The small, colorful bottles hawked at convenience stores, smoke shops and filling stations as cognitive supplements or energy are often called “gas station heroin.”
And, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that they pose similar risks of addiction and life-threatening side effects.
Amid a rise in calls to U.S. poison control centers, it recently reminded health professionals of the “magnitude of the underlying danger of these products.”
Sold under such names as ZaZa, Tianaa, Pegasus, TD Red and Neptune’s Fix, the products contain an unapproved ingredient — tianeptine — that can lead to addiction and dangerously depress breathing, according to the Associated Press.
Tianeptine is sold in a number of countries as a government-approved treatment for depression.
But the FDA has never approved it for any medical condition in the U.S. It cannot legally be sold as a dietary supplement or added to foods or drinks.
For more than a decade, however, poison control centers nationwide have seen an uptick in calls linked to the ingredient.
“You never quite know what’s in that bottle,” Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System told the AP. “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.”
Under-the-radar firms still sell it, though, technically, it’s illegal. Calello explained that it falls under a gray area of consumer supplements or products that are not regulated or tested the same way a medication would be.
Her team documented a cluster of emergency calls in New Jersey last year linked to a flavored elixir called Neptune’s Fix, which contained tianeptine. After drinking it, people experienced rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, seizures and distress. More than a dozen needed intensive care.
Without FDA approval or evidence, many tianeptine products claim to help treat conditions such as addiction, pain and depression.
The FDA sent a warning letter to the maker of a product called Tianna in 2018. It claimed to provide “an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates.”
Though it is not an opioid, tianeptine affects the brain in a similar way — and carries some of the same risks of opioids, including the potential to dangerously depress breathing, the AP said.
“That’s what tends to get people into trouble,” Dr. Hannah Hays of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said. “They use it for opioid-like effects or to self-treat opioid withdrawal and that can lead to slow breathing and problems like that.”
She emphasized that people dealing with depression, anxiety, pain or opioid addiction should see a health care professional to get an approved treatment.
Between 2018 and 2023, tianeptine-related calls to U.S. poison control centers skyrocketed 525%, according to a data analysis published earlier this year. Medical care was required in about 4 in 10 cases and more than half of those involved needed critical care, the AP reported.
The emergencies owe in part to products that have become more potent and dangerous, experts say. The New Jersey researchers who analyzed Neptune’s Fix found that it contained synthetic cannabis and other drugs.
While tianeptine is not listed in the federal Controlled Substances Act, which bans drugs like heroin and cocaine that have no medical use or a high likelihood of abuse, about a dozen states, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee and Ohio, restrict or ban it.
Until recently, the AP reported, Alabama had the highest rate of tianeptine-related calls in the South — up more than 1,400% between 2018 and 2021. Calls began to drop after the state passed restrictions, while calls in other southern states continued to rise.
Health officials are warning Americans about the dangers of tianeptine, a drug often sold in gas stations and smoke shops under names like “Zaza,” “Tianaa” and “Neptune’s Fix.”
Marketed as energy boosters or mood enhancers, experts say these products contain an unapproved antidepressant that mimics some effects of opioids, and can be addictive.
Tianeptine is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any medical use in the U.S. and is illegal to add to foods or sell as a dietary supplement, though companies continue to do so.
“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,” Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System said to The Independent.
In a 2023 study, Dr. Calello documented multiple ER visits linked to a flavored drink called Neptune’s Fix; more than a dozen patients were admitted to intensive care.
“You never quite know what’s in that bottle,” she said. “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 technically an opioid but activates similar receptors in the brain, which can depress breathing and cause euphoria.
“That’s what tends to get people into trouble,” Dr. Hannah Hays of Nationwide Children’s Hospital told The Independent. “They use it for opioid-like effects or to self-treat opioid withdrawal and that can lead to slow breathing and problems like that.”
The FDA has issued multiple warnings, including a letter in 2018 to a manufacturer claiming its product could curb opiate cravings.
