What is Gas Station Heroin?
Gas station heroin is on the rise. There has been a recent spike in the abuse of illicit substance tianeptine, also known as “gas station heroin.” Tianeptine had already been shown to be on the rise increasing at an alarming rate between 2014-2019. And when the global pandemic came around, it caused an increase in drug use, which developed as a result of an increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Some have turned to gas station heroin as an opioid alternative to self-treat for anxiety and depression. The dopamine effect it produces is often compared to that of traditional opioids and kratom. In January of 2024, the FDA sent out a warning for tianeptine products. The popular brand Neptune’s Fix, found users experiencing dangerous side effects including seizures. Because of this, the company went ahead and recalled its tianeptine items from the market.
In February 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 20 cases of tianeptine use led to medical care where 13 people ended up being admitted into the ICU. The CDC also reported users taking tianeptine in conjunction with other substances such as alcohol, opioids and benzos. Polydrug abuse raises the risk of addiction and overdose.
Currently, tianeptine is only approved for use in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The drug is not FDA-approved for use in the United States and has been banned in a few states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee.
What is Gas Station Heroin?
Tianeptine is a lab-made atypical tricycle antidepressant that produces effects similar to opioids. The nickname gas station heroin comes from its effects on the brain that produce similar side effects to heroin. Other names for tianeptine include Pegasus, Red Dawn, Tianna and ZaZa Red. The drug was developed in France in the 1960s by the French Society of Medical Search. It is an antidepressant drug approved for treating conditions such as major depressive disorder in other countries outside of the U.S. It has also shown potential benefits for addressing other conditions such as anxiety and IBS.
The antidepressant works to help increase serotonin uptake in the brain and enhance mood by binding to the brain’s opioid receptors. Similar to traditional opioids, it produces a euphoric high and can help minimize physical and emotional pain. It is often prescribed to treat symptoms of anxiety depression, and other mood disorders. However, it is much less potent compared to other traditional antidepressant medications on the market. Side effects of abuse include agitation, confusion, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat and respiratory depression.
Dangers of Tianeptine Abuse
Tianeptine is not legal in the U.S. and the FDA has put out warnings for consumers not to purchase Tianeptine products. Despite legal warnings about the sale and use of this drug, manufacturers and brands have been able to find loopholes and it continues to be available for purchase. One of these loopholes includes marketing and labeling tianeptine products as dietary supplements and the benefits of its brain-boosting properties. In some cases, tianeptine products claim to deliver improved mood, energy, sexual performance, and muscle pain reduction.
However, there are very limited studies and clinical research on this medication, how it is used in patients and its long-term side effects. The lack of adequate research on the efficacy and safety of the drug is the main reason why the FDA has not approved tianeptine for use medical or otherwise.
Because tianeptine is not FDA-approved and unregulated in the market, this means the content and ingredients in tianeptine-based products are unknown. This could lead to dangerous and unwanted side effects. Some of the FDA warnings about the drug include dangers of severe side effects and warnings specifically for products sold under the brand name Neptune’s Fix, which has been found to cause seizures, loss of consciousness and death.
Poison Control Center cases involving tianeptine have seen an increase nationwide. According to a spokesperson for America’s Poison Centers, between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, there were an estimated 1,100 cases of human exposures involving tianeptine being reported to the agency. In 2023, there was an estimated 391 cases alone involving the drug. Because of this increase in abuse, many are calling for the safety and regulation of the widely available drug.
It can be found on store shelves of smoke shops, convenience stores, gas stations and online. Anyone can walk in to buy these supplements including minors. In fact, the potential for misuse is greatest among the younger population. The widespread availability and ease of access to the drug are some of the biggest factors that contribute to the harm of tianeptine abuse.
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Tianeptine Withdrawal
Tianeptine withdrawal is similar to that of typical opioid withdrawal. When taken regularly and over a long period of time, users can develop dependence on the drug, which then leads to withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms occur when a user has suddenly stopped taking the drug or has drastically reduced usage of the drug. The body has become so physically dependent on the drug, it can go into shock and chaos resulting in the development of withdrawal side effects. The half-life of the drug is around 2.5 hours. Because it is a short-acting drug, the majority of it is eliminated from the body within 12 hours.
A standard dose of tianeptine is around 25mg to 50mg. A dose of 6000mg or higher constitutes drug misuse. Tianeptine falls under the category of “gas station drugs” which include a wide range of substances typically available for purchase in places outside of a clinical or pharmacy setting. The new wave of gas station drug abuse is only adding to the already troubling drug crisis.
Some side effects of withdrawal include:
- Development or worsening of anxiety and depression
- Appetite loss
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Confusion
- Cramps
- Headache
- Flu-like symptoms
- Insomnia
- Moodiness
- Suicidal ideation
- Tremors
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Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
Researchers and physicians are concerned over the growing abuse of gas station heroin or tianeptine. It has become a problem especially because the substance is so easily and widely available for purchase and use. The United States is still grappling with the effects and aftermath of the ongoing opioid crisis. Gas station heroin along with other illicit widely available substances are causing alarm to an already deadly drug crisis. Hotel California by the Sea provides professional and effective substance use disorder treatments for addiction to tianeptine.
We offer varying care levels, including detox, residential and outpatient treatment programs. In addition to medication and pharmacological treatments such as MAT and long-term medication management, we also provide rigorous individual and group therapies. Our evidence-proven therapies include CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy. These unique treatments help our clients understand the root cause of their addiction and teach them the necessary skills to manage and cope with addiction-related stressors and events. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping our clients overcome their addictions and live a healthy life in sobriety.
References:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/gas-station-heroin-tianeptine
https://drugfree.org/drugs/tianeptine/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10444703/#:~:text=Tianeptine%20is%20an%20antidepressant%20drug,anxiety%20and%20irritable%20bowel%20disease
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tianeptine-products-linked-serious-harm-overdoses-death
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/24/health/tianeptine-fda-warning/index.html
https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/antidepressants/tianeptine-addiction-abuse/
https://abc7chicago.com/tianeptine-gas-station-heroin-illinois-poison-center-opioids/14477807/
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-warns-neptunes-fix-gas-station-heroin-may-contain-synthetic-pot-rcna136651
https://www.poison.org/articles/tianeptine