TEXARKANA, Texas – Tianeptine, a drug initially created as an anti-depressant in other countries, is readily available in the U.S., being sold in gas stations and smoke shops in all but nine states.
Sold in pill or elixir form, its street name is gas station heroin, and it has proven to be addictive, with very difficult withdrawals reported.
Tianeptine is currently unregulated in the U.S. and is marketed as a mood-boosting supplement that claims it can help with alertness or energy.
Nationally, in 2018, there were 88 calls to poison centers regarding the drug. By September 2022, there were 286.
There are various brands of tianeptine, such as Tianna, Pegasus, Zaza, TD Red and more. Some are available online.
A bottle of 15 pills runs between $30 to $50.
The nine states currently banning the sale of the drug are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee, and recently, there has been a push to take the issue to the federal level.
The Director of Clinical Services at the Maryland Poison Center, Jimmy Leonard, said, “Over the last few years, it was noted that it gave people a euphoric effect, similar to opioids. It functions like an opioid in high doses. It’s not illegal.”
Recently, an alert from the FDA warned that the brand Neptune’s Fix was found to contain synthetic marijuana, and the department urges consumers not to buy this brand or any other tianeptine products since reports have surfaced of people having seizures, passing out, and dying.
If you or anyone you know has an addiction to tianeptine or any substance, help is available at the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.