In the illegal drug market, there are always new drugs making their way onto the scene. Many of these are completely unheard of by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and manage to sneak by under the radar. Other drugs gain popularity among people who are on probation and want to catch a buzz without failing a drug test. Surprisingly, you can find these kinds of drugs at gas stations, and while most of them come and go, others remain notorious for their extreme side effects. Keep reading to learn what gas station dope is and why it’s dangerous with our Pompano Beach treatment center.
What Is Zaza?
"Zaza" is a term commonly used to refer to a specific brand or formulation of tianeptine, a drug that has both antidepressant and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Tianeptine is a non-FDA-approved atypical depressant that’s sold in pill or tablet form and labeled as a dietary supplement in gas stations and online.
Tianeptine is also referred to as “gas station dope” because it mimics the effects of opioids when taken in high doses and is touted by some users as a healthier alternative to opioids. In low doses, gas station tianeptine works by stimulating serotonin in the brain, acting as an antidepressant to improve mood.
In higher doses, however, the drug can act like opioids, which are groups of narcotics or painkillers. Opioids are infamous for their addictive nature, so much so that the nation has been suffering from an opioid epidemic since the late 1990s.
In addition to the euphoric high that tianeptine creates, users might also take it to ease off of other prescription medications without medically supervised detox. As a result, tianeptine has grown in popularity for its opioid-like effects, especially among people who are addicted to illicit or prescription narcotics.
But, like opioids, the Zaza drug has been shown to have the potential for abuse, as well. Many people who take tianeptine for long periods eventually struggle to quit using the drug on their own.
The clinical effects of tianeptine abuse and withdrawal can mimic those of opioid toxicity. This means that tianeptine can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, which can set in within hours of the person’s last use, requiring those who are using the product to ingest it every several hours.
Tianeptine withdrawal is similar to opiate withdrawal and includes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and severe anxiety. However, withdrawing from tianeptine can also lead to symptoms that are also common in alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal, such as high heart rate, severe sweating, high blood pressure, and confusion.
Furthermore, in addition to using the drug on its own, the FDA has also identified cases in which people experience other dangerous effects of Zaza pills from abusing the drug with other substances, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines.
Zaza Red Side Effects
As we mentioned, tianeptine has been coined “gas station dope” due to its opioid-like side effects. However, while this drug has the potential to produce a temporary state of pleasure, the long-term risks aren’t worth it.
Common (tianeptine) Zaza pills’ side effects include:
- Euphoria
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Anxiety
- Physical dependence
- Withdrawal
- Addiction
- Coma
Because tianeptine impacts serotonin levels, abusing the drug for long periods also increases the likelihood of serotonin syndrome. This syndrome occurs when a person’s serotonin levels are too high.
Serotonin syndrome can easily become complicated and lead to dangerous symptoms like insomnia, loss of muscle coordination, high blood pressure, muscle rigidity, and others if it goes untreated. As we previously mentioned, tianeptine withdrawal symptoms can also occur in people who become physically dependent on the drug.
Tianeptine withdrawals may include agitation, anxiety, muscle aches, insomnia, abdominal cramping, and more. These symptoms are not only highly painful and uncomfortable, but they can become life-threatening without medical supervision.
What States Banned Tianeptine?
Several states in the United States have outlawed tianeptine, a medication with antidepressant and analgesic effects. Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio are some of these states. Tianeptine is regarded as a controlled substance in many areas, along with narcotics like cocaine and methamphetamine. As a result, it is unlawful to possess tianeptine without a valid prescription, and anyone found using or distributing it without authorization faces severe consequences. Tianeptine's legal status is subject to change, making it important to stay informed about any changes. Consult local authorities or legal resources for the most recent details on how it is regulated in particular states.
What Can You Not Take With Tianeptine?
It's critical to understand that tianeptine can interact with other prescription drugs and nutritional supplements before taking it. The use of substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids, is a key contributing factor. Tianeptine can raise the risk of sleepiness, respiratory depression, and even overdose when taken along with other drugs. It is strongly suggested against using it simultaneously unless you are doing it under the direction and supervision of a medical expert.
Users of tianeptine who are simultaneously taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), an antidepressant family, should proceed with the utmost caution. Taineptine and MAOIs together can also cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially harmful disease. To ensure a safe and effective course of therapy while using tianeptine, it is imperative that you let your doctor know about all of your current drugs, including over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.
Get Help for Drug Abuse
Just because drugs are available for purchase over the counter doesn’t mean they’re safe to take. This is especially the case for gas station dope. Being able to buy tianeptine is a slippery slope that can easily escalate into a much larger problem.
Unfortunately, many people turn to this drug as an alternative to other opioids or to help them recover from opioid addiction. What they don’t expect is to become addicted to tianeptine, too. If you or a loved one needs help quitting drugs or alcohol, our Pompano drug rehab is here for you. We offer various levels of addiction treatment to help people in all stages of addiction, including PHP and IOP.
We also offer substance-specific programs like opioid and prescription drug addiction treatment to create individualized plans for each client. No matter how long you’ve dealt with addiction, recovery is possible with the right kind of help.
Call Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763 to find out more about our addiction and mental health treatment in Pompano.
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