From 2018 to 2023, poison control calls involving tianeptine jumped 525%, and over half of those who sought medical care required critical care.
Some products have also tested positive for synthetic cannabis and other hidden drugs.
Although tianeptine is not federally classified as a controlled substance, at least a dozen states — including Alabama and Michigan — have restricted or banned its sale.
In Alabama, calls surged more than 1,400% from 2018 to 2021 before dropping slightly after legislation passed.
“These products are being marketed with unproven claims … but they’re not FDA-approved, and they’re not safe,” Dr. Hays said.
Health officials urge those struggling with addiction or mental illness to seek professional help instead of turning to gas station supplements.
By Jessica Dupnack and David Komer – Fox 2 Detroit –
The Brief
– Seven-Hydroxy can be bought at smoke shops and gas stations. Although it is legal for now in Michigan – it is addictive and dangerous.
– The drug is said to be 10 times stronger than morphine and can hook users immediately with a euphoric feeling.
– It binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, just like so many illegal narcotics, and is banned in some countries.
The backstory:
They are legal and you can buy the tablets at gas stations and smoke shops.
“When you take two to four, it would look like you were on heroin, basically,” said Isaiah Zinser, a former addict to 7-Hydroxy.
“You could just go to the store right now and get some more,” said Katie Bowers, another ex-addict.
“(It’s called) Kratom, SZA SZA, gas station heroin,” said Lt. Andrew Guntzviller, Detroit Police Narcotics.
Seven Hydroxy is banned in some other countries, and states in the US but here in Michigan, we found they’re all over.
Our FOX 2 photographer went undercover to learn more about the recreational drug that is 10 times as strong as morphine according to the National Institutes of Health.
“People only take like a quarter, and if they’re brave enough, they’ll take another quarter,” said a store clerk.
“Brave” he says – that’s one way to put it.
What they’re saying:
“It was very similar to the feeling I had on any other opiate,” said Zinsner. “It was that warm, fuzzy feeling. That feeling of euphoria and being numb.”
The Gainsville, Florida resident said he heard about 7-Hydroxy, from the famous YouTube streamer “Goblin” who smoked the drug.
“Three rips and honest to God I’m high,” he said in a video. “Like I’m just going to say straight up, if you didn’t tell me what this was, if you handed me the pill form of this and didn’t tell me it was 7-OH, I would have just thought you gave me a perk or an opiate.”
The packaging almost always includes the word “Kratom” on it. Kratom is a tree from southeast Asia and 7-Hydroxy is a compound found in that plant, but it’s significantly more potent.
It binds to the opiod receptors in the brain, just like so many illegal narcotics.
Zinser calls them 7-OHs and says he was hooked immediately.
“It was a problem the first time I ever took it,” he said. “Because of the ease of access and the availability of it. It was very justifiable for me to go and do it multiple times a day, every day.”
He even picked up delivery jobs – just to pay for the addiction. As the pills took hold, he says, his life crumbled.
At his worst, he was taking 220 milligrams per day. The average dose is anywhere from 10 to 20 milligrams.
“My mom came down from Ohio to see me in Florida for the first time after seven months, and when she saw me on that stuff, she directly accused me of being on heroin,” he said.
That visit was a wake-up call to quit cold turkey. While some of his friends had to use a drug called Suboxone used to help with opioid-like withdrawal symptoms.
“The withdrawal process was agony, awful,” he said.
It might not be mainstream but people are hooked. FOX 2 found bare shelves at a Metro Detroit smoke shop.
FOX 2 Undercover: “Do you guys sell the 7-OH stuff?”
Smoke shop clerk: “Yeah, this whole cabinet. We’re kind of low because every Wednesday is buy one, get one half off.
“People come and spend $200 bucks on this stuff.”
FOX 2: “A day?”
“About every other day,” she said. “There’s one guy, he comes in four to five times a day for them.”
Our photographer voiced his concern over trying it, and the clerk agreed.
“I would say if you haven’t like, started, I wouldn’t,” she said. “Just because people are going more towards it, and spending even more, and I see them more often now.”
