<p>The internet is flooded with anecdotal reports of 'Tian' relating to the drug's addictive potential after recreational use, for example <a href="https://www.biopsychiatry.com/tianeptine-addict.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/43fp7z/my_experience_with_tianeptine_and_a_year_long/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdDGGQyxL6I" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. Often, though, these reports come from people already addicted to other illicit drugs. Notably, tianeptine is used for rehab purposes, just like the partial opioid agonist naloxone. So anecdotal reports can be misleading.</p>

<p>Scientific reports however also indicate the drug's addictive potential. <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vadachkoria <em>et al</em>. (2009)</a> report</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Supposedly, Tianeptine, in contrast to other anti-depressants, stimulates release of neurotransmitter dopamine in nucleus Accumbens, that probably determine[s the] addictive potential of this drug.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Addiction</a></strong> can be defined as a syndrome characterized by compulsive substance abuse. In a more verbose <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">definition</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.† It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It is generally accepted that the antidepressant drugs do not cause addiction. However, tianeptine, among some other antidepressants do have addictive potential <a href="http://www.dusunenadamdergisi.org/ing/fArticledetails.aspx?MkID=992" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Lapsekili &amp; Yavuz, 2014)</a>. </p>

<p><sub><strong>Reference</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong>  <a href="http://www.dusunenadamdergisi.org/ing/fArticledetails.aspx?MkID=992" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lapsekili &amp; Yavuz, <em>J Psychiatry Neurol Sci</em> (2014); <strong>27</strong>: 81-4</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vadachkoria <em>et al</em>., <em>Georgian Med News</em> (2009); <strong>174</strong>:92-4</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-19T13:59:18.223Z
2017-12-19T13:59:18.223Z
AliceD
<p>A recent <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2014.30" rel="noreferrer">(2014) study</a> in cell cultures has found that tianeptine is a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist (and [mentioning for completeness] delta opioid receptor agonist as well, albeit weaker). It's <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3594542/" rel="noreferrer">been generally proposed</a> that </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The strong rewarding effect of MOR agonists likely contributes to the reported success of the ‘opioid depression cure’.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So are there reports of tianeptine addiction? Has its addictive potential been studied in more detail?</p>

<psychopharmacology><addiction>
Is tianeptine addictive?
got trolled too much this week
# Is tianeptine addictive?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-18)

A recent [(2014) study](https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2014.30) in cell cultures has found that tianeptine is a mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist (and [mentioning for completeness] delta opioid receptor agonist as well, albeit weaker). It's [been generally proposed](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3594542/) that

> The strong rewarding effect of MOR agonists likely contributes to the reported success of the ‘opioid depression cure’.

So are there reports of tianeptine addiction? Has its addictive potential been studied in more detail?

**Tags:** psychopharmacology, addiction


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-19. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The internet is flooded with anecdotal reports of 'Tian' relating to the drug's addictive potential after recreational use, for example [here](https://www.biopsychiatry.com/tianeptine-addict.htm), [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/43fp7z/my_experience_with_tianeptine_and_a_year_long/) and [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdDGGQyxL6I). Often, though, these reports come from people already addicted to other illicit drugs. Notably, tianeptine is used for rehab purposes, just like the partial opioid agonist naloxone. So anecdotal reports can be misleading.

Scientific reports however also indicate the drug's addictive potential. [Vadachkoria *et al*. (2009)](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction) report

> Supposedly, Tianeptine, in contrast to other anti-depressants, stimulates release of neurotransmitter dopamine in nucleus Accumbens, that probably determine[s the] addictive potential of this drug.

**[Addiction](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction)** can be defined as a syndrome characterized by compulsive substance abuse. In a more verbose [definition](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction):

> Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.† It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs

It is generally accepted that the antidepressant drugs do not cause addiction. However, tianeptine, among some other antidepressants do have addictive potential [(Lapsekili & Yavuz, 2014)](http://www.dusunenadamdergisi.org/ing/fArticledetails.aspx?MkID=992).

**Reference**  
**-** [Lapsekili & Yavuz, *J Psychiatry Neurol Sci* (2014); **27**: 81-4](http://www.dusunenadamdergisi.org/ing/fArticledetails.aspx?MkID=992)  
**-** [Vadachkoria *et al*., *Georgian Med News* (2009); **174**:92-4](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction)


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