Woman claims she had stroke after taking migraine medication from Boots

High Court reporters

A woman who claims she suffered a brain bleed and stroke after taking migraine medication she bought at a Boots chemist has sued the pharmacy giant in the High Court.

In the proceedings, it is claimed that the medication was inappropriately sold to Sigrid O’Meara, and there was an alleged failure to advise her that the migraine medication is contraindicated with an antidepressant drug she was taking.

This is due to a significant interaction between the two medications, which it is claimed can lead to significant increase in blood pressure and stroke.

All of the claims are vehemently denied by Boots. It says it cannot remember Ms O’Meara but says protocol dictates that anyone purchasing that €11.99 migraine medication is referred to a pharmacist.

Ms O’Meara had taken the migraine medication when she woke with a terrible headache on March 26th, 2020. She took two tablets she had purchased from a Longford Boots pharmacy the previous October.

It is further contended that she felt dizzy and collapsed and had to be brought by ambulance to hospital. A scan showed she had a brain bleed, and she was transferred to a Dublin hospital.

She was discharged from hospital a month later and was recorded as having severe left leg weakness, difficulties with her left arm and had to go for rehabilitation.

Answering her counsel, Bruce Antoniotti SC instructed by Agustus Cullen and Law, Ms O’Meara told the High Court communication is difficult for her and her speech in the German language is more badly affected.

“I text everybody,” she said. She agreed that doctors said she won’t be able to work again, and she is unable to drive and has to sit down after walking.

Sigrid O’Meara (63), from Ballincurry, Longford, has sued Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd, with a registered address at Citywest Business Campus, Citywest, Dublin. She claims she bought the migraine medication at Boots Pharmacy, Ballymahon Street, Longford.

It is claimed that Ms O’Meara was caused to suffer a haemorrhagic stroke in March 2020, which it is contended was precipitated by her taking migraine medication which was inappropriately sold without the advice that it was contraindicated to a prescribed drug she was already on.

It is claimed that at the pharmacy she was told that the migraine medication she required was no longer available in Ireland, and an alternative medication for migraines and cluster headaches was allegedly offered.

Ms O’Meara purchased a blister pack of two tablets, and it is alleged that the pharmacist was not consulted.

Boots disputes this and says while they do not remember Ms O’Meara, protocol requires that anybody buying the migraine medicine has to be referred to the pharmacist.

In the proceedings, it is claimed that a product which could impose a hazard to Ms O’Meara’s health was supplied, and there was an alleged failure by the pharmacy sales assistant at the time to ensure the pharmacist was advised that the supply of that particular migraine medication may be considered.

It was further claimed that there was a failure by the pharmacist to ascertain that the woman’s headache had never been diagnosed as migraine by a doctor. It is contended in such circumstances, the migraine medication she purchased should not have been supplied.

All of the claims are denied, and Boots says that Ms O'Meara was aware that the medication purchased at the pharmacy had never been diagnosed as suitable for her and that she had a significant history of migraines as well as other medical issues, which Boots claims was her responsibility to notify and seek advice on.

Boots says it had no other way of being aware Ms O Meara was taking a form of medication which was likely to interact negatively with a variety of different medication.

Ms O’Meara, Boots contended, is the author of her own misfortune and it claims there was contributory negligence on her part in failing to disclose that she was taking another particular dug and failing to seek advice on the choice of medicines.

The case before Ms Justice Denise Brett continues.