[Abuse of tianeptine. A case report]

Encephale. 1999 Nov-Dec;25(6):672-3.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The authors report a case of tianeptine abuse in a 30 year-old woman. After a medical prescription of the recommended dosage of 12.5 mg 3 times daily of oral tianeptine for a depressive illness, the patient spontaneously increased the dosage which after two months reached 150 tablets per day. No severe toxic effects were observed. As adverse effects, the patient, in the beginning of this high treatment period suffered from nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia with weight loss, constipation. These side effects progressively disappeared. The biological tolerance was excellent, and hepatic parameters were not affected. The patient experienced and seek a psychostimulant effect. After seven months of such a therapy, she was hospitalized to undergo a withdrawal. The discontinuation of the tianeptine treatment occurs in four days. A withdrawal syndrome marked by myalgia, and cold feeling was transient, and alleviated by sedative phenothiazine (cyamemazine) and myorelaxant benzodiazepine (tetrazepam).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / therapeutic use
  • Phenothiazines / therapeutic use
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Thiazepines / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Phenothiazines
  • Thiazepines
  • tianeptine
  • phenothiazine