FDA Warns Gas Station Supplement Linked To Sudden Deaths

A dangerous supplement sold at gas stations and online is now at the center of a nationwide FDA warning after being linked to sudden deaths—even after just three uses. According to the FDA, the drug in question is tianeptine, often misleadingly marketed under brand names like Neptune’s Fix and Zaza.

Despite having opioid-like effects and high addiction potential, tianeptine is being sold as a dietary supplement—a loophole the FDA says is not only illegal but also deadly. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary described it as “gas station heroin,” warning that it’s being consumed by Americans, including youth, with devastating results. Some users have collapsed, suffered seizures, cardiac arrest, and in at least four cases, died after ingesting large doses of these easily accessible products.

The pills and liquids are unregulated in the U.S. and not legally recognized as supplements since they were never approved before the 1994 cutoff under federal law. Nevertheless, they are still found in convenience stores across at least 10 states. Poison control logs show a surge in ICU admissions linked to these products—often taken with other drugs like benzos or opioids, compounding the risks.

Tianeptine is approved as an antidepressant in some countries, but in the U.S., it remains unregulated and misused. Withdrawal symptoms mirror those of opioids and include intense cravings, chills, and muscle pain.

We should not allow harmful substances like this to masquerade as wellness products. As consumers, let’s push for stricter oversight on what ends up on store shelves. Better yet, Support natural, plant-based wellness alternatives and steer clear of questionable chemicals marketed under false pretenses.

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