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Japan Today
20-06-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
'Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts
By MATTHEW PERRONE Health officials want you to think twice before buying one of those brightly colored little bottles often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Sometimes called 'gas station heroin,' the products are usually marketed as energy shots or cognitive supplements but actually contain tianeptine, an unapproved drug that can be addictive and carries risks of serious side effects. U.S. poison control centers have reported a steady rise in calls linked to the drug for more than a decade. And last month the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning to health professionals about 'the magnitude of the underlying danger or these products.' Here's what to know about gas station heroin. Tianeptine is approved in a number foreign countries as an antidepressant, usually as a low-dose pill taken three times a day. But it has never been approved by the FDA for any medical condition in the U.S. Additionally, the drug cannot legally be added to foods and beverages or sold as a dietary supplement — something the FDA has repeatedly warned U.S. companies about. Still, under-the-radar firms sell tianeptine in various formulas, often with brand names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red. Although that is technically illegal, the FDA does not preapprove ingredients added to supplements and beverages. 'It's kind of this grey area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication,' said Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. Last year, Calello and her colleagues published a study documenting a cluster of emergency calls in New Jersey tied to a flavored elixir called Neptune's Fix. People experienced distress, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure and seizures after drinking it. More than a dozen of the 20 patients had to be admitted for intensive care. Many tianeptine products claim— without evidence or FDA approval— to help users treat medical conditions, including addiction, pain and depression. In 2018, the FDA issued a warning letter to the maker of a product called Tianna, which claimed to provide 'an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates.' While tianeptine is not an opioid, the drug binds to some of the same receptors in the brain, which can temporarily produce effects akin to oxycodone and other opioids. Tianeptine also carries some of the same physiological risks of opioids, including the potential to dangerously depress breathing. 'That's what tends to get people into trouble,' said Dr. Hannah Hays of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. 'They use it for opioid-like effects or to self-treat opioid withdrawal and that can lead to slow breathing and problems like that." People dealing with opioid addiction, pain, depression, anxiety and other conditions should see a health professional to get a prescription for FDA-approved treatments, Hays said. Experts aren't sure but national figures show a big rise in emergency calls involving the drug. Calls to poison control centers increased 525% between 2018 and 2023, according to a data analysis published earlier this year. In about 40% of cases, the person had to seek medical care, with more than half of them needing critical care. One explanation for the rise in calls is simply that more Americans are using the products. But experts also say that the products are triggering more emergencies as they become more potent and dangerous. And the researchers in New Jersey who analyzed Neptune's Fix found that the liquid also contained synthetic cannabis and other drugs. 'You never quite know what's in that bottle," Calello said. 'It's important for people to know that even if they have used a product before, they could get a bottle that contains something very different from what they're looking for.' Tianeptine is not included in the federal Controlled Substances Act, which bans or restricts drugs that have no medical use or have a high potential for abuse, such as heroin, LSD and PCP. But about a dozen states have passed laws prohibiting or restricting tianeptine, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Tennessee. In some cases, those laws have led to more cases of withdrawal among users of tianeptine, which can be chemically addictive. But state data also shows some success in reducing harm tied to the drug. Until recently, Alabama had the highest rate of tianeptine-related calls in the southern U.S., which increased more than 1,400% between 2018 to 2021. But after the state restricted tianeptine in 2021 calls began modestly decreasing while calls across other southern states continued to climb. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
What is 'Gas Station Heroin'? FDA warns of surge in unregulated use among youth, linked to seizures, breathing problems and more
'Gas station heroin' is currently making headlines in the United States. US health authorities have raised alarm over a drug called 'gas station heroin', following a spike in its use and dangerous health risks. According to an Associated Press report, health officials have warned against the usage of the products that are usually marketed as energy shots or cognitive supplements and are often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops under names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red. The substance contains tianeptine, which is an unapproved drug in the US but is still sometimes found in over-the-counter supplements at stores mentioned above. What is 'gas station heroin'? According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tianeptine is not approved, but it is used in some countries as an antidepressant. While US poison control centres have reported a steady surge in calls linked to the drug for over a decade. Moreover, last month, the FDA issued a warning to health professionals about 'the magnitude of the underlying danger of these products'. As per experts, 'gas station heroin' mimics opioid-like effects by binding to similar brain receptors, despite not being classified as an opioid. On the other hand, the previous month, the FDA issued a formal warning, calling tianeptine a 'dangerous and growing health trend'. It also urged swift action to be taken to prevent a potential opioid-like crisis. Mostly, there is a sharp rise in the use of substances among young users. What is the use of this product, and risk factors? According to AP, many tianeptine products claim that the drug is helpful for users to treat medical conditions, including addiction, pain, and depression. In 2018, the FDA issued another warning calling out the maker of the product called Tianna that claimed to offer an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates. 'Gas station heroin' DANGEROUS STUFF! Warn Parents of young people!While tianeptine is not an opioid, the drug binds to some of the same receptors in the brain, which can temporarily produce effects akin to oxycodone and other opioids. Tianeptine also carries some of the same… "It's kind of this grey area of consumer products or supplements where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication," quoted Dr Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System in the report. Tianeptine is linked to serious health problems, including physiological risks of opioids and dangerously depressed breathing. Dangerous symptoms to look out for According to the report, over half of the 20 recent cases of using this drug have required intensive care admission. Symptoms of using this drug include seizures, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and severe distress. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
