Tianeptine may not be a name you’ve heard before, but it refers to the substance often sold as “gas station heroin.” It’s been linked to numerous adverse events, including death. What it is and what you should do if your loved one is using it?
Tianeptine is marketed as an atypical antidepressant. It’s used in some European, Asian, and South American countries as a way to treat anxiety and depression. It’s even used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in some areas. It is not approved for any medical or mental health use in the United States.
What Is Tianeptine?
Tianeptine is a synthetic drug noted for offering antidepressant benefits. It’s often sold under brand names like Stablon and Coaxil. It is considered an atypical tricyclic antidepressant that interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors. When taken in smaller doses, it can help control depression and anxiety symptoms. However, when taken in larger doses, it can be habit-forming, causing a person to feel high or experience a sense of euphoria. This makes it a dangerous drug for continued or unregulated use.
Is Tianeptine a Controlled Substance?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tianeptine is not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States. It is also not approved for any medical use in the U.S. and therefore does not offer any level of safety for those using it. It’s often marketed as a supplement or a dietary ingredient. However, these claims cannot be trusted.
The FDA notes that the substance has been linked to a serious risk of addiction, with some reports indicating that people use 1.3 to 250 times the daily tianeptine dose typically recommended in foreign drug products to get the desired high. This creates several risk factors for health.
Potential Complications From Tianeptine Use
The use of tianeptine is not approved in the US, but it is often purchased online and sold in gas stations as a supplement. The FDA has yet to act on this drug’s risks, but there are noted adverse effects possible, including:
- Respiratory depression
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sweating
- Hypertension
- Coma
- Sudden death
Because it acts like opioids, it can slow a person’s heart and breathing rate to dangerous lows. This can lead to seizures and ultimately death.
What Makes Tianeptine Hard to Manage
Though it is not legally sold in the US as a medication or dietary product, it has been found to be mixed in with other products. For example, the FDA reports that in 2024, a number of people in New Jersey suffered adverse side effects when taking a product called “Neptune’s Fix” purchased at a local gas station. It was found to contain tianeptine and a synthetic cannabinoid.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 13 of the 17 people who sought care for tianeptine had serious effects and were admitted into intensive care.
Reports indicate that people are using as much as 100 times the manufacturer’s recommended daily dosage to seek out the high tianeptine offers. And, they struggle to stop using it once they start. There have been noted deaths caused by the misuse of this drug.
Not only is it a potential unknown ingredient in these products, but it is also hard to detect. It may not show up on traditional drug screenings and, therefore, may be sought by those who are seeking a high without failing a drug test.
What Should You Do if Your Loved One Is Using Tianeptine?
If your loved one is using this product, or you believe they are, it may be time to consider an addiction treatment program. If a loved one has taken any substance and has passed out or is not responsive, call 911 immediately.
In situations where your loved one is taking this drug on a consistent basis and may be increasing the amount they consume over time to feel better, it’s time to seek help. Treatment for opioid addiction may help.
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we offer a comprehensive range of treatment programs to help you. That includes a detox program to help remove the substance from a person’s system while controlling symptoms. In addition to this, our traditional residential program or intensive outpatient program may help break through this challenging substance to find healing.
If you are at risk or your loved one may be at risk for using tianeptine, seek immediate help.
Let The Ranch at Dove Tree Guide You
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we offer care for those facing substance use disorders and who are ready to find solutions. Contact our admissions team now to learn more about the ways we can help you recover.
