The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a proposed rule to place tianeptine in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

The details: DEA is proposing to permanently designate tianeptine, a synthetic drug known “gas station heroin,” as a Schedule I substance.

• Doctors legally prescribe tianeptine as an antidepressant in some European, Asian, and Latin American countries, but it is not approved for medical use in the U.S.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously warned against tianeptine use, linking it to serious health concerns and adverse events like seizures, respiratory depression, addiction, and overdose.
• Tianeptine is increasingly popular in mood-boosting products and dietary supplements sold in convenience stores and gas stations. Tianeptine does not legally qualify as a dietary supplement.

What’s next: The proposed rule is open for comment until August 7.

Read more: Drug Scheduling Moves