NDTV
16-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
What Is 'Gas Station Heroin'? US Alarmed Over Surge In Its Use And Health Risks
US health authorities have raised alarm over a drug known as "gas station heroin" following a surge in its use and associated health risks. The substance, tianeptine - an unapproved drug in the US - has been found in over-the-counter supplements sold at gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores under names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red. Though used in some countries as an antidepressant, tianeptine is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts say it mimics opioid-like effects by binding to similar brain receptors, despite not being classified as an opioid. "It's kind of this grey area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication," said Dr Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. "You never quite know what's in that bottle." Last month, the FDA issued a formal warning, calling tianeptine "a dangerous and growing health trend" and urging swift action to prevent a potential opioid-style crisis. The agency noted a sharp increase in adverse events, including deaths, particularly among young users. Poison control centres across the US have recorded a spike in tianeptine-related calls over the past decade - with Alabama seeing a 1,400% rise between 2018 and 2021. The number of cases declined after the state-imposed restrictions. Symptoms linked to tianeptine use include seizures, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and severe distress. According to AP, more than half of 20 recent cases required intensive care admission.
Los Angeles Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
‘Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts
WASHINGTON — Health officials want you to think twice before buying one of those brightly colored little bottles often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Sometimes called 'gas station heroin,' the products are usually marketed as energy shots or cognitive supplements but actually contain tianeptine, an unapproved drug that can be addictive and carries risks of serious side effects. U.S. poison control centers have reported a steady rise in calls linked to the drug for more than a decade. And last month the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning to health professionals about 'the magnitude of the underlying danger or these products.' Here's what to know about gas station heroin. Tianeptine is approved in a number of foreign countries as an antidepressant, usually as a low-dose pill taken three times a day. But it has never been approved by the FDA for any medical condition in the U.S. Additionally, the drug cannot legally be added to foods and beverages or sold as a dietary supplement — something the FDA has repeatedly warned U.S. companies about. Still, under-the-radar firms sell tianeptine in various formulas, often with brand names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red. Although that is technically illegal, the FDA does not preapprove ingredients added to supplements and beverages. 'It's kind of this gray area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication,' said Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. Last year, Calello and her colleagues published a study documenting a cluster of emergency calls in New Jersey tied to a flavored elixir called Neptune's Fix. People experienced distress, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure and seizures after drinking it. More than a dozen of the 20 patients had to be admitted for intensive care. Many tianeptine products claim — without evidence or FDA approval — to help users treat medical conditions, including addiction, pain and depression. In 2018, the FDA issued a warning letter to the maker of a product called Tianna, which claimed to provide 'an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates.' While tianeptine is not an opioid, the drug binds to some of the same receptors in the brain, which can temporarily produce effects akin to oxycodone and other opioids. Tianeptine also carries some of the same physiological risks of opioids, including the potential to dangerously depress breathing. 'That's what tends to get people into trouble,' said Dr. Hannah Hays of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. 'They use it for opioid-like effects or to self-treat opioid withdrawal and that can lead to slow breathing and problems like that.' People dealing with opioid addiction, pain, depression, anxiety and other conditions should see a health professional to get a prescription for FDA-approved treatments, Hays said. Experts aren't sure but national figures show a big rise in emergency calls involving the drug. Calls to poison control centers increased 525% between 2018 and 2023, according to a data analysis published earlier this year. In about 40% of cases, the person had to seek medical care, with more than half of them needing critical care. One explanation for the rise in calls is simply that more Americans are using the products. But experts also say that the products are triggering more emergencies as they become more potent and dangerous. And the researchers in New Jersey who analyzed Neptune's Fix found that the liquid also contained synthetic cannabis and other drugs. 'You never quite know what's in that bottle,' Calello said. 'It's important for people to know that even if they have used a product before, they could get a bottle that contains something very different from what they're looking for.' Tianeptine is not included in the federal Controlled Substances Act, which bans or restricts drugs that have no medical use or have a high potential for abuse, such as heroin, LSD and PCP. But about a dozen states have passed laws prohibiting or restricting tianeptine, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Tennessee. In some cases, those laws have led to more cases of withdrawal among users of tianeptine, which can be chemically addictive. But state data also show some success in reducing harm tied to the drug. Until recently, Alabama had the highest rate of tianeptine-related calls in the southern U.S., which increased more than 1,400% from 2018-21. But after the state restricted tianeptine in 2021, calls began modestly decreasing while calls across other Southern states continued to climb. Perrone writes for the Associated Press.
