URGENT WARNING: Danger is lurking in America, and it is posing grave risks to unsuspecting consumers as deadly “Gas Station Heroin” is flooding convenience stores nationwide, causing addiction, overdoses, and deaths.
Read the tweet below this post.
Products containing tianeptine—an unapproved drug with opioid-like effects—are disguised as harmless “energy shots” but can lead to severe addiction, withdrawal symptoms resembling heroin, and even death.
Dangerous tianeptine products remain widely available in gas stations and convenience stores across America.
These colorful bottles with names like Zaza, Tianaa, and Pegasus are marketed as energy boosters or cognitive enhancers but actually contain a powerful substance that binds to the same brain receptors as opioids.
Despite serious health risks, the FDA has failed to regulate these products effectively.
Though tianeptine is not approved for any medical use in the United States and cannot legally be added to foods, beverages, or supplements, regulatory loopholes allow these products to remain on shelves in most states.
U.S. poison control centers have reported an alarming 525% increase in tianeptine-related calls from 2018 to 2023 as more Americans fall victim to this unregulated drug.
Unlike typical antidepressants, tianeptine acts on the brain’s opioid receptors, creating a high potential for abuse and addiction while causing serious side effects including respiratory depression, coma, or death.
'Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts https://t.co/bNGSZV9v0g pic.twitter.com/LR8WRRRTfk
— The Independent (@Independent) June 14, 2025
Even more concerning is that recreational users are consuming up to 3000mg daily, far exceeding the 25-50mg clinical dose used in countries where the drug is legally prescribed.
This extreme overconsumption increases the risk of overdose and severe withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, depression, chills, and intense muscle pain.
Meanwhile, the federal government’s inaction has forced states to take matters into their own hands.
About a dozen states have passed laws restricting or prohibiting tianeptine sales, with Alabama seeing positive results after implementing restrictions in 2021.
Yet in most states, these dangerous products remain easily accessible to anyone who walks into a convenience store.
Making matters worse, these products often contain additional unlisted substances like synthetic cannabis, creating unpredictable and potentially deadly combinations.
“You never quite know what’s in that bottle,” Dr. Diane Calello remarked, highlighting the complete lack of quality control in these unregulated products.
Despite the clear dangers, the federal government continues to drag its feet on meaningful regulation.
The CDC recommends using naloxone, the same medication used for opioid overdoses, to treat tianeptine overdoses—a clear indication of how dangerous this substance truly is.
Meanwhile, everyday Americans seeking a simple energy boost are unknowingly risking addiction and even death.
Ultimately, the proliferation of these dangerous, unregulated products must be met with decisive action before more lives are put at risk.
The call to crack down on these items and protect Americans from unknowable dangers should be a priority for lawmakers and health agencies across the nation.
