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.
