Tianeptine Overdose Lawsuit Filed Over ZaZa, Tianaa, TD and Pegasus Supplement Side Effects

Known as “gas station heroin,” tianeptine is a synthetic opioid-like substance that has been sold for years over the counter as a dietary supplement, despite having no FDA-approved medical use.

A Pennsylvania woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that gas station and smoke shop products marketed as dietary supplements actually function as addictive opioid-like drugs, which led to her sister’s fatal tianeptine addiction.

The complaint (PDF) was brought in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas last month, by Stephanie Hatton, individually and as administrator of the estate of her twin sister, Eileen Hatton, who died in May after allegedly becoming addicted to tianeptine products sold under brand names like ZaZa, Tianaa, TD and Pegasus.

The lawsuit names a long list of defendants, including manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and multiple Pennsylvania smoke shops and gas stations. Hatton alleges the defendants knowingly sold tianeptine products while disguising their risks behind wellness branding and “natural” marketing claims.

Tianeptine, sometimes referred to as “gas station heroin,” is a synthetic compound that acts on the same opioid receptors as heroin and prescription painkillers. Although it has no FDA-approved medical use in the United States, the substance has been sold openly for years in convenience stores and smoke shops, often alongside energy shots and supplements.

However, prior tianeptine addiction lawsuits have claimed the product’s withdrawal effects are similar to those of opioids. As a result, health officials and lawmakers are raising alarms about the substance, linking it to overdose risks and a growing number of deaths nationwide. Several states have already moved to ban or restrict its sale, while federal agencies have issued warnings that tianeptine is not safe for human consumption.

According to Hatton’s complaint, Eileen was first introduced to tianeptine in 2023 while working at a Pennsylvania smoke shop, where the products were sold without warnings about addiction or opioid-like effects. The filing alleges Hatton’s sister believed the capsules were legal, safe supplements and even used them in an attempt to stop taking Percocet, unaware that tianeptine could trigger an even more severe dependency.

The lawsuit claims Eileen’s use escalated rapidly, with daily consumption reaching an entire bottle of pills, which could cost as much as $45 per container. When the drug wore off, she allegedly experienced intense withdrawal symptoms that compelled repeated dosing throughout the day. Toxicology testing later confirmed tianeptine was a cause of her death, according to the complaint.

“Defendants know that tianeptine is not a health-prompting supplement but, rather, an addictive opioid-like narcotic. They chose to sell it because its addictive nature guarantees repeat customers and repeat profits. In effect, Defendants are drug dealers cloaked in the language and imagery of the wellness industry, pushing a dangerous opioid under the false label of a supplement.”

— Stephanie Hatton v. MRSS Inc. et al

Hatton’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of strict product liability, negligence, deceptive marketing, breach of warranty and wrongful death, alleging they deliberately sold an opioid-like drug while concealing its dangers and profiting from addiction.

The complaint further alleges that companies behind ZaZa and Tianaa products ignored FDA warnings, distributed free samples and marketed the capsules with slogans promising happiness, energy and relief, despite knowing the substance carried risks comparable to powerful opioids.

Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits

Opioid addiction is widely recognized as difficult to overcome because withdrawal can be severe and debilitating. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia and intense physical discomfort.

To help patients taper off opioids more safely, doctors often prescribe Suboxone. The FDA approved the medication in 2002, which is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that works to reduce withdrawal symptoms. It was first sold as a tablet and later reformulated as a dissolvable film placed under the tongue.

However, after the film version entered the market, reports of severe tooth decay and other dental problems began to surface, prompting the manufacturer, Indivior, and federal regulators to add a Suboxone dental side effects safety warning to the product’s label in June 2022.

In the years since, thousands of Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits have been filed in federal courts alleging the drugmaker failed to adequately warn patients about the risks of tooth erosion, dental damage and tooth loss linked to Suboxone use.

To stay up to date on this litigation, sign up to receive Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit updates sent directly to your inbox.