Can You Get Addicted to Tianeptine and Experience Withdrawal?
Tianeptine is a drug that is not approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Still, it can be illegally purchased online or as a marketed dietary supplement in small retail stores, such as gas station stores, giving it the moniker “gas station heroin.” Due to its opioid-like characteristics, tianeptine is considered to be highly addictive, with the opportunity for serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, there are addiction treatments available to help with tianeptine withdrawal and get you or a loved one on the road to recovery.
Table of contents
» What Is Tianeptine?
» Why Is Tianeptine Sometimes Called “Gas Station Heroin”?
» What Are the Signs of Tianeptine Addiction?
» Is Tianeptine Withdrawal Dangerous?
» Key Takeaways on Tianeptine Withdrawal
» Resources
What Is Tianeptine?
According to a study in the journal Pain and Therapy, tianeptine is an antidepressant medication approved for use in treating major depressive disorder, anxiety, and irritable bowel disease in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The U.S. FDA does not currently approve Tianeptine for medical use due to its serious health risks and potential for abuse. The FDA also does not consider tianeptine to be a “dietary ingredient,” meaning they do not approve its use in dietary supplements.
Although tianeptine is illegal in the U.S., due to a “legal loophole,” some companies are selling tianeptine online and in small retail stores, such as gas stations, in pill, powder, and liquid form as a “dietary supplement” to help boost mood and energy.
How Does Tianeptine Work?
Although it is considered to be an antidepressant, tianeptine works differently than other antidepressants.
Tianeptine works by altering glutamate, a crucial amino acid and neurotransmitter in the body. Glutamate is responsible for ensuring that all the brain’s neurons communicate properly and assists with metabolism. Modulating the action of glutamate in the brain is one of the antidepressant effects attributed to tianeptine.
Tianeptine is also a mu-opioid receptor agonist. This means the drug binds to the same receptors that opioid drugs like morphine, heroin, or fentanyl would. As tianeptine offers opioid-like effects, such as euphoria, it has a high risk for abuse and addiction.
Some of the reasons a person may want to use tianeptine include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Memory enhancement
- Pain relief
Tianeptine’s main effects include:
- Euphoria
- Reduced anxiety
- Relaxation
- Sleepiness
How Addictive is Tianeptine?
Because of its opioid-like effects, tianeptine is considered to be at a high risk for addiction and abuse, and has severe tianeptine withdrawal symptoms.
While the U.S. has yet to add tianeptine to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Schedules, some states have done so.
For instance, the following states have scheduled tianeptine as a Schedule 1 drug, which is defined as substances with high potential for abuse and not current medical use, such as heroin and LSD:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Ohio
And these four states consider tianeptine to be a Schedule II drug, which, according to the U.S. DEA, is for drugs with high abuse potential that can lead to significant psychological or physical dependence, such as cocaine and oxycodone:
- Arkansas
- Michigan
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
What Are Tianeptine’s Potential Side Effects?
Tianeptine has several side effects, some of which can be very severe, such as:
- Breathing issues
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Kidney damage’
- Liver issues
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Stroke
- Tachycardia (heart beats too fast)
- Tremors
- Vomiting
A study in the Journal of Medical Toxicology found that reports to U.S. poison control centers for tianeptine use increased by 1,400% between 2015 and 2023, with about 23% of cases requiring a trip to the critical care unit. Of that percentage, researchers found about 40% of exposures were from tianeptine abuse, and about 22.5% from tianeptine withdrawal.
Why Is Tianeptine Sometimes Called “Gas Station Heroin”?
Tianeptine has the nickname “gas station heroin” for two reasons: where it’s typically purchased in the U.S. and its opioid-like effects.
In the U.S., tianeptine can be purchased illegally online or is often marketed as a “dietary supplement” or “brain enhancer,” and sold in small retail stores such as:
- Convenience stores
- Gas stations
- Vape/smoke shops
An open letter to healthcare professionals by the U.S. FDA’s Commissioner of Food and Drugs in May 2025 listed some known product brand names that are being sold in small stores, including tianeptine:
- Neptune’s Fix
- Pegasus
- TD Red
- Tianaa
- Zaza
Because tianeptine interacts with the same brain receptors that known opioids like heroin does, it has the same high risks for dependence and abuse as opioids do, as well as the potential for major health issues and severe withdrawal symptoms.
What Are the Signs of Tianeptine Addiction?
Unlike traditional antidepressants, tianeptine works much faster, which makes it very addictive when a person experiences the euphoric effects of the drug very quickly.
Unfortunately, people who use tianeptine tend to grow a tolerance to it very quickly, which means they need to continue upping their dosage every time they use it, adding to the potential for abuse, addiction, and overdose.
Symptoms of a tianeptine overdose include:
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Coma
- Hallucinations
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Slowed or stopped breathing
- Stomach pain
- Tremors
- Vomiting
There are several symptoms to watch out for that can help you determine if you or a loved one needs assistance with battling an addiction to tianeptine. These include:
- Anxiety
- Constant headaches
- Depression
- Frequently asking for money without saying what they’re purchasing
- Has tried to stop taking tianeptine, but is not able to
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Missing work, school, and family events
- Mood changes
- Paranoia
- Social isolation
What our customers are saying
Is Tianeptine Withdrawal Dangerous?
Yes, tianeptine withdrawal can be dangerous. This is because patients can experience serious physical and mental health effects when experiencing withdrawal. Some of these withdrawal symptoms can lead to long-term health conditions, and some withdrawal symptoms have the potential to be deadly.
Possible tianeptine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Abnormal sweating
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache
- Heart issues
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Mood changes
- Muscle pain or spasms
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Stomach issues
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
- Tremors
- Vomiting
Tianeptine addiction is treated similarly to that of opioid use disorder, which may include medical drug detox in Florida, as well as inpatient and intensive outpatient rehabilitation, counseling, and addiction support groups.
Key Takeaways on Tianeptine Withdrawal
- Tianeptine is an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety, and irritable bowel disease in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
- Tianeptine is illegal in the U.S. due to its opioid-like effects and high addiction risk.
- Tianeptine has the potential for very severe side effects.
- Tianeptine is nicknamed “gas station heroin” for where it’s typically sold in the U.S., and its brain action is similar to opioids like heroin.
- Tianeptine withdrawal can be dangerous with the potential for serious physical and mental health effects.
An addiction to tianeptine is a very serious matter and can be extremely harmful to a person’s life and health. WhiteSands Treatment’s fully certified and licensed mental health staff is experienced in helping people overcome tianeptine addiction through medical detox, inpatient and intensive outpatient rehab, and all the support they need to have a complete and successful recovery.
If you believe a loved one is suffering from an addiction to tianeptine, call WhiteSands Treatment today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about how we can help.
Resources
- Pain and Therapy — Tianeptine, an Antidepressant with Opioid Agonist Effects: Pharmacology and Abuse Potential, a Narrative Review
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Tianeptine in Dietary Supplements
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration — Drug Scheduling
- Journal of Medical Toxicology — Tianeptine Exposures Reported to United States Poison Centers, 2015–2023
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — New “Gas Station Heroin” Tianeptine Product Trend
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
