Tuesday, January 19 – The Ministry of Health and Social Development is once again reminding people in the Territory about the dangers of purchasing pharmaceutical medicines and dietary supplements via the internet.
Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services Ms. Gracia Wheatley told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the renewed appeal has come amid a consumer alert related to counterfeit versions of the popular weight loss product “Alli® 60 mg capsules”, which is being sold over the internet.
“Laboratory tests conducted by GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Alli confirmed that the counterfeit product does not contain the active ingredient Oristat, but contains an ingredient named Sibutramine”, noted the Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services.
Ms. Wheatley added that the known side effects of Sibutramine are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, palpitations, hypertension, seizures, and gastrointestinal bleeding. “Sibutramine should not be used in certain patient populations without physician oversight, because it can also interact in a harmful way with other medications,” she said.
The Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services also cautioned the public that the counterfeit product is very similar in appearance to the true product. However she noted that there are perceptible differences, which include a missing Lot Number on the outer packaging of the counterfeit product.
“The expiry date on the counterfeit product includes the month, day, and year 06152012 while the expiry date on the true product includes only the month and the year; and the packaging of the counterfeit is in a taller and wider bottle with a wider cap that has a coarser ribbing than the true product,” she said.
Additionally the Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Services advised that the foil inner seal is plain in the counterfeit product while the foil inner seal in the genuine product has the words “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION.” The public has also been alerted that the capsules in the counterfeit product are larger and are filled with a white powder, while the contents of the capsules in the true product are filled with white pellets.
Ms. Wheatley is advising persons in the Territory who have bought Alli® over the internet to discontinue their use of the product. They may also contact the Ministry for further information at 494-3701 extension 2236. The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Territory.
British Virgin Islands News