On A Diet? Check This Out First...

This month's issue focuses primarily on updates regarding some popular weight loss medications a.k.a. "diet pills".

If you or someone you know are currently taking (or plan to take) a diet pill for weight loss then you this month's updates will be of particular interest to you.

Counterfeit Alli Being Sold On The Internet

Alli is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that has been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to be used for weight loss in overweight adults 18 years and older ...when it is used along with a "reduced calorie and low-fat diet."

Orlistat, the generic name for Alli, was originally only available via prescription - Xenical - but now, Alli, a lower dose of Xenical, is what you can get over the counter.

As with most OTC products, and just about every retail product you can also buy Alli over the internet, and while there usually isn't a problem when you purchase from reputable online retail outlets such as Walgreens.com or Drugstore.com., who have a solid track record of providing quality products, the counterfeit Alli products have primarily been traced to online auction sites.

The counterfeit Alli does NOT contain orlistat, but rather it contains sibutramine which is also a used for weight loss but works in a different manner - it is a stimulant.

More on ,i>sibutramine in the next section...

The FDA conducted lab tests on the counterfeit products to determine what exactly (and how much of it) was in the counterfeit Alli products.

They were found to contain up to three (3) times the usual daily dose (and two (2) times the maximum daily dose) of sibutramine, if taken according to the Alli dosing directions.

You can probably tell that that's not a good thing already. So who's at the highest risk of experiencing the worst adverse drug effects and what can they expect?

Who's At The Highest Risk
& What Can You Expect?

Anyone who takes this adulterated product is at risk of having any of the following side effects.

In particular, people with heart disease can experience:

• an increase in blood pressure
• heart attack
• stroke

Healthy people can possibly experience:

• heart palpitations
• an increased heart rate
• anxiety
• nausea
• slight increases in blood pressure
• insomnia

Identifying Counterfeit Alli

Here are some things to look out for in determining whether or not an Alli product is counterfeit or authentic. The counterfeit Alli has:

• an expiration date that includes the day, month and year ...the authentic Alli only lists the month and year
• white powder inside the large capsules ...authentic Alli has small white pellets inside
• no LOT code on the outside cardboard packaging
• inner safety seal foil has no inscription on it ...authentic Alli has the inscription "SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION" printed on it
• plastic bottle is taller, cap is wider and the ribbing on the cap is coarser than with the authentic Alli

What Should You Do If You Have A Counterfeit product?

Stop taking the drug and let your primary healthcare provider know if you've experienced any side effects ...especailly if you have heart disease.

The FDA has an Office of Criminal Investigations and I bet they'd like to know ...give them a call at 1-800-551-3989. Or call the manufacturers of the reall Alli - GlaxoSmithKline at 1-800-671-2554, and let them know as well.

Meridia & Heart Disease
...May Be A Risky Bet

Meridia is another weight loss drug that is also approved by the FDA for the following:

• obese people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher
• obese with a BMI of 27 or higher PLUS other risk factors such as high cholesterol, uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes

The generic name is sibutramine. As already mentioned earlier, it can cause problems for people with heart disease. Therefore, the manufacturer has decided to add a statement to the drug's label that people with a history of heart or blood vessel disease should NOT use Meridia.

This includes people awith any of the following:

• congestive heart failure (CHF)
• arrhythmias - slow, fast or irregular heartbeats
• coronary artery disease e.g. angina or heart attack
• stroke or mini-stroke
• build up of plaque in the arteries
• uncontrolled high blood pressure

Pharmacist's Recommendation & Endorsement

If you are on a weight loss and diet and are feeling stuck when it comes to making healthy food choices then check out a program that provides meals with all the hard work of calculating and balancing calories and good taste already done for you.

Bistro MD was founded by Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D. who is one of the few medical doctors in the country who specializes in weight loss. I won't try to push it on you but you can check out what they have to offer here.

Dieting is Easier When You Love the Food. Delicious meals shipped to your door. It's a proven strategy that works!