The unapproved drug being sold at US gas stations and convenience stores
Health officials are raising concerns about the increasing popularity and potential dangers of tianeptine, an unapproved drug found in brightly colored little bottles sold as energy shots or cognitive supplements at gas stations and convenience stores.
Tianeptine, while used as an antidepressant in some countries, is not FDA -approved in the U.S. and is illegally added to supplements, often marketed under names like Zaza and Tianaa.
U.S. poison control centers have reported a steady increase in calls related to tianeptine, with symptoms including distress, rapid heartbeat, and seizures, often requiring intensive care.
The FDA has issued warnings about tianeptine, as it can bind to the same brain receptors as opioids, leading to potential risks such as dangerously depressed breathing, and is sometimes used to self-treat opioid withdrawal.
While tianeptine is not federally controlled, several states have banned or restricted it; data from Alabama shows that restricting tianeptine led to a decrease in related emergency calls.
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