Young woman killed by caffeine hit from slimming pills, inquest hears (From Herald Series)

Young woman killed by caffeine hit from slimming pills, inquest hears

6:26pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

A 20-YEAR-OLD woman died after taking slimming pills which gave her a caffeine hit equivalent to 40 cups of coffee, a coroner was told.

Danni Tripp was killed by the caffeine overdose after being sent home from hospital after a doctor failed to recognise how ill she was.

An inquest heard Ms Tripp, from Abbey Close, Abingdon, took 20 tablets of the dietary supplement Dexaprine – which contains DMAA – after splitting up from her boyfriend.

The recommended dose was two pills a day.

Soon after she complained to her mother of feeling unwell and was taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, but a doctor could not find details of the substance on the hospital computer so sent her home.

Hours later she became worse and was taken back to hospital where she died soon after arriving, an inquest in Oxford was told on Wednesday.

The coroner said he would be taking up the issue with the hospital trust.

Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter recorded a narrative verdict.

He said: “I do not intend to apportion blame.

“There was no evidence Danni Tripp had taken any illegal substances and she had no underlying health problems.

“There was no intent to take her own life or any sign to harm herself.”