The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the Internet, particularly at online auction sites.
The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe. FDA advises people who believe that they have a counterfeit product not to use the drug and to dispose of it immediately. There is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold in retail stores.
Photo of authentic Alli
According to the FDA, the counterfeit Alli looks similar to the authentic product, with a few notable differences. Counterfeit Alli has:
* a missing LOT code on the outer cardboard packaging
* an expiration date that includes a month, day and year (real Alli only has month and year)
* plain foil for the inner safety seal without words on it (real Alli has the words “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION” printed on it)
* large capsules with white powder, as opposed to small white pellets found in real Alli
* a slightly taller plastic bottle with a wider cap and coarser ribbing on cap than is seen in real Alli.
Alli is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss drug that contains orlistat as its active ingredient. The counterfeit version does not contain orlistat, instead it is made with varying amounts of sibutramine, a stimulant drug. Although sibutramine is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved prescription weight-loss drug, it is only to be used in specific doses and under the supervision of a physician. Preliminary lab tests revealed the counterfeit version contained sibutramine and not orlistat. Since then, FDA lab tests on the counterfeit product show that people may be taking three times the usual daily does (twice the recommended maximum dose ) of sibutramine if they are following the dosing directions for Alli. Side effects from excessive sibutramine include elevated blood pressure, stroke and heart attack if you have a history of heart disease; and anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, racing heart, insomnia and small increases in blood pressure if you are healthy.
If you have been taking the counterfeit product, stop taking the drug and throw it away; contact your health provider if you are experiencing more than mild symptoms, especially if you have a history of cardiovascular disease; and call FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations at 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site
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16 Comments
There are so many weight loss pills being sold online that it is hard to keep track of them all. And the thing is people get so easily influenced to buy them online after reading the sales copy/advertising without really checking on their safety or effectiveness. That’s the sad part.
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It´s really sad to see that you find weight loss products that counterfits. Well, it is better to just eat and stay healthy rather than eating pills.
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Dear emumbert1
You can link to our site by clicking on the title of the article you want, then copy the web address that pops up on the address bar. Then paste it on your site. Thanks for coming to our blog!
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I will do that. Your information is excellent. I would like to devote an evolving section on my site to obesity in children, as I believe that’s where it all starts. Do you have an good suggestions for resources and guest bloggers? Mine is a commercial web site, in that I have some advertising for weight loss products. So far, I haven’t made any money, but am hoping for enough income to help me keep writing on this subject.
Thanks,
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I agree that pills are not the way. I have tried everything myself and it is getting harder every year. My friend just lost 20lbs in 3 weeks and told me she’s doing the eodd plan. I never heard of it. The site is bodyofalifetime.com It seems pretty interesting but I’m not sure it’s for me.
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I agree with The Food Pyramid. Taking more pills is not the way to go. There are so many other, better for health ways. I personally love tea and enjoy its endless health benefits, including supporting weight loss.
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Excellent post! And quite a resemblance. It is sad how some put the value of money above human life. Thanks for the information.
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I love your blog, we all can use a little extra help when it come to weight loss.
I think that this weight loss Review site will help others to lose weight.
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I have seen this product for sale in reputable high street retail stores in the UK! Scary
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There seems to be a at least one counterfeit scare every year. Viagra and Lipitor were popular last year and now it is ALLI turn.
Checkdrugs is a free website that will either email you when a recall happens or lets you search for recalls online. It is free and confidential
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Thanks for sharing the information. Excellent post.
I believe that keeping your metabolism high by eating smaller and more frequent during the day. This way your body will help you burn calories for you.
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Great Post ….
Only eat and stay healthy rather than eating Diet pills.
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How sad! First because people get desperate enough to buy weightloss medication online, second because there are people willing to sell fake medicine online. I wish we did not have obesity problem in the first place.
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I have just finished reading up on a study about sugar. Apparently if we all cut high fructose corn syrup and sucrose out of our diet, we wouldn’t need pills for just about anything.
I have to say, even as a man, you have a thoroughly interesting and well laid out site.
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Hi there again,
I am just a bit confused. I left a blog comment (above) and notice that some comments link back to that person’s website and others do not, unfortunately including mine. Could this be altered so that I do get a link. My site contains free Bell’s Palsy information and health advice for people who are suffering from this illness.
Apart from knowing that a link would be useful for my site, I am not particularly knowledgeable on all of the technical aspects.
I am currently compiling a page of useful links from my site in the area of health, amongst other useful topics and a couple of your posts are being placed on there.
I realise this is a tad blatant, but a link from my name to my health related free site would be very useful, I just don’t know how to do it as the other commenters have.
Thank you for any help in this via this comment thread or my email. I appreciate your time and understanding.
Robert.
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Just a quick tip to keep in mind about weight loss. The secret to losing weight is to know WHEN to eat certain foods. You should eat 4 times a day in 3 hour intervals and severly limit your sugar after breakfast! This way you FORCE your body to consume it’s own excess fat and glucose that it stores.
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