Tianeptine (Zaza Pills): What Is It, Effects, & Risks

Tianeptine, also known as ZaZa, is an antidepressant with opioid-like properties. The medication is approved for use in some European countries, but it is not approved for use in the United States. While this drug is readily available, it’s not necessarily safe.

This guide explores issues like what is ZaZa red pill and what are the dangers associated with its use and abuse. You’ll also learn how to get compassionate, effective addiction treatment if you have been abusing any kind of addictive substance.

What Is Tianeptine (ZaZa Drug)?

Tianeptine (ZaZa) is a drug that was originally developed to treat depression and anxiety. It belongs to a group of medications called tricyclic antidepressants [1]. In some countries, doctors prescribe tianeptine for mental health conditions because it can help improve mood and reduce anxiety. However, tianeptine is not approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for use in the United States. Despite this, it is still available and sold under various names, often without a prescription, which can be very risky.

What Are ZaZa Pills Used For?

ZaZa pills are sometimes used by people looking to treat depression or anxiety. In countries where it is approved, doctors prescribe it to help manage these conditions. However, in the United States, many people misuse ZaZa pills for their opioid-like effects [2]. When taken in high doses, tianeptine can create feelings of euphoria and relaxation similar to opioids like heroin or oxycodone. This misuse can quickly lead to addiction, severe health problems, and even overdose. Some people turn to ZaZa pills to self-medicate for pain [3] or to get high, not realizing the dangerous consequences.

What Is ZaZa Drug Slang For?

What’s ZaZa drug, then? ZaZa is a street name for a drug called tianeptine. People also refer to it as Tianna, Tianna Red, or gas station dope. The nickname gas station dope comes from the fact that tianeptine is often sold in gas stations and convenience stores, even though it’s not approved for use in the United States. These catchy names make the drug sound less dangerous, but tianeptine can be extremely harmful.

Tianeptine Side Effects

Taking tianeptine can lead to various side effects. These can range from mild to severe, and the risks increase if the drug is misused. It’s helpful to be aware of these side effects to understand the dangers associated with this drug.

Common side effects include:

• Nausea: You might feel like you need to throw up.

• Constipation: You could have trouble going to the bathroom.

• Dizziness: You may feel unsteady or like the room is spinning.

• Drowsiness: You could feel very sleepy and find it hard to stay awake during the day.

• Dry mouth: Your mouth might feel unusually dry and uncomfortable.

Serious side effects can occur, including:

• Addiction: Tianeptine can be very addictive. This means you might feel like you need to keep taking it, even if it’s causing problems in your life.

• Withdrawal symptoms: If you stop taking tianeptine suddenly, you might feel very sick [4]. Symptoms can include shaking, sweating, feeling very anxious, and having trouble sleeping.

• Overdose: Taking too much tianeptine can be extremely dangerous. Signs of an overdose include difficulty breathing, severe confusion, and passing out. Overdose can be fatal.

• Heart problems: Tianeptine can affect your heart, causing it to beat too fast or too slow. In severe cases, it might cause a heart attack or stroke.

• Liver damage: Tianeptine can harm your liver [5], making it difficult for your body to get rid of harmful substances.

The drug can also have effects on mental health, such as:

• Increased anxiety and depression: While tianeptine is supposed to help with anxiety and depression, it can sometimes make these problems worse, especially if you stop taking it suddenly.

• Hallucinations: You might see or hear things that aren’t really there.

• Agitation: You could feel very restless and unable to sit still.

Other physical effects may include:

• Headaches: You might experience frequent headaches.

• Muscle pain: Your body might feel sore and achy.

• Breathing problems: You could have trouble breathing or feel like you can’t get enough air.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these side effects or struggling with addiction, seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. There are treatments available that can help manage these symptoms and support recovery. 

How Long Does ZaZa Last?

ZaZa can affect your body and mind for different lengths of time depending on how much you take and how your body processes it.

When you take ZaZa, you might start to feel its effects within 30 minutes to an hour. These effects can make you feel relaxed and happy, similar to opioids. The high from ZaZa can last for about 3 to 4 hours.

After the effects wear off, you might still feel some impact on your body for up to 8 hours. However, if you take high doses or use ZaZa often, it can stay in your system longer.

ZaZa Pills Dangers & Risks

ZaZa pills come with many dangers and risks. Taking ZaZa can lead to serious health problems. One of the biggest risks is addiction, where your body feels like it needs the drug all the time. If you stop taking it suddenly, you can feel very sick, a condition known as withdrawal.

Overdosing on ZaZa can cause serious problems like trouble breathing, confusion, and even death.

ZaZa can also harm your heart and liver, making it difficult for your body to function properly.

Become aware of these risks and seek help if you are using ZaZa pills.

ZaZa Drug Effects

ZaZa can have strong effects on your body and mind. When you take ZaZa, you might feel relaxed and happy. However, using ZaZa can also cause negative effects like dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. In high doses, it can make you feel very sleepy and slow your breathing, which can be dangerous. Long-term use can lead to serious health issues, including mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

Addiction Risks

ZaZa (tianeptine) carries a high risk of addiction [6]. This means that over time, you might feel like you can’t live without the drug. Addiction can happen quickly, especially if you use ZaZa often or in high doses. When you’re addicted, stopping the drug can cause severe withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating, and feeling very anxious. These symptoms can make it very hard to quit. Addiction to ZaZa can also lead to other problems in your life, such as trouble at school or work, and issues with friends and family. Get help right away if you think you might be addicted to ZaZa – addiction is a progressive condition that usually gets worse if untreated.

How Long Does It Take to Get Addicted to Tianeptine?

