A mother of three died from organ failure just days before Christmas after she became addicted to painkillers prescribed to her for aches in her legs, an inquest heard.
Diane Bell, 51, had developed withdrawal symptoms due to the amounts of codeine she craved - but her GP increased her dosage on the condition she stuck to it.
Just six days before Christmas Day 2017 Mrs Bell who had three daughters and five grandchildren suffered organ failure due to toxic levels of the painkillers in her system.
She was found dead at her home in Wythenshawe, Manchester by her partner - just a few weeks away from checking into a rehabilitation clinic for her addiction which could have saved her life.
Diane Bell (pictured) had developed withdrawal symptoms due to the amounts of codeine she craved - but her GP increased her dosage on the condition she stuck to it
At the Manchester inquest, Mrs Bell was described as a 'beautiful' mother.
The 51-year-old had been prescribed tablets for pains in her legs. But since 2014 she had started taking her partners medication in addition to her own after he was prescribed tablets for his bad back.
She also had a history of drinking heavily.
Weeks before her death on December 19 2017 Mrs Bell was experiencing withdrawal symptoms and was prescribed more codeine from her doctor on the understanding she stop taking additional doses.
GP Dr Hoi Shing Wong told the hearing: 'I had known her for a number of years I would like to think I had a really good rapport with her.
'She started with codeine many years before that she had pains in her legs, she complained of headaches as well but by that stage we had agreed she had become dependent - over a period of years we tried to reduce it.
Dr Wong became aware of Mrs Bell excessive codeine use and that she had been taking her partner's as well, which could negatively impact her health.
Weeks before her death on December 19 2017 Mrs Bell was experiencing withdrawal symptoms and was prescribed more codeine from her doctor on the understanding she stop taking additional doses
At the time of Mrs Bell's (pictured) death her daughter Chantelle said the passing of her mother had left her family 'distraught'
The GP added Mrs Bell had a blood test, and successfully underwent treatments for alcohol, but then started drinking again, and in November 2017 had complained of dizziness and running out of codeine.
Dr Wong said: 'She confirmed that she was getting symptoms of withdrawal from her codeine she told me that she had been taking her partners codeine so that was why she was getting these withdrawal symptoms.
'In December she was going for an inpatient stay for her alcohol and her codeine, she was struggling at that stage with her symptoms.
'One option was to try and get her through to her detoxification - but I agreed to increase the dose on the understanding that she wouldn't get it from any other source - it was on the agreement that she
