Tianeptine is a drug used for treating depression, sold under the brand names Stablon, Coaxil and Tatinol. It is viewed as one of the most effective treatments for major depressive episodes that range from mild to severe.
Tianeptine has also been used as an off-label nootropic agent and is reported to produce sensations of wellbeing, optimizing and mental clarity. The drug is marketed as having mood brightening effects as well as being neuroprotective and anxiolytic (reducing anxiety).
It is currently approved for this use in France and a number of other countries, especially throughout the European Union. It was developed at the French Society of Medical Research in the 1960’s. Because the early research was all in French, this seems to have delayed Tianeptine’s acceptance in a number of English-speaking countries.
Tianeptine is a selective Serotonin re-uptake enhancer (SSRE). This is basically a tricyclic type of anti-depressant which contains three rings of atoms in its chemical structure.
What this drug does is to enhance the re-uptake or re-absorption of Serotonin once it has been released by your neurons. This takes the Serotonin out of circulation, removing it from contact with synaptic receptors.
What is interesting is that its mechanism of action is directly opposite to how most currently prescribed anti-depressant medications work.



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Tianeptine Effects:
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There are several generally accepted mechanisms of activity used to describe how Tianeptine influences the mind.
This drug is thought to somehow enhance the extracellular concentrations of Dopamine in selected brain and nerve/neuron pathways. Since Dopamine is a powerful mood boosting neurotransmitter, this can lead to some profound effects.
It has also been speculated that Tianeptine works by modulating several types of Dopamine receptors within the brain. There even appears to be some effect on Glutamate receptors, which has an important part to play in reversing impaired neuroplasticity which is often associated with stress.
Because it modulates AMPA receptors for Glutamate, this technically qualifies Tianeptine as an Ampakine.
Tianeptine is also an SSRE, causing Serotonin that is released from your neurons to be re-absorbed. Neurotransmitters are stored in tiny vesicles within the synapses of your neurons until they are released.
Once a neuron fires and release is triggered, the neurotransmitter departs the vesicle and enters the synaptic cleft where it binds to the receptors of other neurons. After this activity has ceased, the neurotransmitters are then destroyed by an enzyme or taken up again by the releasing neuron. Tianeptine increases Serotonin re-uptake so that it is removed quickly from the synaptic cleft and stored again in its neuronal vesicles.
It has also been noted that this drug seems to have a fairly short duration and does not affect the cardiovascular system in any way. This is one of the main reasons why the drug is considered safe enough to use for treating elderly patients.

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Tianeptine Benefits:
The effects of Tianeptine work in a method which is counter to most of the other anti-depressant medications currently on the market.
You may have heard the term SSRI or selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitor.
These pharmaceuticals prevent Serotonin from being taken up again by the releasing neuron, resulting in greater levels of serotonin neurotransmission. While causing reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms, these drugs are described as resulting in a mood-blunting effect due to the heightened Serotonin activity.
In contrast, SSRE’s like Tianeptine decrease Serotonin activity in the pre-frontal cortex which results in a mood enhancement effect. This is the primary reason for the drug being able to improve mood and help treat a number of the other symptoms of depression.
Tianeptine is currently being used to treat depression, especially major depressive episodes, in France and other countries throughout Europe. It is able to improve mood and relieve feelings of stress, sadness, and anxiety. It is also noteworthy that it does not appear to cause any type of tolerance, addiction, or act as a sedative substance.
Furthermore, additional evidence shows that this drug may be helpful in treating issues like obsessive compulsive disorders, social anxiety, and even some eating disorders. The possibility even exists that it could lead to medications and treatments for neuro-degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral aging, and multiple sclerosis.
Tianeptine Dosage:
Pills for this drug most often come in a 12.5 mg formulation. The generally recommended dose would be to take a single pill or tablet two or three times per day. You do want to split the dose up to ensure the body has a consistent supply of the drug.
It is suggested that new users begin with a smaller dose, perhaps cutting a tablet in half and taking this in the morning and then again at night. Only increase the dosage level once you have become familiar with its effects.
Tianeptine is a pharmaceutical drug and requires a prescription in most countries. Do not self-medicate: only use this drug under the consultation and guidance of a qualified physician who knows your medical history.
Tianeptine Side Effects:
This drug is considered to be very safe and generally well-tolerated, especially by otherwise healthy adults. If you are suffering from issues like depression, it is strongly recommended that you first consult with your doctor or medical professional.
There are some side effects associated with Tianeptine. These are generally mild and include: dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, low blood pressure, insomnia, and possibly even some vivid dreams.
Tianeptine Review:
Although using Tianeptine as a Nootropic drug would certainly be considered off-label, there are people who have done so. Many of these users do indeed report seeing a variety of benefits that have been normally associated with taking Nootropics.
However, there is great variance in the available reports and many reviewers mention the occurrence of side effects. As more research is conducted into Tianeptine, it seems that the cognitive enhancement effects of this drug are likely to be attributes to its modulation of Glutamate receptors in the brain.
If you are interested in the nootropic benefits of Tianeptine, it may therefore be a better option to use a supplement like Aniracetam which also modulates Glutamate transmission. Aniracetam is known to have a mood-brightening effect as well as lessening sensations of depression and anxiety.
Tianeptine has proven to be one of the most powerful anti-depressants out there, but it should only be taken with a prescription due to the possibility of side effects.
Article last updated on: March 17th, 2018 by Nootriment
10 Comments
First of all, thank you for the great job you’re doing.
It is great to have access to such a site.
I’m taking Tianeptine as an AD which works nicely without being too agressive and having almost no side effect. I’m taking 3 pills/day which is the full potent dosage.
Which nootropics would you recommend to combine with it ?
Many thanks and keep on the outstanding work.
