MDLinxA Dangerous Supplement Known as “Gas Station Heroin” Could Send You to the Hospital

A Closer Look at Neptune’s Fix and Its Implications

In recent developments, the supplement known as Neptune’s Fix, colloquially dubbed “gas station heroin,” has been the subject of voluntary recall by Neptune Resources LLC due to its inclusion of tianeptine, an ingredient not sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This action reinforces a growing concern within the medical community regarding the safety and regulatory oversight of supplements available outside conventional pharmaceutical channels. The case of Neptune’s Fix serves as a critical touchpoint for physicians to understand the potential risks associated with unregulated supplements, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and patient education in managing health and wellness.

Key Points:

• Neptune’s Fix, often referred to as “gas station heroin,” contains tianeptine, an ingredient not approved by the FDA, leading to its recall by Neptune Resources LLC.
• Tianeptine is used in some countries as an antidepressant but is unregulated in the US, with reported adverse effects including suicidal ideation, accidental overdose, confusion, seizures, and shortness of breath.
• The FDA has identified the presence of other harmful ingredients in Neptune’s Fix, such as synthetic cannabinoids and kavain, further compounding its potential health risks.
• Sold online and in various retail outlets, Neptune’s Fix products are often marketed with unproven claims of treating conditions like anxiety, depression, pain, and opioid use disorder.
• The CDC reports significant health emergencies in New Jersey linked to Neptune’s Fix, including altered mental status and serious cardiovascular symptoms, underscoring the supplement’s potential danger.
• Synthetic cannabinoids found in some samples of Neptune’s Fix can cause severe side effects not detectable on routine drug screenings, emphasizing the risks of unknown ingredients.
• Physicians are urged to guide patients towards FDA-approved treatments for conditions such as opioid dependence, chronic pain, depression, or anxiety, and to report any instances of unapproved supplements being sold.

An NEJM study found that calls to poison control centers for dietary supplement exposures increased by nearly 50% between 2005 and 2012, with 70% of those calls involving children under six years of age.

More on Vitamins/Supplements