Getting addicted to tianeptine can happen quickly. For some people, it can take just a few weeks of regular use to start feeling addicted. If you take high doses or use it very often, you might get addicted even faster.

When you use tianeptine, your body and brain get used to the drug. You might start to feel like you need to take it all the time to feel normal. This is called dependence, and it can lead to addiction.

Everyone is different, so the time it takes to get addicted can vary. Some people might get addicted faster than others, depending on how much they take and how their body reacts to the drug. If you think you or someone you know is getting addicted to tianeptine, talk to a healthcare professional right away for help.

Tianeptine Withdrawal

When someone who has been taking tianeptine stops suddenly, they can go through withdrawal. Withdrawal means that the body is reacting to not having the drug anymore. This can cause many unpleasant symptoms. Here are some common withdrawal symptoms:

• Anxiety: You might feel very nervous or scared without the drug.

• Restlessness: It can be hard to sit still or relax.

• Shaking: Your hands or body might tremble.

• Sweating: You might sweat a lot, even if you aren’t hot.

• Nausea: You might feel like you need to throw up.

• Trouble sleeping: It can be hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.

• Flu-like symptoms: You might feel like you have the flu, with body aches and chills.

• Confusion or hallucinations: In severe cases, you might see or hear things that aren’t real or feel very confused.

Withdrawal can be very tough to handle alone. If you or someone you know is going through tianeptine withdrawal, get help from a doctor. They can provide treatments to make the process safer and more comfortable or refer you to a detox center or drug rehab.

Overdose

An overdose happens when someone takes too much tianeptine. This can be dangerous and potentially deadly [7]. Here are some signs of a tianeptine overdose:

• Trouble breathing: You might find it hard to breathe, or your breathing may slow down a lot.

• Extreme drowsiness: You could feel so sleepy that you can’t stay awake.

• Severe confusion: You might not know where you are or what’s happening around you.

• Passing out: You could lose consciousness and not be able to wake up.

• Coma: In the worst cases, an overdose can cause a coma, where you’re unconscious for a long time and might not wake up.

• Heart problems: An overdose can cause your heart to beat too fast or too slow, which can be very dangerous.

• Death: Without quick medical help, an overdose can be fatal.

If you think someone is having a tianeptine overdose, call 911 or get medical help right away. Overdoses need immediate attention to prevent serious harm or death. Use medications safely and only as prescribed by a healthcare professional to avoid the risk of overdose.

Is ZaZa Illegal?

In the U.S., tianeptine is not approved for any medical use and cannot be sold legally.

In some states, tianeptine is listed as a Schedule II controlled substance [8]. This means it is considered very dangerous with a high chance of abuse and addiction. Other drugs in this category include strong painkillers like morphine, methadone, oxycodone, and fentanyl.

Tianeptine is banned in several states, including Alabama, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Tianeptine vs Kratom

Tianeptine and Kratom are both substances that can be dangerous, even though they are different in many ways.

What Is kratom?

Kratom is a herbal substance that comes from the leaves of a tree found in Southeast Asia. People use kratom because it can act like both an opioid and a stimulant [9]. This means it can either make you feel very energetic or very relaxed, depending on how much you take.

• Low doses: In small amounts, kratom can make you feel more awake, alert, and talkative.

• High doses: In larger amounts, kratom can make you feel calm and sleepy.

What Is tianeptine?

Tianeptine is a synthetic drug that was originally created to treat depression and anxiety. It is not made from plants like kratom but is a man-made chemical. Tianeptine can have effects similar to opioids, making people feel happy and relaxed.

Risks & effects of kratom & tianeptine

Neither kratom nor tianeptine are approved by the FDA in the United States because they can be dangerous and have not been proven safe for use. They both can lead to serious health problems, including:

• Substance abuse: Using these substances repeatedly can lead to a habit that’s hard to break.

• Dependence: Your body might start to need the substance to feel normal.

• Addiction: You might feel like you can’t stop using the substance, even if it’s causing problems in your life.

• Withdrawal: If you stop taking the substance suddenly, you might feel very sick.

Differences between kratom and tianeptine

While both substances can be dangerous, they affect the body and mind in different ways:

Kratom:

• Natural origin: Comes from a plant.

• Effects: Can make you feel energetic in low doses or sleepy in high doses.

• Mental health: Can cause confusion, delusions, and hallucinations, which means you might see or hear things that aren’t real.

Tianeptine:

• Synthetic origin: Man-made chemical.

• Effects: Makes you feel relaxed and happy, similar to opioids.

• Mental health: Can worsen anxiety and depression, especially if you stop taking it suddenly.

Both kratom and tianeptine are dangerous and can harm your health. If you or someone you know is using these substances, get help from a healthcare professional.

Get Addiction Treatment at a World-Class Rehab Facility, Gratitude Lodge

If you have been abusing any kind of drug or prescription medication like ZaZa, we can help you recalibrate your life at Gratitude Lodge. Our welcoming luxury rehabs in Long Beach and Newport Beach offer immersive inpatient treatment programs for all types of addictions.

When you begin your recovery with medical detox at Gratitude Lodge, we’ll make sure the withdrawal process is safe and comfortable. You can access medications and around-the-clock clinical care as you address physical drug dependence. After about one week, you can move into ongoing treatment at one of our beachside facilities.

All addictions are different, so all our treatment programs reflect this with personalized therapies. These include:

• Motivational therapy
• Talk therapy
• Counseling
• MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Holistic treatments
• Aftercare

For immediate help dealing with any addiction, call our recovery experts at 844-576-0144.

Sources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10444703/

[2] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/tianeptine.pdf

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175215/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/

[5] https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13050709

[6] https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tianeptine-products-linked-serious-harm-overdoses-death

[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17630235/

[8] https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling

[9] https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/kratom