The dangers of a common pain relief drug, paracetamol, especially when mixed with alcohol, were highlighted during an inquest yesterday at Dublin City Coroner's Court.
Mr Owen Corcoran (32), of Ballymacredmond, Ballina, Co Mayo, died of liver failure at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, on July 8th last year. He had a history of heavy drinking and was using paracetamol for pain relief in the days before he became ill.
The inquest heard that he was using the drug for a toothache from June 28th to June 30th, when he had an extraction. On July 1st he complained of having a sick stomach. His mother thought he was jaundiced and took him to Castlebar General Hospital. He was transferred to St Vincent's, where he died. A post-mortem examination showed he died of liver failure.
The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said in a review of 51 cases of paracetamol/alcohol syndrome there was a 32 per cent mortality rate among seemingly healthy young men. He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.