A woman who claimed she suffered a brain bleed and stroke after taking migraine medication she bought at a Boots pharmacy has settled a High Court action against the pharmacy giant.

Ms Justice Denise Brett, on the third day of the action, was told the case had been settled. The settlement is without an admission of liability.

In the proceedings, it was claimed that the medication was allegedly 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 was claimed can lead to a significant increase in blood pressure and stroke.

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

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

It was 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.

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

It was claimed that at the pharmacy, she was allegedly 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 was alleged that the pharmacist was not consulted.

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

In the proceedings it was claimed that a product which allegedly 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 an alleged failure by the pharmacist to ascertain that the woman’s headache had never been diagnosed as migraine by a doctor. It was contended in such circumstances, the migraine medication she purchased should not have been supplied.

All of the claims were denied, and Boots said 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 said 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 medications.

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