A Case of 'Neptune's Fix Elixir': The Dangerous Consequences of Unregulated Use of Tianeptine in Over-the-Counter Products.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2024
Abstract
Tianeptine is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in some European, Asian, and Latin countries. Along with its serotonergic properties, tianeptine also acts as a full agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, creating sensations of euphoric highs and significant risks of addiction and withdrawal. For this reason, along with increased reports of adverse effects and fatalities, tianeptine has not been approved in the US. Despite this, tianeptine continues to be accessible through unregulated online stores and small retailers under street names such as Zaza, Tia, Tianna, 'gas-station dope', and a product not mentioned in the literature previously: Neptune's Fix Elixir. In this report, we discuss the case of a 34-year-old male who presented to the ED via EMS after being found unresponsive secondary to the ingestion of Neptune's Fix Elixir, whose main active ingredient is tianeptine.
Publication Title
Cureus
Volume
16
Issue
2
First Page
55120
Last Page
55120
Recommended Citation
Espiridion, E., Qutob, M., & Lozano, P. (2024). A Case of 'Neptune's Fix Elixir': The Dangerous Consequences of Unregulated Use of Tianeptine in Over-the-Counter Products.. Cureus, 16 (2), 55120-55120. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.55120