Dr. Martin Makary, Commissioner of Food and Drugs with the FDA, posted to the agency’s website about a concerning health trend involving products containing tianeptine.
Tianeptine is sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin” because it can be purchased in some gas station stores. The substance is not approved by the FDA for any use, and can lead to serious harm – even death.
Tianeptine is sometimes marketed as an atypical antidepressant. According to the FDA website post, “Tianeptine is frequently available at convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops, and online retailers. Product names include, for example, Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red.”
Reported adverse events from ingesting tianeptine include the following:
- agitation
- coma
- confusion
- death
- drowsiness
- hypertension
- nausea
- respiratory depression
- sweating
- tachycardia
- vomiting