Tianeptine Stablon Withdrawal Symptoms:  Tianeptine Addiction and Recovering with Kratom

General info about Tianeptine: Tianeptine Sodium High

Tianeptine is an atypical antidepressant used mostly to treat clinical depression. It can also treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder, other mood disorders, asthma, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

How it works:

Tianeptine was once marketed to function as a serotonin reuptake enhancer. This is unique among antidepressants, most being serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It was later discovered that this is an unlikely mechanism of its antidepressant action.

Tianeptine Mechanisms of Action

Modulates AMPA glutamate receptors Modulates NDMA glutamate receptors Serotonin reuptake enhancer Releaser of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Improvement of synaptic plasticity Inhibitor of stress created brain changes Rapid-acting antidepressant properties Mu Opioid full agonist (tianeptine sodium high comes from this property) Sigma opioid receptor full agonist The modulator of adenosine A1 receptors Enhancer of mesolimbic dopamine

Effects of Tianeptine

Stimulation Euphoria with doses greater than 100 mg. Bronchodilation] Muscle relaxation Rapid antidepressant effect Anxiolysis Side Effects: Abdominal pain Agitation Anxiety Constipation Constipation Dizziness Drowsiness Dry mouth fatigue Headaches Insomnia/nightmares Nausea Weight gain

Tianeptine for depression

Prescription Tianeptine

Prescription Tianeptine is not approved for medical use in the United States. It was discovered in France and is available in many European countries, Russia, Asian countries, and Singapore as the prescription Stablon, Coaxial, or Tatinol. The prescription dosage is 12.5 mg, up to three times per day. Discontinuing this dosage of tianeptine is not known to be difficult but it may be useful to taper the dose down.

Tianeptine sodium dosage

Tianeptine sodium powder is sold as a supplement or research chemical in the United States and other countries in which it is not approved. Users take 12.5 mg up to three times per day as a nootropic, or to boost mood or productivity. Users have an assumption of safety at that dose; however, doses can escalate and tolerance, abuse, dependence, and withdrawal can develop. We will see further down how people have gotten out of a tianeptine addiction situation.

Tianeptine sulfate: withdrawal

Tianeptine sulfate is a form which is preferred by some users. It has an effect that takes longer to come on and lasts for a longer period of time. Tianeptine sulfate side effects are similar to those of regular tianeptine.

Tianeptine Free Acid

This is a less powerful form sold by some vendors.

Tianeptine Sulfate Ethyl Ester

This is a newer form with a fast come on and longer duration.

Tianeptine Addiction

The first reports of recreational use of tianeptine appear to have peaked first in Russia, with former heroin addicts injecting prescription forms to get a heroin-like high or to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms. In 2001, recognizing recreational use developing, Singapore put regulations on Tianeptine prescriptions, limiting prescribing only to practicing psychiatrists.

Bahrain made tianeptine a scheduled substance in 2003.

French authorities documented over 100 cases of tianeptine abuse over a 15-year stretch. In 2012, increasing reports of abuse caused French authorities to schedule tianeptine as a controlled substance.

Injection users in Russia report opioid-like effects. Often injecting can lead to blocked capillaries and necrosis due to poor filtering of the product.

Due to tianeptine having mu opioid full agonist effects, high doses can lead to an opioid-like high and the development of tolerance, addiction, and withdrawal.

Tianeptine withdrawal Timeline

2 to 24 hours after the last dose:

• burning feet
• Weakness
• Depression
• Hot/cold flashes
• Impending Doom
• Shakiness

Symptoms may also include typical opioid withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Tearfulness
• Scant sleep
• Myalgia (muscle ache)
• Anxiousness
• Agitation
• Runny nose
• Hyperhidrosis
• Yawning

Later symptoms (3 to 4 days)

• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Acute withdrawal should be over in a week. Now the struggle is to not take the substance again. However, long periods of abuse can lead to PAWS or Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. These are less frequent symptoms which can last up to 2 years.

