Woman died due to toxic levels of medication

Tuesday 08 September 2020

A 49-year-old woman died after taking a toxic mix of anti-depressants, sleeping tablets and anti-allergy pills, an Inquest has heard.

Sarah Regan died at her home in July, aged 49.

She was diagnosed with depression, but had been discharged by Guernsey's Mental Health Service in 2016. Although she had trialled multiple anti-depressants since first being prescribed them in 1997, the Inquest heard that she was not on any regular anti-depressants in the months leading up to her death.

Ms Regan had been in touch with her GP over the phone about sleep-related issues during lockdown, but her mental state was said to be "much more acceptable" at that time.

However, she had confided in a neighbour in July, explaining that she had "a lot of problems and that she would hurt herself".

Pictured: Ms Regan contacted her GP via the phone during lockdown.

Just a few days later, the neighbour was made aware of a sign on Ms Regan's front door, asking her to feed the cat. The neighbour went into the property through the unlocked door and found Ms Regan's body in her bedroom. Police and a Scenes of Crime Officer attended shortly afterwards and confirmed that Ms Regan was dead. 

On her bed were three boxes of medication; Mirtazapine, used for treating depression, Zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, and Promethazine, which is used to treat allergic reactions or feelings of nausea.

A toxicological analysis from the States pathologist found that Ms Regan had consumed high levels of each of the prescribed medications, all of which depress the central nervous system and, as a result, stop the lungs from breathing and the heart from beating.

The amount of Mirtazapine found in her system was 19.5 times the therapeutic level. 

The Court said Ms Regan's cause of death was (a) central nervous system depression due to (b) combined toxicity of prescribed medications due to (c) mental health illness. 

Ms Regan's body was released for burial or cremation.