THE United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning on products being sold in the country containing a drug that has not yet been approved for use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first issued a public safety alert on November 21, 2023, after receiving multiple reports of serious medical injuries related to the product ‘Neptune’s Fix,’ also known as ‘Gas Station Heroin.’
Neptune’s Fix is an antidepressant containing Tianeptine – a drug approved in other countries such as in Europe but not in the U.S.
The product can be easily bought in convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations, and online, in tablet or powder form, at the price of around $10.
Earlier this month, the FDA has issued another warning and is urging all retailers to stop selling Neptune’s Fix and any Tianeptine-containing products due to adverse side effects, including seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death.
So far, the FDA says at least 12 states have banned the sale of Tianeptine.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the clinical effects of Tianeptine abuse can mimic opioid toxicity and withdrawal.
Poison Control Center cases involving Tianeptine exposure have increased nationwide, from 11 total cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone.
Neptune Resources agreed to voluntarily recall its Fix Elixir products. But the FDA advises those who have already gotten hold of the product to get rid of it or return it to the place of purchase.
