Assemblywoman Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), has declared her intention to present a bill that would forbid the sale of goods containing the contentious component Tianeptine in California, marking a significant step towards protecting public health.
The FDA has not approved tianeptine for any medical use, yet the drug has made its way into a number of items and is widely accessible in stores around the state under names including “ZaZa Red,” “gas station heroin,” and “Neptune’s Elixir.”
Assemblymember Weber expressed alarm about the goods containing tianaeptine being widely available, saying, “Normally, California leads the way on public health, but with this issue, we have some catching up to do.”
The substance has sparked concerns because of its propensity for abuse and similar withdrawal symptoms to those of opioids. It is frequently used as an alternative to opioids or to treat anxiety and depression.
Tianeptine side effects can include agitation, sleepiness, disorientation, perspiration, fast heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, delayed or halted breathing, coma, and, in extreme circumstances, death.
The product is still easily available in California even though it is prohibited in a number of states, including Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
The purpose of Assemblymember Weber’s proposed legislation is to put California in line with other states that have taken legislative action to protect their citizens after realizing the risks posed by tianeptine.
The legislation aims to reduce any potential health concerns linked with the consumption of an unapproved medicine by outlawing the sale of products containing it.
