Alli Warning: Dangerous Fakes Being Sold Online

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently discovered that counterfeit versions of over-the-counter diet pill Alli are being sold on online auction sites. And these bootleg pills aren't just the generic version of the drug -- they contain highers amounts of sibutramine, which could create huge health risks for some people.

The diet drug's creator, GlaxoSmithKline, received reports of the fakes in early December and discovered in lab tests that the bootleg Alli contained as much as three times the recommended daily dose of sibutramine.

Sibutramine, when used correctly, is far from deadly. It is approved for weight loss by the FDA, and is found in Alli and the prescription weight loss drug, Meridia. While the FDA recently slapped Meridia pills with a warning label for heart attacks, Meridia is still an approved drug, but the agency warned that the counterfeit Alli circulating on the Internet is illegal and unsafe.

The FDA warned consumers last week that the potentially harmful version of Alli 60 mg capsules (via the 120-count refill kit) were being sold online. During a media conference call held by on Saturday, FDA Director Janet Woodcock, M.D., confirmed that too much sibutramine could cause symptoms like heart palpitations, insomnia and elevated blood pressure. But that's not all. It may even lead to heart attack or stroke for those at risk.

"The FDA can't caution consumers enough that buying prescription drugs on the Internet is risky," FDA spokesman Tom Gasparoli told That's Fit. "There are some offers and sites that are perfectly legitimate and legal, and there are countless that are not. It is very difficult to tell the difference. The end result of buying from some entity you are not familiar with: you could be endangering your health in serious ways. Ask yourself whether that is worth it."

So, how can you tell the difference between real and fake pills, particularly online? On a media call earlier this week, Elizabeth Miller, the Internet and health fraud team leader in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, explained five sure-fire ways to tell the difference between real Alli and the counterfeits.

Check the LOT Code: A LOT code is a code printed on an individual container serving as a reference number for the plant to track production information. Miller said that the counterfeit Alli pills will be missing a LOT code on the outer cardboard packaging.

Expiration Date Format: An expiration date that includes a month, day and year is a sure sign of a fake, she explained. The expiration date of the real Alli only contains a month and year stamp.

Worded Foil: Plain foil for the inner safety seal without any words can be one way to tell if a product is an impostor. The safety seal of the real Alli -- and most health products -- have the words "SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION" prominently printed.

Change in Appearance: The plastic bottle of the counterfeit product will be slightly taller with a wider cap, and coarser ribbing on the cap, according to the FDA.

What's Inside: The knock-off Alli pills contain large capsules with white powder, as opposed to the small white pellets found in the real thing.

The FDA's Gasparoli also said consumers should follow common sense rules when buying any drug online by "making sure they know who they are dealing with." He also urges that consumers "insist on direct contact with a confirmed, licensed health professional who can write prescriptions" and that those using weight-loss supplements "not let themselves be rushed" into just picking any product that's available.

Looking to pop a diet pill other than Alli? Read all about different types of diet pills and find out which ones are safe and effective.