Woman dies after taking paracetamol for toothache weeks after tried overdose
Jessica Reynolds had attempted to take her own life after her relationship broke down, but was luckily able to survive — until she needed the medicine weeks later
Jessica Reynolds had attempted to take her own life using paracetamol — only for it to cause her death weeks later(Image: FACEBOOK)
A heartbroken young woman survived a deliberate paracetamol overdose after a break-up but died just weeks later when she took the pain killer for toothache, an inquest heard.
Jessica Reynolds, 23, tried to kill herself after struggling with poor mental health and being left in a vulnerable position following the painful split from her partner. She didn’t seek medical intervention afterwards and struggled to get mental health support.
The following month she was prescribed antibiotics after complaining of swollen gums and was told to visit a dentist for toothache, but became increasingly unwell and suffering from breathlessness, vomiting and confusion.
Norfolk Coroners Court heard she thought she was having an allergic reaction and went to hospital with her mother, but was found to have catastrophic liver failure.
Doctors said it was caused by a toxic build-up of paracetamol in her body from the suicide attempt and using an “entire packet every two days” to treat the toothache, the inquest heard.
Jessica, of Buxton, near Aylsham in Norfolk, was rushed to hospital and put on intensive care where she was given dialysis and placed on an urgent transplant register. But tragically, her organs began to shut down and she died days later in the early hours of July 25.
A post-mortem found that she had liver damage consistent with that of poisoning from paracetamol, with her organs failing shortly after. Jessica’s brother Albert Snow said his sister was a “loved and cherished person”.
In a statement read out in court, he said: “Jess was bright, funny, caring and creative; she faced challenges but fought through them and still managed to bring joy — she was the best sibling anyone could ask for.”
The inquest heard Jessica had quit university after the trauma of her father’s death and moved back to the family home. She began working as a receptionist and her mental health improved, with her later starting a relationship.
But when the couple split up last summer, she took the overdose. In his remarks, coroner Robert Weyell said: “I do not conclude that she intended to take her own life.”
He went on to pay tribute to Jessica and her family, saying that she was a “loved and valued member of a caring family”.
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