FDA Issues Alert for “Gas Station Heroin”
On May 8th, the FDA issued a warning against a growing and serious health trend: “gas station heroin” – formally known. News sources are reporting a growing number of deaths due to this drug. Products containing this drug are available to adults and juveniles at vape shops and gas stations. Be aware that these products go by many different names, such as “Neptune’s Fix ,” “TD Red,” and “Pegasus,” among others. These products may be marketed as health products, but they are synthetic antidepressants.
Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2025)
Tianeptine may not be identified in routine drug screening panels. Train officers and health staff who conduct intake screening to look for adverse symptoms caused by tianeptine use, such as:
A resting heartrate faster than 100 beats per minute
Low blood pressure (generally below 90/60¹)
High blood pressure (generally above 130/80²)
Confusion
Sleepiness
Nausea
Sweating without an obvious cause
Tianeptine use can lead to serious events like seizure and even death.
Start withdrawal procedures for self-reported drug use
While tianeptine is often used recreationally, many people also use it to self-treat issues like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. When someone stops using it suddenly after having used it for a long time, it can trigger withdrawal. If a detainee tells you they may use gas station drugs, communicate it to the medical and behavioral health teams, or EMS right away.
Withdrawal from these drugs is very similar to opioid withdrawal and should be treated appropriately. Signs of tianeptine withdrawal may include:
“Goose flesh” or bumps
Muscle aches and pain
Vomiting*
Diarrhea*
*These are signs of an emergency and should be addressed right away
It is NOT recommended to let someone “sleep it off” if they are showing signs of withdrawal. Provide 24/7 access to clean water and screen for suicide risk daily for detainees experiencing withdrawal. Start withdrawal procedures for self-reported drug use.
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1. American Heart Association. (2024). Low Blood Pressure – When Blood Pressure Is Too Low. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/low-blood-pressure-when-blood-pressure-is-too-low
2. American Heart Association. (2024). What is High Blood Pressure? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure
Disclaimer
All materials have been prepared for general information purposes only. The information presented should be treated as guidelines, not rules. The information presented is not intended to establish a standard of medical care and is not a substitute for common sense. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current, and is subject to change without notice. Each situation should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. When in doubt, send them out!®
