Neptune Resources has initiated a nationwide recall of its products, including Neptune’s Fix Elixir, Neptune’s Fix Extra Strength Elixir, and Neptune’s Fix Tablets. The recall comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flagged these products for containing tianeptine, colloquially known as “gas station heroin,” a substance linked to addiction and fatal overdoses.
The FDA, which has not approved tianeptine for medical use, warns of a “reasonable probability of life-threatening events, including suicidal ideation or behavior,” especially for individuals aged 25 and younger.
Additionally, tests conducted on bottles branded as Neptune’s Fix revealed the presence of mind-altering substances mixed with tianeptine, such as synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic versions of marijuana’s primary ingredient.
Neptune’s Fix pain supplements (Credits: NBC News)
Neptune Resources characterized its products as “happiness in a bottle,” claiming effects superior to Kratom. While some countries recognize tianeptine as a prescription drug for anxiety and depression, the FDA has not approved it.
The recall follows multiple FDA warnings about Neptune’s brand and other tianeptine-containing products, as reports of adverse reactions associated with the drug have surged in the United States.
Neptune Resources attributes the recent spike in seizures and hospitalizations to counterfeit products mixing additional drugs beyond tianeptine.
In its recall announcement, Neptune Resources specified that its bottles were exclusively sold in amber glass vials with “shrink sleeve” labels covering the entire product. This differs from the bottles featured in FDA warnings, which have screw-on caps and simpler labels.
The recalled products, distributed nationwide to wholesale and retail customers, are identifiable by the name Neptune’s Fix and its logo, depicting an illustration of the Roman god with a green beard and a trident.
Consumers who purchased the recalled products are urged to cease using them and either destroy or return the items to the place of purchase. Neptune Resources can be contacted at 816-256-2071, Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time for inquiries.
Cases of tianeptine poisoning have risen significantly, reaching over 150 in 2020, up from 11 cases between 2000 and 2013. The substance’s harmful effects include agitation, drowsiness, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.
In 2023, poison control centers reported at least 391 cases of tianeptine exposure, a substantial increase from 105 cases in 2019. New Jersey identified clusters of poisoning cases related to falsely marketed tianeptine, emphasizing the severity of health complications and potential fatalities associated with its use.
Neptune’s Fix suspects that injuries resulting from their products may be linked to knockoffs produced by a New York-based rival, claiming the addition of cannabinoids and other substances.
Despite these concerns, the FDA has not shifted its focus to these alleged counterfeits. Five lawmakers recently urged FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to intensify efforts to curtail tianeptine use, highlighting the agency’s initial warning in 2018 and the subsequent reception of reports detailing serious medical injuries linked to Neptune’s Fix.
In January, the FDA instructed gas stations and convenience stores to cease selling the brand and any tianeptine products. Several states have also taken measures to ban tianeptine products to address addiction to this unapproved and illegally marketed drug.
