What you need to know about gas station heroin

Aug. 19, 2024
In this episode of Medical History Mysteries, you’ll learn about tianeptine, an illegal drug that can mimic the effects of opioids when taken in very high doses.

Discovered in the 1960s, tianeptine was originally sold as an antidepressant prescription drug. It is not approved for use in the US. Later, tianeptine became available as a dietary supplement (illegal in the US) that was sold in nontraditional places like smoke shops and gas stations, thus the name “gas station heroin.”

You can misuse the substance by taking it in very high doses in a way that mimics the effects of opioids, and some claim that it can treat opioid use disorder (which it can’t). Tianeptine may not show up on a urine test, so people who are taking it often fly under the radar.

Join us in this episode of Medical History Mysteries as we learn more about gas station heroin and how it can affect our patients. This is yet another reason why complete medical histories are so critical, including supplements and OTC meds.

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.

About the Author

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].

Related:

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, named chief editor of DentistryIQ

About the Author

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

With more than 30 years’ experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker, and published author, Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, has earned the reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for dental teams. He is the founder of Pharmacology Declassified and is a member of the faculty of more than 10 dental professional degree programs. Viola has contributed to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks, and currently serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.