Warning: Counterfeit Alli Diet Supplement Pills Sold On the Internet

I can not talk enough about the dangers of selling  Alli Diet "Supplement" Pills, whose main ingredient is in fact a prescription drug by the name of Xenical, over the counter. The FDA's approval to circulate such a dangerous diet drug over the counter has left consumers vulnerable to an array of dangerous, one of which is fraud.

Recently, the FDA warned consumers of the existence of counterfeit versions of the GlaxoSmithKline's diet "supplement" pill Alli.  These counterfeit Alli pills are being sold via the Internet on such Online auction sites as EBAY.

These counterfeit Alli diet "supplement" pills are extremely dangerous. They contain high levels of a prescription weight loss medication called Sibutramine. Sibutramine is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and is sold under the brand names Meridia and Reductil.

According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, the head of the drug unit of the FDA, "The amount of Sibutramine in the counterfeit Alli poses a serious health risk to some individuals. A person taking the counterfeit Alli as directed would be exposed to twice the maximum prescription dose of Sibutramine every day.”

According to the FDA Sibutramine should not be used by individuals with a history of heart disease because it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, this weight loss drug is so dangerous that European drug regulators have dubbed it as "too risky" to sell in Europe and Abbott Laboratories has agreed to suspend its sales in Europe. In the United States Sibutramine is considered a Schedule IV (4) Controlled Substance which puts it in the same category as Valium.

According to ecanadanow.com, "You can spot the fake drugs by a few noticeable differences. The expiration date will be in full form such as 01/01/2010.  Authentic Alli will only list an expiration date as 01/2010. Real Alli will have a lot code imprinted on the top of the box and the safety seal will state “Sealed for your protection”, the fake products do not have either of these on or in the packaging.  Another noticeable difference is the capsule size of the fake product. The fake Alli is slightly larger than the real product."

If you feel that you are currently taking, or have ever taken, counterfeit Alli diet "supplement" pills contact your Dr. and the FDA. The FDA is currently investigating this dangerous scam.

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