Katie Bowers from Bismark, North Dakota mom, says she was addicted to 7-Hydroxy after one dose.
“The withdrawal symptoms were so quick, by the next morning I was feeling the symptoms. So that’s why it got so addictive,” she said.
Bowers originally turned to it for relief from chronic back pain.
“I actually broke my back in 2004 in a dirt bike accident,” she said. “For the last 20 years, I’ve dealt with back pain.”
Admittedly, she was addicted to narcotics in the past – and this, she says, was just as bad she says – if not worse – because it is so easy to buy.
“Borrowing money, hiding things, asking … lying, things like that,” Bowers said. “DoorDashing just for money and being there when they opened, kind of thing.”
After about seven months – she finally quit.
“I finally just admitted to my boyfriend and my sister that I wasn’t doing well, and it just took that, asking for help,” she said.
Why you should care:
Lt. Guntzviller said it has been banned in some of the European countries and in a few states.
“Coincidentally, it has been banned in a lot of the countries where it’s cultivated at,” he said.
But it remains legal in Michigan.
“A lot of people feel comfortable with the fact that it’s a natural supplement or it’s an herb or something like that,” Lt. Guntzviller said. “But there’s an awful lot of things that populate this earth that you can ingest, that will kill you that grow on a tree, or a flower, or whatever else.”
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.
How are these products sold in the U.S.?
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.
Why use these products?
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.
Is tianeptine use going up?
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.”
Are there policies that could reduce tianeptine use?
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.
Due to potential for severe adverse events if used for recreational/non-food purposes.
Products
FDA advises consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide products from any size canisters, tanks, or chargers.
These products are marketed as both unflavored and flavored nitrous oxide canisters and are sold as a food processing propellant for whipped cream and culinary food use. Intentional misuse or inhalation of contents can lead to serious adverse health events, including death.
Products may be sold under the following brand names, including but not limited to:
Baking Bad
Cloud 9ine
Cosmic Gas
Euro Gas
ExoticWhip
FastGas
Galaxy Gas
Goo Sticks
HOTWHIP
InfusionMax
MassGass
Miami Magic
Monster Gas
NITROX
Whip-it!
Symptoms of Adverse Health Events
Inhaling nitrous oxide can result in a range of symptoms and serious health problems, from abnormal blood counts, asphyxiation, blood clots, frostbite, headache, impaired bowel and bladder function, lightheadedness, limb weakness, loss of consciousness, numbness, palpitations, paralysis, psychiatric disturbances (delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, depression), tingling, trouble walking, vitamin B12 deficiency, and in some cases, death. For some individuals who regularly inhale nitrous oxide, this habit can lead to prolonged neurological effects, including spinal cord or brain damage, even after stopping use.
Stores Affected
These products are being sold online and at retailers, including, but not limited to: Amazon.com, Ebay, Walmart, and at smoke/vape shops and gas stations.
Recommendation for Consumers
The FDA advises consumers to not misuse or inhale nitrous oxide products. These products can result in serious adverse health effects, including death, when inhaled.
Contact your health care providers if you have recently used these products and are concerned about your health.
Current Update
June 4, 2025
The FDA updated the list of product brand names to include ExoticWhip, FastGas, and NITROX. Nitrous oxide canisters, tanks, and chargers may be sold under various product brand names online and at retailers, including smoke/vape shops and gas stations. The FDA continues tracking reports of adverse events resulting from the inhalation and misuse of nitrous oxide canisters and will take appropriate actions to protect the public’s health.
The dangers of tianeptine, synthetic kratom, and other “gas station” drugs.
KEY POINTS
“Gas station heroin” (tianeptine) exploits a loophole that allows sales of dangerous psychoactive substances.
Tianeptine was initially developed for depression, but its opioid-like effects led to misuse and dependence.
7-OH products, often falsely marketed as kratom leaf extracts, are synthetics that pose heroin-like dangers.
