Last Updated on December 13, 2022 by Dr Bucho
Gas station heroin or Tianeptine is an antidepressant that has a unique neurochemical profile and functions like an opioid. . it’s being sold in the U.S., especially at gas stations, as a dietary supplement
Today, people are in pain. The present is difficult in many ways. Unfortunately, a lot of people are using illegal drugs as a solution or a coping mechanism. We must all be aware of this and take action where we can. We can respond to this difficulty and overcome it if we cooperate and talk about what we see and hear.
What is Gas station Herion?
Gas station Heroin is referred to an anti-depressant drug known as Tianeptine and it has a unique neurochemical profile. In contrast to other antidepressants, it boosts the brain’s uptake of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and lessens the atrophy of neuronal dendrites brought on by stress. Like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), tianeptine does not appear to be linked to negative effects on cognition, psychomotor function, sleep, cardiovascular health, or body weight, and it has a limited potential for addiction. source: Pubmed
A number of states have outlawed tianeptine, also referred to as “gas station heroin.” Although it is advertised as a dietary supplement, some users describe it as a highly addictive narcotic.
A tricyclic antidepressant called tianeptine is used to treat depression in various European, Latin American, and Asian nations, however, the FDA has not given the drug U.S. approval for medical usage. It is not a controlled substance and is frequently offered for sale in the United States as a dietary supplement, nootropic (a substance that enhances cognitive function), or research chemical under the brand names ZaZa Red, TD Red, and Tianna. It is readily available online or in gas stations.
According to medical professionals, tianeptine acts as an opioid because it binds to opioid receptors in the brain. This accounts for why users who try to quit using it experience severe withdrawal.
“People are using it either to manage or withdrawal from harder, harsher stuff, or they’re kind of starting their journey and developing an unhealthy relationship with it based on its effects—and its effects are opioid-like effects,” said Dr. Patrick Marshalek, an associate professor at West Virginia University’s School of Medicine. While Quoting to Vice News
There is relatively little information available regarding tianeptine, including how many people use it, although records from the FDA and DEA have shown an increase in calls to poison control centres about the substance through at least 2020. In addition to Mississippi, it has been outlawed in Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana; earlier this year, health officials in Mississippi issued a warning about it.
Withdrawals are Worse than oxycodone
vice to reached out to several people to get some instincts about the misuse of the drug that is being sold at gas stations. Barnett told VICE News that his 10-day detox had been more challenging than his previous withdrawals from opiates including oxycodone, fentanyl, and buprenorphine. He claimed to have felt sick, sweated, vomited, feverish, in agony all over, and had constant chills.
The FDA issued a warning in February noting that tianeptine has been linked to serious damage, overdoses, and fatalities. Retailers of tianeptine, according to the notice, are “making dangerous and unproven claims that tianeptine can improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder, and other conditions.” It was stated that utilising tianeptine carries a higher risk of side effects for those who have opioid addictions, some of which include agitation, drowsiness, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, delayed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tianeptine FDA approved?
Tianeptine is not FDA approved for human consumption, it does not qualify as a dietary ingredient, is not an approved food additive, and is not generally recognized as safe by the FDA.
What are the side effects of tianeptine?
The most frequent side effects include alterations in dreaming, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, headaches, and dizziness. Compared to tricyclic medications, tianeptine has fewer anticholinergic side effects.
If You need any Medical help Call American Addiction Centers for help today. Call (877) 830-4705
American Addiction Centers
Inputs: Vice
Thanks for reading and Thanks for visiting Dr Bucho , Get the latest updates, Blog Posts, Food, wellness, Mental Health, news, Alerts, admissions, and latest posts on our website, and stay up to date with us and don’t forget to check our page Student forum, where we have some free tools for medical professionals and students