Overview
- The coroner said toxicology showed overdose-level tianeptine and he ruled the death was caused by that drug.
- Tianeptine has no FDA approval and is sold in gas stations, vape shops, and online under names like Neptune's Fix, Zaza, TD Plus, and Pegasus.
- The FDA has documented cases of slow or stopped breathing, coma, and death from tianeptine, with higher risk for people with a history of opioid use disorder.
- The substance remains legal to sell in Pennsylvania even as at least a dozen states have banned it, and the coroner is urging a nationwide ban or Schedule I listing.
- Dr. Bob Baker urged use of Narcan in suspected cases because tianeptine acts on opioid receptors and can depress breathing.