Tianeptine was discovered in the 1960s and was originally sold as a prescription antidepressant. It is not approved for use in the United States. Later, tianeptine became available as a dietary supplement (illegal in the United States) sold in unconventional places such as tobacco shops and gas stations, hence the name “gas station heroin.”

The substance can be abused by taking it in very high doses so that it mimics the effects of opioids. Some claim it can treat opioid use disorder (which is not the case). Tianeptine may not be detectable in a urine test, so people taking it often go unnoticed.

Join us in this episode of Secrets of medical history the more we learn about gas station heroin and how it can affect our patients. This is another reason why complete medical histories, including supplements and over-the-counter medications, are so important.

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