Tianeptine Withdrawal: The ‘Gas Station Heroin’ Problem

Tianeptine withdrawal timeline at a glance

When did you last use or take it?

⚠ Medical warning (read before using this)

Tianeptine is not FDA-approved for any medical use, and the FDA says consumers should avoid all products containing it. Its withdrawal can look like opioid withdrawal. Get medical help to stop. Call 911 for trouble breathing, seizures or unresponsiveness; call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

DateTime (optional)Show where I am

TodayYesterday2 days ago1 week ago

This places the typical ranges from this article's sources on your date. It is not a prediction or a diagnosis, and being past a phase does not mean symptoms or risks are over.

A rough guide from published sources, not medical advice. Everyone is different.

Phase	When	What you may feel	Severity	Red flags
Early withdrawal	Hours to a day after the last dose in regular users (not well studied)	Cravings; Anxiety, restlessness; Sweating, yawning	Moderate	—
Peak withdrawal	The first few days (not well studied)	Goosebumps; Diarrhea, nausea; Muscle aches; Insomnia	Severe	Vomiting or diarrhea you can’t keep up with, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, very little urine); Thoughts of suicide or self-harm: call or text 988 now
Easing	Over about a week or more (not well studied)	Physical symptoms fade; Low mood and cravings can linger	Moderate	Signs of overdose (slow or stopped breathing, can’t wake up, blue lips): call 911 and use naloxone if you have it

Print a daily symptom log for this timeline · My quit tracker

Early withdrawal

0 h – 1 day

Peak withdrawal

1 day – 3 days

1 h6 h1 day3 days

MildModerateSevereCan be life-threatening

Symptoms, phase by phase

The FDA’s tianeptine pages say it is frequently used chronically and, if stopped abruptly, users may experience withdrawal similar to opioid discontinuation, such as craving, sweating, goosebumps, diarrhea and muscle aches. The FDA also cites the CDC as saying that tianeptine misuse and withdrawal can mimic opioid toxicity and withdrawal. Reported harms from using tianeptine include agitation, drowsiness, confusion, sweating, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, slowed or stopped breathing, coma and death. Some products (such as Neptune’s Fix) have also been found to contain other harmful ingredients, including synthetic cannabinoids. There’s no well-studied timeline, so treat the phases as a rough guide.

Early withdrawal: Hours to a day after the last dose in regular users (not well studied)

• Cravings
• Anxiety, restlessness
• Sweating, yawning

Peak withdrawal: The first few days (not well studied)

• Goosebumps
• Diarrhea, nausea
• Muscle aches
• Insomnia

Easing: Over about a week or more (not well studied)

• Physical symptoms fade
• Low mood and cravings can linger

What makes withdrawal longer or shorter

• Dose. The FDA says U.S. consumers have reported daily doses 1.3 to 250 times the dose used where tianeptine is approved.
• Opioid history. The FDA says people with past opioid use disorder may be at particular risk.
• Unknown ingredients. Products may contain substances not on the label.
• Drug screens. The FDA notes tianeptine may not show up on routine drug screens, so tell clinicians you’ve used it.

When to see a doctor or get help now

• Before you stop, if you use tianeptine every day. A clinician can treat it like opioid withdrawal.
• Call 911 for slowed breathing, seizures or unresponsiveness; call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
• Call or text 988 for thoughts of suicide.

Not sure where to start? Call SAMHSA’s free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357, 24/7. See Get Help.

Tapering

The FDA suggests health care professionals talk with patients about evidence-based treatment options for opioid use disorder. That decision belongs with a clinician. We don’t publish dose-by-dose schedules. Your prescriber should set your plan, and adjust it if symptoms appear.

Tips for getting through it

• Get medical help and ask about buprenorphine or methadone
• Keep naloxone (Narcan) on hand and tell someone where it is
• Drink enough fluids and eat several small meals, as NSW Health’s opioid withdrawal guidance advises; skip alcohol and go easy on caffeine
• Never use alone, and know that tolerance drops fast after withdrawal
• Find treatment at FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357

Frequently asked questions

Is tianeptine an opioid?

It isn’t approved in the U.S., but the FDA says it acts as a full mu-opioid receptor agonist, and its withdrawal can mimic opioid withdrawal.

How long does tianeptine withdrawal last?

There isn’t good research on this. The FDA says its withdrawal resembles opioid withdrawal, so we use the general opioid pattern as a rough guide.

Why is it called ‘gas station heroin’?

Because it’s sold in gas stations and vape shops and has opioid-like effects and withdrawal.

Next steps

• Track your dayEnter when you stopped to see where you are on the timeline
• Combine timelinesAdd other things you are stopping and see them on one chart
• Talk to othersAsk questions on our community forum (peer support, not medical advice)
• Read nextKratom and 7-OH Withdrawal Timeline
• Get helpFree, confidential helplines and when to see a doctor

Related timelines

• Kratom and 7-OH Withdrawal Timeline
• Opioid Withdrawal Timeline: Short-Acting vs Long-Acting
• Phenibut Withdrawal Timeline

Sources

1. FDA: Tianeptine Products Linked to Serious Harm, Overdoses, Death
2. FDA: New 'Gas Station Heroin' Tianeptine Product Trend
3. SAMHSA: TIP 63, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (updated 2021), Exhibit 2.10
4. SAMHSA National Helpline
5. NSW Health: NSW Clinical Guidelines: Treatment of Opioid Dependence, abbreviated version (2018)

---

Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Researched and written by Withdrawal Timelines from the cited sources. This article has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional. See How We Review and our Medical Disclaimer. This is general information, not medical advice.