The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about what it calls a “growing health trend facing our nation and particularly young people.” Emily’s Hope has reported on the FDA also previously sending out an alert about tianeptine products, which are commonly known as “gas station heroin.” The opioid-like products are linked to serious side effects, including comas, respiratory depression, and even death, but are still often found online, at gas stations and convenience stores. Some of the product names include Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus and TD Red.
The FDA has not approved tianeptine for any medical use, and it’s not generally recognized as safe for use in food. Nevertheless, tianeptine is being marketed as a “research chemical,” a “nootropic” cognitive enhancer, or a dietary supplement.
“It is critical that you appreciate the magnitude of the underlying danger of these products, and disseminate information about it,” said FDA Commissioner of Food and Drugs Martin Makary in a letter to the public this month. “Historically, there has been a delayed recognition of fast-growing trends, such as opioid abuse and vaping addiction in youth. Let’s be proactive in understanding and addressing the use of tianeptine products, which are available even to our nation’s youth.”
The FDA has noted a significant increase in poison control center cases involving tianeptine exposure, rising from 11 cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone. In 2024, a cluster of illnesses in New Jersey was associated with the product “Neptune’s Fix.”
The FDA advises healthcare professionals to counsel patients against using any products containing tianeptine, including those marketed as dietary supplements or treatments for various ailments. Consumers are urged to avoid these products due to the significant health risks they pose.
