Beware! Fake Diet Pills That Pose Risk for Heart Attacks Are on the Rise in Mississippi

Fake diet pills are on the rise in Mississippi where they are illegally advertised and sold online. Attorney general Jim Hood has warned the citizens to be safe and away from purchasing these kind of fake pills.“The internet is a leading source for the sale of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other such dangerous goods. Counterfeit drugs are normally loaded with unsafe or ineffective substances, either of which can be deadly or cause permanent damage,” said Hood.

Hood said, "A recent federal multi-state investigation showed that diet pills containing sibutramine, a Schedule IV controlled substance, have been falsely labeled and marketed as "all natural" dietary supplements with herbal ingredients."

Sibutramine was the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Meridia, a prescription weight loss drug that was removed from the market in 2010. Many studies in the past had shown that the drug increased the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

It's imported from China and has been sold under various names, such as “Slim Forte Slimming Capsules,” “Slim Forte Double Power Slimming Capsules,” “Slim-Vie Slimming Capsules,” and “Slim-Vie Double Power Slimming Capsules.”

Hood states, “Although our office has not yet received information of a Mississippi consumer who purchased these specific pills, new scams arise almost daily and we make a diligent effort to educate the public as we discover them.”

Source-Medindia