Police in Giles County are on the hunt for a man who has been breaking into smoke shops. The man is stealing Zaza Red, which contains a substance called tianeptine.

Tianeptine is a drug that targets opioid receptors. It is not approved by the FDA but is sold as a dietary supplement in US stores under names such as ZaZa Red, Tianna Red, and TD Red.

Tianeptine

Tianeptine is a legal prescription drug in parts of the world like Europe, where it’s used as an antidepressant. It’s marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States, which allows it to avoid regulation by the FDA. Despite the lack of oversight, calls to poison centers reporting Tianeptine misuse have increased in recent years.

Also known as Coaxil, Stablon and Tianeurax, the drug appears in pills or bulk powder form. Its effects are similar to those of opioids and morphine. Tianeptine is said to produce a “balanced, longer effect” that improves cognition and mood while combating depression and anxiety.

When used in high doses, the drug’s side effects include agitation, panic attacks and myoclonic jerking, which are quick, uncontrolled muscle twitches. It also blocks the natural release of serotonin in the brain, creating an addiction that can lead to suicidal thoughts or even overdoses and death. Despite the risk, Tianeptine can be purchased at gas stations in 43 U.S. states, gaining the nickname of “gas station heroin” in many communities.

Caffeine

ZAZA Red is marketed as an energy product and dietary supplement. It contains a stimulant known as Tianeptine and is sold in smoke shops and gas stations across the country. Police in Giles County, Tennessee, are concerned that the product is being used by a man who has been breaking into shops and stealing it from clerks. He is also accused of threatening the female clerks with a gun.

Other ingredients include Filtered Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Citrus Flavor, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Potassium Sorbate & Sodium Benzoate (To protect Freshness), Niacinamide, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12). Many people who buy ZAZA Red use it to self-medicate from opioid withdrawal. Reducing withdrawal symptoms helps people become more agreeable to follow-up treatment programs that teach them how to cope with cravings and other triggers.

Natural Ingredients

Tianeptine, also known as zaza red, gas station dope or heroin, is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat depression in some countries. Recreational users consider it closer to an opioid because it binds to the same receptors in the brain as drugs like heroin and fentanyl. It is sold in pill, capsule and bulk powder form that users can swallow, dissolve and drink, or inject. It is often mixed with other substances like kratom and phenibut to enhance effects and to avoid withdrawal symptoms, which can be life-threatening.

Police in Huntsville are apprehensive about Zaza Red sales after a video surfaced showing a man using a hammer to break out the glass of a smoke shop and wrestle with clerks to steal the product. Detectives believe the man is a serial thief who has targeted several local stores. The product is labeled as a dietary supplement but it contains tianeptine, which can stimulate opioid receptors and be addictive.

Side Effects

For many users, zazing can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to opioids. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle aches. They can also be accompanied by anxiety and severe sweating. These symptoms usually come on quickly and get worse as use decreases.

Often, the people who have problems with zazing are those who also struggle with other addictions. For this reason, a medical detox is often the best way to kick the habit. The process can help reduce the severity of withdrawal and make it easier to move on.

ZAZA Red, also known as gas station heroin, is an illegal drug that contains the chemical tianeptine. It is sold in capsule, pill, or bulk powder form that people mix into a liquid to drink or inject. This drug is legal in some countries, but it has been banned in Alabama and other states due to a surge in calls to poison centers and EMS. This drug binds to the MU opioid receptors in the brain, which gives it some of the same effects as heroin and fentanyl.