiction."
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Nurofen Plus: Call for the pills to be reclassified
Mr Nelson recorded a verdict that Mrs Docherty, from Whitefield, Bury, died in March "by reason of an addiction to over-the-counter medication".
Mandie Lavin, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said Nurofen Plus could be reclassified as a result of the case.
She added: "This is a tragic case and any lessons that can be learned to ensure that the risk of this happening again is minimised would be supported by the society."
Mrs Docherty originally took the painkillers for a stomach ulcer and toothache, the inquest heard.
She also suffered from depression and anxiety attacks and was taking a prescribed course of anti-depressants.
Her sister Gillian White said the mother- of-two would take the Nurofen Plus to help her cope with her feelings of anxiety.
Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Nurofen Plus, said Mrs Docherty's intake far exceeded the recommended dose clearly printed on the packs, which is a maximum of six tablets in 24 hours.
A spokesman added: "We offer our sincere sympathy to the Docherty family.
"However, Reckitt Benckiser would like to reassure consumers that Nurofen Plus, and all other products in the Nurofen range, are safe and effective when taken in accordance with the pack instructions, and are used to relieve pain effectively by millions of people every day.
"Nurofen Plus is only available from pharmacies."
Reader views (10)
My addiction to Nurofen Plus was just starting at the time of this article. Back then I was using about 6 a day, now, thanks to GPs dismissing the seriousness of this addiction, I am on about 36-40 tablets a day of Nurofen Plus and Solphadine Max. I will mention the damn brand names because people NEED to know what is in the crap they're buying over the counter.
Want my advice? DO NOT TAKE CODEINE, unless you are advised to by a hospital consultant or a specialist in your condition, be very careful even if your GP prescribes Codeine containing drugs. Question question question them, ask them about the risks vs benefits and if there is anything safer and non addictive for your pain. Don't use it for off label uses like coughs, other drugs like dextromthoriphan are more effective, and a lot safer for treating coughs.
If you need support, I suggest you contact the a group called Addaction, who are an addiction treatment service. I found a treatment service in my area via these. They know all about over the counter medication addiction.
Codeine is an evil drug, the sooner the MHRA wake up and POM it, the better. It's destroyed my life, I could be this poor, poor woman tomorrow for all I know. I am getting treatment though, what about all those who don't even know they're addicted and think it's ok to take over 30 over the counter pills packed with stomach, liver and kidney destroying ibuprofen and paracetamol each day?
- Chez, UK, 17/05/2011 17:15
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"Sorry but you are all barking mad - she was addicted to codeine not ibuprofen. The fact that these 100,000 people are addicted to nurofen Plus is because they want codeine, not ibuprofen or paracetamol. Fact is they are forced to take the damaging ibuprofen/paracetamol which they dont even want - the whole point of combining is to "deter abuse".
RUBBISH!!!!
i have a nurofen plus addiction as WELL as being on 60mg DHC and i can tell you i DO by far prefer the nurofen,
these tablets are deadly.... and VERY addictive
- ojohn hindle, edinburgh, 23/01/2011 11:23
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Sorry but you are all barking mad - she was addicted to codeine not ibuprofen. The fact that these 100,000 people are addicted to nurofen Plus is because they want codeine, not ibuprofen or paracetamol. Fact is they are forced to take the damaging ibuprofen/paracetamol which they dont even want - the whole point of combining is to "deter abuse".
If they were allowed to buy codeine for personal use/abuse the same as alcohol there would be NO NEED for ibuprofen, paracetamol and ANY liver or kidney damage, other than much less that of alcohol.
If the govt licensed and taxed opiates for personal use none of this would happen. You might find a LOT LESS closet alcoholics which lets face it 50% of Britain is already.
Nothing wrong with opiates - its dirty needles, mixing with other drugs, terrorism, dealers and alocholic lawmakers that give it them a bad name. People will say ooh look at opium dens in places where you can get it - ER...HELLO WHAT ARE PUBS?
- Bob Jones, Manchester, UK, 19/11/2009 10:02
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We are a small self help group who have recovered from addiction to over the counter products containing codeine. Please visit us we may be able to help if you have a problem;
- John Poole, Norwich, 12/11/2008 11:55
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To all you ignorant people that believe they have a choice, sometimes its not that easy. My 25 year old husband has suffered severe headaches since childhood and the only thing that would relieve his pain was nurofen plus. he now is consuming roughly 50 a day because the highly addictive drug has taken over his body. In just one year i have watched my husband break down, he has severe depression which he is medicated for, he has lost nearly 10 kilo's and sleeps at every opportunity he gets. i have attended doctors appointments with gp and phyciatrist and both dismiss it as if its nothing to be worried about. we have tried detox before, have you ever watched a person go through withdrawals of codiene? its the same addiction as heroin and methadone to give you a fair idea. he has two beautiful children to live for aged 1 and 3 and everyday he hates himself for being in this situation. this is a serious drug and needs to brought to peoples attention that it needs to be less easy to access. this woman's story has devastated me to think that this could be my husband in 6 months time because people are selfish and need this drug on demand. to all you people i say watch out because it doesn't take long to take over not only your body but your whole life.
- Sharon, central coast, australia, 10/09/2008 10:08
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Mark has the right of it.
Sustained high usage (1,200mg) of Ibuprofen (without contra medication) can lead to many adverse reactions and put large strain on the Liver, Kidneys and Heart.
This poor lady likely had no idea what she was doing to herself. She was chasing the feeling of the opiate and her body was being eaten alive by the Ibuprofen.
My curiosity is why should a tragedy like this have an impact on legitimate usage of the medication by others.
She deliberately and knowingly violated the warnings of the medication and it resulted in her death.
People get behind the wheel of a car and deliberately and knowingly wrap their cars around polls and kill themselves and other people.
And yet anyone can get a drivers license and car.
Yes, I agree there is a balance that must be met, but do we inconvenience the millions of people for the sake of the tens that do the wrong thing?
- Chad, Brisbane, Australia, 27/06/2008 07:24
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Dilys is wrong, it is not a one off case. Ac Dale is also wrong, Nurofen contains ibuprofen not paracetamol. It is a tragedy but there are far more people out there who have a dependency. Dr Brian Iddon MP is currently heading up an All Parliamentary Committee to investigate this area of dependancy.
Anonymous help is available from CodeineFree to anybody who has concerns about codeine dependancy or wants information on the damage that ibuprofen can do to your body.
- Mark Edwards, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 18/12/2007 15:21
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I have to agree with Dilys. The current rules on purchasing painkillers are tight enough. I suffer from a painful back problem and having to make a trip to the chemist every couple of days when it is playing up is inconvenient enough. The information sheet says they can be addictive but I prefer not taking them as it means a) no side effects and b) I can enjoy a glass of wine with my evening meal.
- Michael, London, 15/12/2007 15:05
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A tragedy but have to agree with Dilys. She could only have died as a result of ingesting too much paracetamol, over a prolonged period. That is because she would have needed to consume a most dangerously large dose of tablets to get any effect whatsoever from the very low dose of the other constituent in each tablet. But it's hard to imagine that paracetamol will be removed from shelves any time soon...
- Ac Dale, London, UK, 15/12/2007 03:46
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This is a very sad but one-off case. Why should the rest of us be inconvenienced and treated like children?
- Dilys, London, 14/12/2007 15:32
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