Dangerous Supplements Being Sold in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota

An over-the-counter supplement being marketed in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and the rest of the United States as 'happiness in a bottle' is the subject of a recall from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA says there is a 'reasonable probability' that consumption of products like Neptune’s Elixir could potentially cause 'life-threatening events including suicidal ideation or behavior for children, adolescents, and young adults 25 and younger.' 

Health officials from around the country are now calling the supplements 'gas station heroin'.

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Recently, the FDA announced Kansas City-based Neptune Resources, LLC had issued a voluntary nationwide recall of three of its products:

• Neptune's Fix Elixir
• Neptune's Fix Extra Strength Elixir
• Neptune's Fix Tablets

The recall was prompted by the presence of tianeptine, an unapproved drug in America, which has been used in other countries to treat depression and anxiety.

Poison control centers have charted a sharp increase to tianeptine exposure, with as many as 151 cases four years ago.

A recent uptick of cases in New Jersey is also behind the new recall and health alert after 20 cases of tianeptine causing 'severe clinical effects' were reported in the state.

Among tianeptine’s withdrawal symptoms are nausea, vomiting, confusion, flu-like symptoms, depression, anxiety, coma, and even respiratory failure and overdose.

Eight states - Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio - have banned the sale of tianeptine products.

Anyone who is using tianeptine or a product containing tianeptine and is experiencing withdrawal symptoms can call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.