North Carolina lawmakers have just sent an emergency letter to the FDA Thursday, asking them to ban the dangerous substance tianeptine, known as ‘gas station heroin’, according to WRAL.
Tianeptine is now under strict regulation in nine U.S. states, including Florida, Michigan, and Ohio, following an FDA alert linking it to overdoses and deaths.
The FDA recently released the following nationwide warning about the drug: “FDA is warning consumers to not purchase or use any Neptune’s Fix products, or any other product with tianeptine — a potentially dangerous substance that is not FDA-approved for any medical use but is illegally sold with claims to improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder and other conditions.”
Approved in low doses in some countries, tianeptine is often misused in the US as a perceived safe alternative to opioids like fentanyl or heroin. Found in products like Tianaa, Zaza, and Pegasus, tianeptine at high doses mimics opioid effects, leading to misuse and addiction.
Online forums, especially on Reddit, reflect its widespread use and the challenges in quitting, with thousands participating in discussions. The drug’s unregulated production often results in it being mixed with dangerous substances like synthetic cannabinoids, leading to varied and severe overdose symptoms. While naloxone can sometimes counteract these overdoses, it’s not consistently effective.
The seriousness of tianeptine misuse is highlighted by at least four associated deaths, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and control of this substance.