The term “gas station heroin” encompasses the drug tianeptine and other 7-OH drugs with dangerous opioid-like effects, but which may be purchased (for now) at smoke shops, gas stations, and other outlets. Typically synthesized in overseas labs (often in China or India), tianeptine has had an alarming rise in misuse. Stablon (tianeptine) is not approved for medical use in the United States but is an approved antidepressant in some countries. At higher doses, tianeptine acts similarly to heroin and other opioids in its addictive potential. It is not FDA-approved as a medication, but is often marketed as “Zaza,” “Tianna Red,” or “Neptune’s Fix.” Other dangerous drugs, such as synthetic kratom, are available in many of the same outlets. Together, these drugs are a public health threat.
More About Tianeptine
Tianeptine has also been referred to as “gas station heroin” as users have described opioid-like drug effects, intense cravings, severe withdrawal, and tolerance, leading to increased dosages and escalating use. Drowsiness, confusion, nausea, respiratory depression, and in severe cases, coma and overdose (fatal and nonfatal) have been reported to poison control centers. U.S. consumers are ingesting high doses—up to 250 times the daily foreign drug product dose—of tianeptine recommended for depression. Tianeptine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has issued warnings to consumers about opioid effects, sent warning letters to companies that distribute and sell unlawful tianeptine products, and placed tianeptine shipments on an import alert to try to stop them at our borders. The DEA considered banning the substance, as gas station heroin remains dangerously accessible in many areas.
With effects comparable to heroin or prescription opioids, tianeptine causes severe withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, tremors, depression, vomiting, and insomnia. Tolerance develops rapidly. It can also cause respiratory depression, seizures, and death (especially when mixed with other CNS depressants).
Urine drug screens do not detect tianeptine. If a person experiences withdrawal symptoms from this drug, naloxone (Narcan) should be used.
7-OH Products
Another problematic “gas station” drug is composed of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) semi-synthetic products often falsely marketed as “natural kratom extracts.” This drug is 30 times more potent than morphine. Usually, native kratom leaf does not contain any detectable amounts of 7-OH, or the amount is minuscule. But synthetic 7-OH is highly concentrated and leads to opioid-like withdrawal symptoms, kratom use disorder (KUD), and overdoses.
Important and timely web monitoring surveillance from the NDEWS Early Warning Network recently highlighted kratom-related concerns about mislabeled products, novel formulations, and emergency medical encounters. For example, out of 4,233 EMS encounters for kratom/7-OH-related fatal or nonfatal overdoses from January 2023 to April 2025, 1,071 (25.3 percent) occurred in western states, 1,191 (28.1 percent) in central states, and 1,971 (46.6 percent) in eastern states. The data shows significant increases in kratom/7-OH-related EMS encounters across all three regions and nationally.
7-OH produces very strong opioid-like effects even at low doses, and there is a high potential for tolerance, dependence, and opioid-like withdrawal. 7-OH products are much more likely than kratom leaves to cause respiratory depression, especially combined with other CNS depressants. Disturbingly, both natural and synthesized 7-OH products may be sold at the same gas station or smoke shops, even right next to each other, both marketed as “kratom.”
According to University of Florida professor Oliver Grundmann, PhD, “It is important to note reporting of kratom toxicity sadly lumps kratom leaf together with semi-synthetic and synthetic derivatives, which may lead to kratom leaf being a victim of a confounder effect when 7-OH and other potent substances account for a majority of cases.”
The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) is also sounding the alarm over health risks associated with 7-OH products. According to SABER, while kratom tea is relatively mild, synthetic kratom derivatives are far more potent, on par with opioids. The proliferation of synthetic products lies in the drug’s potency, lack of regulation, and packaging appealing to younger consumers. It’s also important to note that these products are marketed as dietary supplements or wellness aids, despite substantial health risks.
A recently published article in Drug and Alcohol Dependence examined 304 online products marketed as kratom but which actually contained semi-synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP). These products are highly selective mu opioid receptor agonists, unlike fresh kratom leaves, and pose potential public health risks.
