Much-loved north Derbyshire woman died after taking fatal mixture of pain killer and alcohol

A much-loved north Derbyshire woman with a ‘complex medical history’ died after taking a fatal combination of a pain killer and alcohol, an iquest heard.
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Married housewife Joanne Oxley, 50, of Killamarsh, had become addicted to Pregabalin to ease chronic back, hip and knee pains, and was taking above the prescribed dose after buying it over the internet.

Chesterfield coroners’ court was told on Tuesday that she died on February 1 this year after taking the drug and going out for drinks with friends the previous evening.

The inquest was heard at Chesterfield Town Hall.The inquest was heard at Chesterfield Town Hall.
The inquest was heard at Chesterfield Town Hall.
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Joanne’s husband said she had seemed fine when they went to bed, and tests showed she had not drunk excessively, but the following morning she was unresponsive.

Paramedics were called but were unable to revive Joanne and they pronounced her dead.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as mixed drug and alcohol use. Toxicology reports showed Joanne had a higher level of Pregabalin in her blood than would be expected for therapeutic use although lower than you would expect in a fatality.

Coroner Tanyka Rawden told the inquest, held behind closed doors because of Covid-19, that Joanne had been in chronic pain for a number of years, first to the lower back and then spreading to the hips and knees.

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She had ‘sruggled to manage the input’ of Pregabalin and had bought the drug off the internet.

Recording a verdict that Joanne’s death was drug and alcohol related, the coroner offered her deepest sympathy to the family.

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