David Rose, Health Correspondent
Slimmers were warned of the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated websites last night, after fake versions of a leading weight-loss drug were discovered in the US.
Counterfeit versions of Alli have been found to contain dangerous high levels of another prescription drug, and could be available to Britons buying from online auction sites, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
Alli is available without prescription in Britain with the genuine product, made by GlaxoSmithKline, containing the active ingredient orlistat.
But laboratory testing of the suspected counterfeit product, 60mg Alli capsules (120 capsule refill kit), revealed it contained sibutramine instead of orlistat.
The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) warned on Saturday that counterfeit versions of Alli being sold online could contain twice the recommended dose of simutramine, which was suspended across Europe last week after a study suggested it could trigger heart attacks and strokes.
Mick Deats, Head of Enforcement at the MHRA said purchasing medicines from unregulated internet pharmacies was a risk not worth taking.
“The trend of self-diagnosing and self-prescribing is potentially dangerous, but unless the website has a physical address clearly displayed, and the green cross logo of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) then the likelihood of obtaining a counterfeit product is greatly increased,” he said.
“Buying weight loss medication from unregulated websites is a dangerous way to slim down. You don’t know what you’re taking and your condition is not being monitored by a healthcare professional. It’s just not worth taking that type of risk.”
GlaxoSmithKline said it was working with the FDA to have the counterfeits removed from online auction sites.
The FDA urged all consumers taking Alli to check they had bought legitimate versions and discard any fake products immediately.
The fake versions have some differences on the packaging, including a missing lot code on the outer cardboard packaging.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/medicine/article7002299.ece
