It is with concern that I read the Jan De Vries article in the Belfast Telegraph on August 19 regarding his advice given about ‘TrimSecrets', his new slimming product.

“Would it be ok for me to use TrimSecrets, your new slimming product, as I am taking 150mg of Thyroxine tablets daily?” was the original question.

150mg (milligrams) Thyroxine per day is 1,000 times the usual therapeutic dose! In fact, 150mcg (micrograms, not milligrams) would be the correct dose.

I am concerned that an obvious dosage error was not commented on before advocating further products to be taken.

Patients should always check with their GP or pharmacist before commencing new ‘alternative' treatments to avoid any potential interactions with their current medication (eg, Warfarin and St John’s Wort).

Normally homeopathy involves taking something useful, diluting it down by a factor of 1,000 and then selling it!

IAN ERSKINE FCEM

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Antrim Area Hospital