What is 'Gas Station Heroin'? FDA warns of surge in unregulated use among youth, linked to seizures, breathing problems and more

'Gas station heroin' is currently making headlines in the United States. US health authorities have raised alarm over a drug called 'gas station heroin', following a spike in its use and dangerous health risks.

According to an Associated Press report, health officials have warned against the usage of the products that are usually marketed as energy shots or cognitive supplements and are often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops under names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red.

The substance contains tianeptine, which is an unapproved drug in the US but is still sometimes found in over-the-counter supplements at stores mentioned above.

What is 'gas station heroin'?

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tianeptine is not approved, but it is used in some countries as an antidepressant.

While US poison control centres have reported a steady surge in calls linked to the drug for over a decade. Moreover, last month, the FDA issued a warning to health professionals about ¡°the magnitude of the underlying danger of these products¡±.

Credit: X | @RCScience

As per experts, 'gas station heroin' mimics opioid-like effects by binding to similar brain receptors, despite not being classified as an opioid. On the other hand, the previous month, the FDA issued a formal warning, calling tianeptine a 'dangerous and growing health trend'.

It also urged swift action to be taken to prevent a potential opioid-like crisis. Mostly, there is a sharp rise in the use of substances among young users.

What is the use of this product, and risk factors?

According to AP, many tianeptine products claim that the drug is helpful for users to treat medical conditions, including addiction, pain, and depression.

In 2018, the FDA issued another warning calling out the maker of the product called Tianna that claimed to offer an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates.

'Gas station heroin' DANGEROUS STUFF! Warn Parents of young people!
While tianeptine is not an opioid, the drug binds to some of the same receptors in the brain, which can temporarily produce effects akin to oxycodone and other opioids. Tianeptine also carries some of the same¡­ pic.twitter.com/awFILLY5A0

¡ª Jackie Staaf (@StaafJackie) June 16, 2025

"It's kind of this grey area of consumer products or supplements where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication," quoted Dr Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System in the report. Tianeptine is linked to serious health problems, including physiological risks of opioids and dangerously depressed breathing.

Dangerous symptoms to look out for

According to the report, over half of the 20 recent cases of using this drug have required intensive care admission. Symptoms of using this drug include seizures, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and severe distress.

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