A product called “Neptune Fix”, which is sold at convenience stores, contains a potentially dangerous substance nicknamed “gas station heroin”. In New Jersey it has been linked to a raft of serious side effects — including seizures and heart failure, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Gas Station Heroin, formally known as tianeptine, is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical use, but in some countries, it is used to treat depression or anxiety. Has been approved as. It is considered an “atypical” antidepressant, because it alters the activity of a variety of chemical messengers in the brain and, in particular, activates opioid receptors,
Although the drug is not approved in the US, illegal products containing tianeptine can be found online and at gas stations and convenience stores in the country. These are often marketed as being able to improve brain function and treat anxiety, depression, pain, and opioid use disorder, among other conditions. FDA notes,
The products are dangerous because they contain unknown doses of the drug that may exceed the prescribed dosage in countries where tianeptine is legal. These products may also contain additional medications that are not listed on their labels.
fda Warning issued about so-called Nectar Shot Neptune fix in January after an initial warning in November. Investigators described a cluster of serious illnesses linked to the product at the CDC on Thursday (Feb. 1). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
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There was an unusual increase in tianeptine exposures in the state between June and November 2023. This affected 17 people, 14 of whom reported using the Neptune fix.
Affected people developed a variety of serious symptoms, including cardiac arrest, seizures and rapid heart rates. Abnormal electrical activity was seen in the hearts of many people, indicating an increased risk of dangerous heart rhythms that could lead to cardiac arrest. Thirteen of the 17 people were admitted to the intensive care unit, and seven required breathing assistance, but no one died.
In general, abusing tianeptine alone or with other drugs can lead to confusion, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death, the FDA noted.
Scientists obtained samples of the Neptune Fix associated with the cases and found that all of their bottles were labeled as containing tianeptine and kavaine, substances derived from the kava root (piper methysticum) and reported to promote relaxation.
However, analysis of the elixirs revealed that some contained drugs that were not listed on their labels. These include THC and CBD, the high-inducing and non-psychoactive ingredients in cannabis, respectively, and the synthetic cannabinoids MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-4en-PINACA.
The first of these so-called designer cannabinoids could potentially pose health risks, including toxicity, but its safety profile is poorly understood, the CDC reports. However, test-tube studies show that MDMB-4en-PINACA is very potent, and it may also chemicals used in the manufacture of medicines pose a risk.
“It is important for members of the public and health care professionals to be aware that tianeptine is an unregulated medicine sold under many product names (for example, Neptune Fix, Pegasus and Zaza) that can cause adverse effects and dependence, “The report is closed. “Readily purchased tianeptine products may be adulterated with SCRA [synthetic cannabinoids] or other medications and may produce serious clinical effects.”
Neptune Resources LLC, the manufacturer of Neptune’s Fix products, has agreed to voluntarily recall all lots of Neptune’s Fix Elixir, Neptune’s Fix Extra Strength Elixir and Neptune’s Fix Tablets, the FDA said. The agency’s warning does not specify what other consequences the company may have to face.
Consumers, distributors and retailers should throw away the recalled products or return them to the place of purchase.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice.
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Source: www.livescience.com
