It’s time to take a deep dive into gas station heroin. It’s a new danger for drivers to be aware of and to avoid. The FDA is begging people not to use products that contain tianeptine as the growing trend spreads across the nation. 

The FDA warns drivers against the dangers of gas station heroin 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging Americans to avoid using products containing tianeptine. It has become known as gas station heroine and is widely available to drivers. 

Police officers shared that it’s basically a synthetic opioid that’s hiding in plain sight. It was developed in Europe as an antidepressant. While it’s illegal to sell in the United States, it’s not on the  federally controlled substances list, leaving it in a grey area. 

According to M Live, there is a dramatic spike in cases involving the drug that isn’t FDA-approved. It poses overdose and dependency risks. 

Gas station heroin or products containing tianeptine aren’t approved by the FDA for medical use, aren’t recognized for safe use in food, and don’t meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient. 

It’s marketed to drivers and potential buyers as a research chemical and a nootropic cognitive enhancer. It can be found in convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops, and online. 

Some of the most popular brands include Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red. Researchers found that Americans are taking amounts 1.3 to 250 times higher than the doses prescribed for medical use in other countries. 

Adverse reactions to the drug include agitation, coma, confusion, death, drowsiness, hypertension, nausea, respiratory depression, sweating, tachycardia, and vomiting. Seizures might also be a risk.