The researchers found that nearly all (93 percent) of the products were mislabeled as kratom despite containing potent opioid agonists absent from the natural plant. Almost 73 percent of sellers made claims about its effects, such as increased focus and relaxation.
Kratom Use Disorder
A recent update from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine highlighted an algorithm for a new disorder—kratom use disorder (KUD). The algorithm emphasizes product type, disorder severity, and co-existing diagnoses. The update warned that synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products complicate KUD assessment and may resemble opioid use disorder (OUD), requiring appropriate intervention. KUD includes opioid-like tolerance, withdrawal, and craving. Helping patients taper from kratom with appropriate support may be the best start for many with KUD.
Hopkins expert Dr. Kirsten Smith suggests clinicians assess SUD patients for kratom use and also KUD, considering not only kratom use, but also the type of kratom product used. She suggests products sold as “kratom” but which are primarily composed of 7-OH should not be equated with traditional kratom leaf. The pharmacologic and toxicologic profiles are markedly different, and 7-OH products carry a substantially higher risk, similar to that of traditional opioids.
A good analogy is that different cannabinoids may vary greatly in potency and effects. For example, Delta-8, delta-9, cannabis, high-THC cannabis, and synthetic cannabinoids all fall under a cannabis/cannabinoid umbrella, but they could hardly be considered the same drug unless THC, the active intoxicant, is present.
Kratom Leaf/Tea Differs From Synthetic Drugs
Natural kratom leaf produces mild stimulant effects at low doses and sedative or analgesic effects at higher doses, with a relatively low risk for respiratory depression or overdose. In general, kratom derived from the plant should not be considered problematic. In contrast, 7-OH-enriched products deliver potent opioid-like effects even at low doses and are associated with a much higher risk of tolerance, dependence, and opioid-like withdrawal. These products also carry a danger of respiratory depression, particularly when combined with other central nervous system depressants.
From a regulatory and safety perspective, kratom leaf is generally well-tolerated and legally ambiguous, while 7-OH-enriched products draw increasing scrutiny and are more likely to be restricted or banned. This distinction is critical: Although both drugs may be sold as “kratom,” their pharmacological profiles—and associated clinical risks—are fundamentally different.
Grundmann et al. have reported that many people use kratom leaves or tea without psychosocial impairments or addiction, even if they have mild physical symptoms related to dependence. Ultimately, it is important for investigators to study the classification of KUD in relation to the type and amount of the substance used.
While traditional kratom tea contains very low levels of 7-OH and has mild opioid-like effects, synthetic products—especially extracts, capsules, and shots—often contain concentrated 7-OH or synthetic derivatives many times stronger. Many users think they are taking a “natural” product when, instead, they are consuming a substance pharmacologically resembling short-acting opioids, with risks for dependence, withdrawal, and overdose. Some online user reports compare 7-OH effects to oxycodone and hydrocodone, with many expressing surprise that such highly potent drugs are legally available at smoke shops and other outlets. Poison control centers and clinicians should consider reporting kratom separately from 7-OH and other semi-synthetic and synthetic products, given the substantial difference in effects and toxicity.
Summary
There is an urgent need for comprehensive regulation, public education, and enforcement to mitigate risks associated with widely available synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs. NDEWS suggests greater public health prevention and outreach campaigns to address misconceptions about these newly popular drugs—tianeptine, kratom, and 7-OH. Tianeptine and the super-potent kratom 7-OH derivatives may lead unsuspecting users to experience opioid craving, addiction, withdrawal, and overdose-like symptoms, including respiratory depression.
Clinicians seldom screen for nootropic use. With widespread and online availability of these substances, patients may not view them as medications or drugs at all and so may not report use. Very few people are familiar with the term “nootropics,” so clinicians should always ask patients if they are taking OTCs to enhance memory or boost energy levels.