• Panic attacks
• Depression attacks
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Lack of concentration
• Insomnia

Post-acute Withdrawal is basically like having a mood disorder. For some people, it will stop or decrease in intensity within a few months. Others may have developed a mood disorder over the period of drug use or already had it and were using drugs to self-medicate and therefore the underlying disorder will need its own treatment.

Addictive potential of Tianeptine

Tianeptine can be highly addictive. Due to its short half-life, withdrawal can set in within hours, requiring frequent dosing.

Tianeptine sodium, having the shortest half-life is the most euphoric and most addictive form. Tianeptine sulfate withdrawal can, however, be just as harrowing.

Recovering from Tianeptine Abuse with Kratom

Tianeptine withdrawal has been described as equal to or worse than withdrawal from typical opioids. People who have abused tianeptine from using it over-the-counter have been able to use kratom to lessen or eliminate withdrawal symptoms. For this purpose, various regimens have been tried and there is as yet no set theory on how to do this. Here is one approach we have gleaned from social media. We cannot recommend an approach, we are merely documenting a popular approach with reports of success.

Steps:  Using kratom to treat opioid or tianeptine addiction

1. Purchase at least 200 grams of Maeng da kratom from a reputable vendor.
2. At the time you would normally take your opioid or tianeptine, instead take one or two teaspoons of kratom. Put the kratom in some warm water, let it settle, then swallow that stuff down. It is not tasty. If it makes you nauseous, buy some meclizine from the store for nausea. You are gonna need to keep this stuff down. If you absolutely can’t stand the taste, put it in grapefruit juice. For some people, this will slow the onset of effect by a little but will get rid of the taste.
3. Continue to take 1 or 2 teaspoons of kratom when you would normally take an opioid or tianeptine. You can experiment with taking 3 teaspoons if the dose is not sufficient to cover withdrawal symptoms. You don’t want to take too much kratom as it can cause vomiting if you take too much. It can also cause you to withdraw too fast from the initial substance which will result in a panic attack before the positive effects set in.
4. If this is done right, you will sometimes experience no withdrawal symptoms. Kratom withdrawal is mild, but the withdrawal from the original drug will increase your symptoms until you’ve been on kratom alone for up to six months. After one week, initial acute withdrawal should be over and you can withdraw from kratom on your own timeline as the withdrawal is mild, or you can continue use for up to 6 months to avoid initial withdrawal symptoms and PAWS. You can use a normal dose prescription of clonidine or hydroxyzine to lessen the symptoms of kratom withdrawal if you desire to withdraw quickly or cold turkey.
5. If you experience constipation, use Epsom salt as directed for constipation.

That is generally the way biohackers and some reckless experimenters who have gotten themselves into a pickle with this seductive drug get themselves out. However, if you instead opt to go to drug treatment, this is what may happen.

Going to drug treatment

It’s important to note, many drug treatment centers and doctors do not know what Tianeptine is or that it is an opioid and many will not do any research because they see drug abuse as a moral problem for which you should be punished. This is a common and unfortunate reaction that you will find even among professionals. You may be forced to stop cold turkey or treated only with mild medications that don’t cover withdrawal symptoms. This is why many people opt to use kratom instead.

Figure 1.https://www.flickr.com/photos/vickispix/2089649326

Cold Turkey

Many doctors will not give opioid medications for withdrawal from tianeptine due to being unfamiliar with the drug and possible drug interactions. You will be treated with only clonidine and Atarax, and either weaned off tianeptine or forced to quit cold turkey. This will be frightening and painful, but it should be over in about a week.

Suboxone, Subutex

Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid medication, primarily given as a treatment for heroin addiction. Initial treatment will begin with buprenorphine alone which is called Subutex. It will be given gradually to avoid rapid opioid withdrawal. You will then be stabilized on a dose then weaned off. Or, you will be given continued treatment with a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that is used to prevent people from injecting the buprenorphine to get high.

