A DOCTOR is urging people to ignore social media influencers and avoid using dangerous and unnecessary intravenous vitamin drips.
Dr Jeff Foster, from Leamington-based TFJ Private GP Services, warns such drips – a method of administering vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream – can cause damage to the brain, liver, kidney, and also cause sepsis, blood poisoning and anaphylaxis.
He has spoken out due to an increase in online influencers highlighting ‘alternative therapy’ clinics which claim they can help conditions such as asthma, fibromyalgia, diabetes and chronic fatigue.
Dr Foster said: “Vitamin therapy is not a new thing but social media is having an effect on the younger generation and wrongly informing them about a dangerous procedure they don’t need.
“Ninety per cent of the population do not need to take any kind vitamin, as a balanced diet provides you with all the nutrients you need.”
Dr Foster has been approached by a clinic before to sign off on the safety of such treatment but declined because of the risks and lack of medical evidence.
“A worrying majority of people providing these procedures are not medical professionals, which is concerning because there would be virtually no medical scenario where we would recommend using this method.”