This week’s NDEWS Weekly Briefing focuses exclusively on tianeptine, an atypical antidepressant that is increasingly sold in the United States under names like “ZaZa”, “Neptune’s Fix”, and “Tianna Red”. Tianeptine has been linked to serious health outcomes, particularly when used at doses far exceeding the therapeutic range or when combined with other substances. US Federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued warnings and taken enforcement actions, while multiple states have banned the substance.
NDEWS is monitoring the national scope of tianeptine-related harms through its biospatial and web monitoring reports, and the Early Warning Network. Multiple new peer-reviewed studies, public alerts, and surveillance reports are helping to clarify the scale and characteristics of this emerging threat.
NDEWS Special Report: EMS encounters for tianeptine-related overdoses (nonfatal or fatal) in the US
In the U.S., tianeptine is not approved by the FDA for any medical use, is not generally recognized as safe for use in food, and does not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient. Nevertheless, tianeptine is being marketed as a “research chemical,” a “nootropic” cognitive enhancer, or a dietary supplement.
Tianeptine is frequently available at convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops, and online retailers. Product names include, for example, Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red. Tianeptine has also been referred to as “gas station heroin.” Case reports in the medical literature describe U.S. consumers ingesting daily doses on the order of 1.3 to 250 times (50 mg to 10,000 mg) the daily tianeptine dose typically recommended in labeled foreign drug products.
[2/15/2024] Super Chill Products, another distributor of Neptune’s Fix, is also recalling their products. The company has not issued a public notification to inform consumers of their recall.
Products distributed by Super Chill Products also are labeled as ‘Neptune’s Fix,’ but the label and packaging might be slightly different than the products distributed by Neptune Resources LLC. Super Chill Products include cherry, lemon, and chocolate vanilla flavors.
Examples of Super Chill Products:
Consumers should not purchase or use any Neptune’s Fix products, or any other product with tianeptine – a potentially dangerous substance that is not FDA-approved for any medical use. View FlickrExternal Link Disclaimer for Neptune’s Fix photos distributed by Super Chill Products and Neptune Resources and other tianeptine products.
[1/23/2024] FDA continues to receive severe adverse event reports after use of Neptune‘s Fix products, including seizures, loss of consciousness and death.
These products may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking. The agency is actively investigating adverse event reports in conjunction with local and state health departments.
Neptune Resources, LLC has agreed to voluntarily recall all lots of Neptune’s Fix Elixir, Neptune’s Fix Extra Strength Elixir and Neptune’s Fix Tablets to the consumer level. Consumers, distributors and retailers that have these products should either dispose of them or return them to place of purchase immediately.
FDA sent a letter on Jan. 11, 2024, to convenience store, gas station and other organizations urging retailers to stop selling Neptune’s Fix and any other tianeptine-containing products.
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 to connect to your local poison center.
[11/21/2023] FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or use any Neptune’s Fix products, or any other product with tianeptine — a potentially dangerous substance that is not FDA-approved for any medical use but is illegally sold with claims to improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder and other conditions.
FDA has received severe adverse event reports after use of Neptune‘s Fix products, including seizures and loss of consciousness leading to hospitalization. Consumers who experience a bad reaction to any tianeptine product should seek immediate medical help.
Neptune’s Fix labels state the product contains tianeptine, but the product may contain other harmful ingredients not listed on the label. These products, like other tianeptine products, can be purchased online and at gas stations, vape or smoke shops, or other locations. FDA is testing these products and will provide more information as it becomes available. FDA also continues to warn consumers about risks of using tianeptine.
This page lists warning letters FDA has issued to firms marketing cannabis-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) products.
FDA will continue to take action against CBD and other cannabis-derived products to protect the public, in coordination with state regulatory partners, when appropriate. We will remain diligent in monitoring the marketplace and acting within our authorities.
In this week’s report, NDEWS highlights observations from biospatial.io detailing the EMS encounters in the US for nonfatal inhalant-related overdoses from 2023 to 2024. Among states with at least 75% coverage, there were 852 nonfatal inhalant-related overdose encounters.
