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In a critical health advisory, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stark warning about over-the-counter supplements, notably a product known as Neptune’s Fix, likened to “gas station heroin” due to its severe and potentially fatal side effects. This product and others containing the active substance tianeptine are sold in numerous convenience stores and are now under scrutiny following alarming reports of adverse reactions.
Neptune’s Fix, available in forms such as elixirs and tablets, has been associated with consequences ranging from seizures, loss of consciousness, and even fatalities. The FDA's urgent communication emphasizes that tianeptine's interaction with other medications could lead to life-threatening situations. Despite its availability in stores, tianeptine is not sanctioned for medical use in the United States, as confirmed by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The FDA highlighted the voluntary recall initiated by Neptune Resources, the manufacturer behind Neptune’s Fix products, covering all existing lots of their elixirs and tablets. This recall follows earlier efforts by the FDA to curtail the distribution of these perilous supplements, including official letters to retailers requesting them to halt sales of the implicated items.
This recent warning is not the first instance of the FDA cautioning the public about Neptune’s Fix or other tianeptine-based products. Last November, the FDA denounced these items as "potentially dangerous" and underscored their illegitimate claims of enhancing brain function and treating an array of conditions—from anxiety and pain to opioid use disorder.
Corroborating the FDA's concerns is the worrying trend reported by the CDC, which noted a rise in tianeptine exposure cases. In 2020 alone, poison control centers received 151 reports related to tianeptine, indicating a pressing public health issue.
For consumers who might have purchased Neptune’s Fix or any supplement containing tianeptine, the advice is clear: cease using these products immediately. The FDA and health authorities continue to collect reports of adverse events and are collaborating with local and state health departments to address this critical health risk.
In response to the severity of the situation, the FDA is taking active steps and is conducting an extensive investigation into these adverse events. Meanwhile, retailers are being urged to take responsibility and ensure that these hazardous products are removed from shelves, protecting unsuspecting consumers from the potential harms of tianeptine-containing supplements.
The FDA continues to update the public on developments regarding this matter as the investigation proceeds. For now, the resounding message is one of caution: Stay clear of Neptune’s Fix and similar products for your safety and well-being.