Tianeptine

Product Name: Tianeptine (Sodium Salt) Synonyms: Stablon; Coaxil; Tatinol; 7-[(3-chloro-6-methyl-5,5-dioxo-11H-benzo[c][2,1]benzothiazepin-11-yl)amino]heptanoic acid sodium salt

General Description: Tianeptine is formally described as 7-[(3-chloro-6-methyl-5,5-dioxo-11H-benzo[c][2,1]benzothiazepin-11-yl)amino]heptanoic acid. It is an atypical synthetic tricyclic compound. In numerous European, Asian, and Latin American countries, it is utilized as an approved prescription medication for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety. Commercially and on the illicit market, it is most frequently encountered as a sodium salt. Unlike tianeptine sulfate, tianeptine sodium is notoriously hygroscopic (rapidly absorbing moisture from the air) and possesses a much faster pharmacokinetic absorption profile and shorter half-life.

In analytical, clinical, and forensic toxicology, tianeptine is utilized as a fundamental reference standard. It is essential for the calibration of analytical instrumentation (such as LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and HPLC) and the development of screening methodologies to identify and quantify the substance in seized materials, unapproved dietary supplements, or biological matrices (e.g., whole blood, plasma, urine).

Technical Information (Sodium Salt):

• CAS Number: 30123-17-2 (Sodium salt) / 66981-73-5 (Free acid)
• Molecular Formula: C₂₁H₂₄ClN₂NaO₄S
• Formula Weight: 458.9 g/mol (Sodium salt) / 436.95 g/mol (Free acid)
• SMILES: CN1C2=CC=CC=C2C(C3=C(S1(=O)=O)C=C(C=C3)Cl)NCCCCCCC(=O)[O-].[Na+]
• InChI Key: XQTVZMFWMMIPJE-UHFFFAOYSA-M (Sodium salt) / KVVMXNNJBVTOSX-UHFFFAOYSA-N (Free acid)
• Formulation: Typically supplied as a neat white-to-off-white hygroscopic crystalline powder or as a certified reference material solution (e.g., 1 mg/mL in methanol).

Biological Action: Historically mischaracterized for decades as a selective serotonin reuptake enhancer (SSRE), modern pharmacological profiling has definitively revealed that the primary active moiety of tianeptine acts as an atypical, full agonist at the central μ-opioid receptor (MOR), with weaker agonism at the δ-opioid receptor (DOR). It also modulates the glutamatergic system, normalizing stress-induced changes in AMPA and NMDA receptor transmission, which is believed to mediate its antidepressant effects at therapeutic doses (typically 12.5 mg). However, at supratherapeutic doses, its profound MOR agonism drives significant abuse potential, yielding intense euphoria, miosis, respiratory depression, and a severe, classic opioid-like withdrawal syndrome upon cessation.

Regulatory and Safety Information:

• Intended Use: This product is intended strictly for use as an analytical reference standard for forensic, toxicological, and academic research purposes.
• Warning: This product is an atypical opioid and carries a severe risk of physiological dependence, life-threatening respiratory depression, and fatal overdose. It is not for human or veterinary use outside of strictly approved clinical environments.
• Legal Status: The regulatory status of tianeptine varies widely globally. In the United States, tianeptine is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical use and does not qualify as a dietary ingredient. Due to severe cases of toxicity and a surge in illicit use (where it is notoriously marketed in convenience stores and online as “gas station heroin” or disguised as a cognitive enhancer), tianeptine and its salts have been aggressively placed under strict control as Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances in numerous individual U.S. states (including Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, and others). It is also heavily regulated or banned as a narcotic in several European countries. Procurement of the bulk material for analytical research may require relevant local licenses depending on the jurisdiction. Handling should only occur within professional laboratory environments using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves, and a laboratory coat.