For those who are using the Alli pills, better listen up. A number of Americans have been using the diet pills since it was approved to be sold over the counter. But now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that there are counterfeit pills that have found their way in the market.

The counterfeit pills have been tested, and they showed that they contain harmful levels of sibutramine — a drug that should only be available by prescription.

If you have a heart condition, taking anything with sibutramine can put you at greater risk of high blood cholesterol, heart attack and even stroke. Ironically, a large number of people are trying to lose weight to protect their heart from diseases.

Real Alli pills are manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, a German company. They said that consumers should be suspicious of the drug if they find the following:

* LOT code information is missing from the top of the box
* The expiration date includes month, day and year (example: 06162010), instead of only the month and year (example: 05/12)
* The seal on the bottle should read “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION” in white ink on the real Alli bottle; this statement is not present on the fake product
* The counterfeit capsule is slightly larger, and its contents powdery; the genuine capsule is shaped more like a pellet

Remember to always buy your medicines from your trusted drugstores to prevent incidences where your health will be at risk.