DUBLIN, Ireland: A 63-year-old woman, Sigrid O'Meara from Ballincurry, Longford, is suing Boots Pharmacy in the High Court. She says she suffered a brain bleed and stroke after taking migraine medicine she bought at a Boots store in Longford.
O'Meara claims she was sold migraine tablets in October 2019 without proper advice. She took the tablets on March 26, 2020, after waking up with a severe headache.
She says no one told her the medicine could dangerously interact with an antidepressant she was already taking. She says this caused her to collapse, and she was rushed to the hospital. A scan revealed she had a brain bleed, and she was later transferred to a hospital in Dublin.
She stayed in the hospital for a month. After being discharged, she suffered weakness in her left leg and trouble using her left arm. She also needed rehabilitation. Speaking in court, she told the judge that talking is now hard for her, and her German-speaking ability is worse. "I text everybody," she said. Doctors told her she can't return to work, can no longer drive, and needs to rest often after walking.
Her lawyers claim Boots staff offered her a substitute migraine medicine when her usual one was not available in Ireland. They argue that the pharmacy failed to warn her about the risks of taking the new tablets with her existing medication. The combination of medicines, they say, can raise blood pressure and lead to a stroke. They also say the pharmacist never asked if a doctor had confirmed that she had migraines.
Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd denies all claims. The company says it doesn't remember O'Meara, but it has rules that require all buyers of the 11.99-euro migraine medicine to be referred to a pharmacist. Boots says it believes the sale was handled correctly, and that O'Meara should have told them she was taking other medication. They also argue she had a history of migraines and health issues, and it was her responsibility to check with a doctor or pharmacist before using the new tablets.
O'Meara bought a blister pack with two tablets, and she says the pharmacist was not involved in the sale. Her lawyers argue that the medicine was sold without making sure it was safe for her, and without checking if she had a proper diagnosis for migraines.
Boots argues that O'Meara is responsible for her injuries because she did not disclose her medications or seek advice before taking the tablets.
Justice Denise Brett is hearing the ongoing case.
