Experts estimate that more than 284 million people worldwide have anxiety. On top of that are the 264 million with depression. All in all, mental health disorders affect approximately 792 million people worldwide.
Those figures help explain how antidepressants became a $28.6 billion market in 2020.
Tianeptine is one such medication formulated to help ease the symptoms of depression. France was the first-ever country to use this drug, but it has spread to other continents since then.
What is tianeptine exactly, though, and how does it work? How effective is it, and does it have any adverse side effects?
This post will address all those questions, so be sure to read on to learn how safe and effective tianeptine is.
What Is Tianeptine?
Tianeptine is a unique tricyclic drug with antidepressant activity. It has been available for public use for over 30 years now since France first introduced it in 1989.
In European and Asian countries, tianeptine is available under the brand name Coaxil. In Latin America, the drug’s trade name is Stablon.
What Is Tianeptine For?
Most prescriptions for tianeptine is for depression, anxiety, and mood disorder treatment. In some Asian and European countries, doctors also prescribe this product for pain.
Researchers are also studying tianeptine as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it’s not approved for IBS yet as the studies are still ongoing.
How Does Tianeptine Work?
As a unique tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), tianeptine raises 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT) receptors. These “receptors” are also known as serotonin. Serotonin affects mood, cognition, learning, memory, and even the brain’s “reward” system.
Tianeptine is the opposite of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs reduce serotonin “reuptake,” leaving more of the hormone in the system. It’s in this way that experts believe SSRIs can raise serotonin levels.
By contrast, tianeptine enhances serotonin reuptake. Oddly enough, studies found that it increases the density of 5-HT receptors. Experts believe that this is one way the drug can improve moods and help treat mental disorders.
For those reasons, some scientists believe that tianeptine is as effective as SSRIs. It may also be more effective than maprotiline for anxiety in depression patients.
What Does Science Have to Say About Tianeptine and Depression?
Studies found tianeptine to provide long-term improvement in depression and anxiety patients. This is especially evident in patients dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It also appears to lower alcohol intake in those with alcohol abuse disorder.
What About Tianeptine for IBS?
Inflammatory bowel syndrome causes stomach pains, cramps, and loose or urgent bowel movements. TCAs are often used to help treat IBS. In many countries, though, including the US, the use of TCAs in IBS treatment falls under “off-label” use.
In any case, TCAs seem to help improve gut motility while also easing pain felt in internal organs. Researchers hypothesize that these benefits affect the brain and gut neurotransmitters. Moreover, TCAs have shown many times that they can slow gut and bowel movement.
As tianeptine is a TCA, it may be able to help ease IBS symptoms. Indeed, a study found that this drug is as effective as amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is another group of TCAs used more often for IBS.
The researchers also say that tianeptine is just as well-tolerated as amitriptyline.
What Else Can Tianeptine Do?
Some studies found that tianeptine can also help prevent stress. It also seems that the drug can block changes in the nerves caused by stress. It also appears to help keep stress from diminishing learning and memory.
Research has also shown this drug to help normalize glutamates. Glutamates are amino acids involved in many excitatory brain functions. Stress appears to trigger the release of these amino acids at high levels.
Now, keep in mind that high stress levels place more pressure on the heart and blood vessels. The same goes for the circulatory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. This is how stress can result in pain, which, in turn, can also lead to sleep issues.
All those effects of stress also raise the risk of mental health problems. Moreover, it can exacerbate the symptoms of existing depression or anxiety disorders.
As tianeptine has an anti-stress activity, it may help stop these other effects of stress.
Researchers are also studying tianeptine as a possible treatment for asthma. During an asthma attack, the lung cells take up free serotonin. This causes lung contraction, blocking the airways, and thus, triggering the “attack.”
Tianeptine seems to help with asthma as it reduces the blood’s supply of free serotonin. In one study of 25,000 patients with asthma, the drug led to the disappearance of asthma attacks. Its use also appeared to help boost lung functions.
What Are the Risks or Side Effects of Tianeptine?
All medicines, including tianeptine, have side effects, even when used as directed. However, tianeptine has fewer adverse effects when compared to SSRIs and other TCAs.
Still, tianeptine’s most common side effects include nausea, constipation, and stomach pain. It also appears to have fewer sedative effects.
Despite its lower risk profile, tianeptine may have addictive potential. That’s because it causes opioid-like effects, particularly its pain-easing activity. This is one of the reasons that the US hasn’t approved its use.
Chronic use of high levels of tianeptine dosage can harm the kidneys, nerves, and heart. For this reason, it’s important to take the drug only under the approval of a physician.
Proper Use of Tianeptine Is Crucial for Your Safety
There you have it, the complete guide that answers your question, “what is tianeptine?” Now, you know that it can be helpful for mental disorders, and it may also help ease pain, asthma, and IBS. However, it’s vital to take this drug only under a doctor’s supervision as it can still cause side effects.
Interested in more health, well-being, and lifestyle tips and tricks? Then free to browse our site for many other guides like this!
