CDC warns that Neptune's Fix — 'gas station heroin' — may contain synthetic pot
The highly addictive and dangerous supplement Neptune’s Fix — also known as gas station heroin — may be contaminated with different types of synthetic pot, chemicals that have been linked to life-threatening effects such as seizures, brain swelling and hallucinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
The highly addictive and dangerous supplement Neptune’s Fix — also known as gas station heroin — may be contaminated with different types of synthetic pot, chemicals that have been linked to life-threatening effects such as seizures, brain swelling and hallucinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
The CDC’s findings were based on a 2023 investigation of 17 adults in New Jersey who had severe reactions after consuming Neptune’s Fix or other products that contain tianeptine. Of them, 13 were hospitalized in intensive care.
Tianeptine, an antidepressant that can mimic the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids, is sold as a dietary supplement at gas stations and convenience stores across the United States. It’s often marketed for pain relief, depression or anxiety. It’s approved in some European, Asian and Latin American countries, but not in the U.S.
The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t approve dietary supplements, which means they aren’t reviewed for safety or effectiveness. In January, House lawmakers called on FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf to crack down on the use of tianeptine.
Neptune's Fix.FDADoctors in New Jersey — which says it is currently seeing a dramatic increase in reports of poisonings in adults who have consumed tianeptine — tested six samples of Neptune’s Fix consumed by two of the patients. In addition to tianeptine, the products also contained kavain, a substance used for anxiety, as well as two different types of synthetic pot.
Rating: 5