Coroner warns of risky drug combinations after nurse's death

Chloe Burgess, a 34-year-old nurse, died after taking a mix of heart medications and antidepressants. An inquest into her death revealed she had been prescribed these drugs for four years without any major issues. The coroner, Mr. Walker, reported that the risks associated with combining these medications were not widely understood by her healthcare providers. Ms. Burgess was given heart medicine after being diagnosed with sinus tachycardia, which causes a fast heartbeat, and also received antidepressants. The coroner noted that the combination of the drugs likely led to higher levels of amitriptyline, an antidepressant, in her bloodstream. This, along with sleep apnoea — a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep — contributed to her unexpected death. Mr. Walker emphasized that the prescribing software used by doctors and pharmacists does not alert them to the dangers of this drug combination. He warned that without changes, similar tragedies could happen in the future.