Methadone

If you have the misfortune of a doctor putting you on methadone, this is an avenue which may need to be explored in very serious cases, especially if you have used various opioids and not just tianeptine. Without a doubt, one would prefer getting off tianeptine with kratom, then if that doesn’t work Subutex. The problem with methadone is that it is notoriously hard to get off in its own right. It is also very much possible to abuse it by taking benzodiazepines with it and getting heroin-like high. People on methadone are sometimes maintained long-term on it. They have to go to a licensed clinic every day until they are allowed to take homes, which may last up to a month. Former addicts can find it difficult not to abuse their take homes, though many people manage to live a fairly normal life maintained on methadone.

Tianeptine’s positive and negative effects

Tianeptine used as an antidepressant as directed has many benefits over typical antidepressants. It goes to work much faster than typical antidepressants. It will be working within the week while typical antidepressants may take a month to take effect. It also does not decrease libido or cause anorgasmia.

The main negative effect is that does above 100 mg can cause an opioid-like high and cause abuse. Tianeptine has been in use in France for many years before abuse reports started popping up, so under a doctor’s supervision, it has been a useful antidepressant without the side effects of SSRIs.

The Wisdom of Social Media:  What to do and What not to do with Tianeptine

“Absolutely worse than any other withdrawal…”

This poor Reddit user had struggled with depression and opioid abuse then finally discovered tianeptine and was happy for a month or two. It gave her life and energy. But then she found out that she had to withdraw from it. She said that the withdrawal was worse than any withdrawal she had ever been through, worse than withdrawal from typical opioids.

“It’s one damn hard habit to get rid, but looking back it’s not been as hard as quitting smoking…”

This user had a habit so severe, his ankles were swelling. Edema is a sign of kidney damage. He had also spent lots of money on tianeptine. The substance is not cheap. He experienced a lack of energy and even a vivid hallucination during cold turkey withdrawal. It took weeks for his energy to come back.

“respiratory depression, liver damage, cardiac toxicity, and death…”

This Reddit user lists the unknown side effects of tianeptine addiction. These are not side effects of normal tianeptine use. High levels of long term abuse might damage the liver, heart, and lungs. He does not list kidney damage, but you can assume this is also a possible side effect due to reports of edema and of impure products. If you’ve become addicted, don’t panic. You can likely get out of your addiction without this kind of damage.

Tianeptine Ethyl Ester Sulphate

Tianeptine EES is a new form on the market sold by companies like newmind.com as a research chemical. This user prefers it as it has a long half-life and still produces a high like sodium. He is also looking forward to tapering. Tianeptine EES is expensive as well and abusers will likely find themselves having to quit cold turkey or by using kratom. Tianeptine EES can be used responsibly as a research chemical.

Conclusion

Tianeptine is a wonderful antidepressant. However, it is also a mu opioid agonist not approved in the United States. The state of Michigan has banned this substance, but it remains legal in most states; however, check your local laws. While it is technically legal in most states, you could still be investigated for importing an unapproved medication or unidentifiable powder. Successful prosecution is unlikely, but you don’t want that trouble. It’s your life. If you find yourself having gotten addicted to it, it’s not the end of the world. Biohacking reports say to just get some kratom and wean off. If you can’t do that and have to withdraw cold turkey, good luck but don’t go crazy, it will be over in a week. You can also go to treatment, but you will likely have to explain to them what it is and what kind of treatment might help. The greatest danger is that you will do something to fight the withdrawal that will make things worse.

General Medical Disclaimer

Leaf Expert is not dispensing medical advice. If you have a problem with addiction, contact your doctor or an addiction treatment center.

FDA Disclaimer

Tianeptine is not regulated as a drug by the United States of America FDA. In the USA tianeptine is not a prescription drug meant to treat, diagnose, or prevent disease. It is a controlled substance in the state of Michigan.