FDA Sounds Alarm on 'Gas Station Heroin' Threatening Youth with Deadly Risks

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is raising a red flag about a perilous substance dubbed gas station heroin, a drug called tianeptine that’s sneaking into the hands of young Americans with potentially deadly consequences. FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary recently penned a urgent letter to colleagues, spotlighting this alarming trend that’s spiking adverse health events, particularly among youth.

Tianeptine, unapproved by the FDA, is peddled under names like Tianaa, ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, and Pegasus at gas stations, vape shops, and online. Marketed as a dietary supplement, it’s anything but. This stuff is dangerous, Makary warned, noting its ability to trigger euphoria at high doses, mimicking opioid effects. Abruptly stopping its use can unleash withdrawal symptoms—cravings, sweating, diarrhea—that rival those of hardcore narcotics.

The risks don’t stop there. Ingesting tianeptine can lead to a grim lineup of effects: agitation, coma, confusion, even death. In New Jersey, health officials reported 20 severe cases between June and November 2023, with users suffering seizures and loss of consciousness. The FDA’s own alert last year flagged Neptune’s Fix for causing hospitalizations, and on January 28, 2024, the product’s maker, Neptune Resources, LLC, issued a voluntary recall. But experts caution that tianeptine lurks in other products too.

While some countries regulate tianeptine as an antidepressant with strict dosing (12.5 mg three times daily), the U.S. has yet to classify it under the Controlled Substances Act, leaving it in a regulatory gray zone. This gap lets it slip through convenience store shelves, where it’s falsely sold as a harmless supplement. It’s a public health blind spot, and the FDA is now urging everyone to spread the word about its dangers.

For those caught in its grip, help is critical. If you or someone you know is experiencing withdrawal or adverse effects from tianeptine, contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care immediately. This isn’t just a warning—it’s a wake-up call.