Great to hear! Tianpetine is often stacked with Aniracetam and Sulbutiamine for mood and anxiety. There are some other compounds like L-Theanine, Inositol, Lemon Balm and 5-HTP that may be synergistic as well. What kind of specific goals do you have for taking Tianeptine in a stack and what would you say your current experience is? Do you want something that is stronger or covers a slightly different set of benefits?
To those who wonder why this drug died a quick death everywhere – here is the simple reason: The research for tianeptine was paid for by the French government. The French could also pull all the same tricks normal pharma does, and develop a chiral molecule so only the enantiomerically pure version is out (let’s call it Stablon Junior). There’s another patent for 17 years – and that one was just waiting for the first one to expire. Then they could come up with the current sulfate and call it “Stablon-S” and add to that an even further time released compound (Tianeptine Na and sulfate are significantly different enough to be considered cousins, not brother & sister) – and despite sulfate already being very stable, micro-encapsulate both types as time released and have Stablon-XR & Stablon-S TR (extended release, time released – same words, just marketing).
AND – to keep other pharma out of their patent, they could hold up approval for the next Zoloft/Prozac/Crapzac/InEffexor/CrapLexa & LexaCrap.
So pharma steers clear – IN ADDITION TO, they don’t want to CURE your depression & anxiety. They want to TREAT IT. •FOREVER•
Eventually the glutamate pathways are discovered first by “Neurontin” (gabapentin) and eventually someone will discover that spinach juice and rat-hairs, when mixed at 400 degrees with chocolate, ALSO works just like Stablon / tianeptine. Completely different drug, different mechanism, but eventually metabolizes to compound XYZ, which is the same or similar to tianeptine after a few passes thru the liver.
THEN YOU WILL SEE PHARMA COMPANIES COPY EACH OTHER AND BRAG THAT IT IS THE BEST THING AROUND. But today? The less you know about it, the better. The less that you realize it is used in 20 countries, the better. The MORE you see, will be information about it being abused or just a straight out lie. Eventually – people like Sen John McCain, who will act based on a rumor – just like he did in 1997, when baseball players said they were taking a common health food store supplement – will have the substance banned from manufacture and import based on lies — because HE knows nothing, but wants to be seen as doing something.
(as we all know now, “The Clear” had absolutely NOTHING to do with androstenedione, NOTHING to do with GNC vitamin stores, NOTHING to do with anything EXCEPT the MOST POWERFUL anabolic/androgenic ever invented… and did Senator McCain say “Oops! Sorry! Let’s remove that from the DEA list as a C-1 compound like Heroin!” ??
NOPE. And you never will. Because THEY never admit mistakes. But the sooner big pharma can get this product banned from import (unless the French decide to market it in the USA, which is the only alternative) it will one day disappear… because it upsets big-pharma’s monopoly on THEIR cures, and so far, despite 6 years ago, discussing modifying patent law – so that if you make your Rx time released, that does NOT mean it deserves a new patent and the continued $5 per pill (vs 5¢ per pill as a generic) despite using the same coatings everyone else uses for extended release.
That movement died – (how much in campaign contributions for that? To get Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin $1 billion a year patent back? AS MUCH AS REQUIRED.)
While still available in a formula with NO time release or tamper-proof, all docs got DEA pressure to write only OxyContin… or MAYBE lose their Rx license for controlled drugs!! What was the “NEW formula & patent? A tamper-proof formula – with a method invented by a more than a few other companies (so not even their patent!) – to be used by anyone who wanted to license it for opiates (Alpharma Corp & others; “tamper-proof opioid receptor antagonist via naltrexone, naloxone, nalmefene, cyclazacine, levallorphan, et. al.,)
Look it up – that in quotes will tell you all they did was make the tablets via that method. SO PEOPLE WHO USED TO CRUSH AND INJECT? THEY SWITCHED TO HEROIN – IT WAS CHEAPER AND EASIER TO FIND!!
Another brilliant government move that costs Medicare billions of dollars, as old timers need anti-cancer pain meds, and OxyC is 40x stronger than morphine. At $10-$20 per tablet – that taxpayers pay for.
It will be a sad day when this happens to tianeptine, but it will. Because of greed & stupidity of the 435 morons in the House, 100 in the Senate, and the two currently in the top 2 chairs & a biased, creationist heading Health & Human Services – with a president who just submitted a budget slashing the budget to the National Institutes of Health, the NOAA, the NSF & the EPA.
Probably one of the saddest days I’ve ever seen for this nation – that WILL come back to hit EVERYONE, from clean water, disease research grants, atmospheric science, clean environmental technical advances… they want all of those programs and advancements to come to a halt.
So much for the USA leading the world in technology of all types. One man and his equally idiotic advisors are trying to dismantle it all.
I’m a real beginner with nootropics because in France where I live, they are not widespread and almost unknown.
My doctor has precribed me Tianeptine to enhance my mood and reduce anxiety ( Tianeptine is a prescibed drug in France Under the brand name Stablon). My anxiety has reduced a lot and the quality of my sleep has improved significantly. However, I would like to strengthen my mood and my motivation. To achieve this goal, what stack would you suggest?
Thank you for your help.
I’ve been using a plenty of ******** anti depressants till the year 2002-2014… The latest one is Venlafaxin (it’s the latest generation of an AD, called SNRI) but it does absolutely nothing for me, so my opinion about this drug is really bad. After some research I ask my psychiatrist for a Coaxil (Tianeptine)… She prescribed it to me with the 4 tablets/day.
But… one day I’ve tried to use about 8 tablets at once (I’ve read some very good responses to this) and really……. Tianeptine is a MIRACLE substance, even it’s one of the oldest AD on the market (from the 60’s of the previous century). But it doesn’t matter. My psychiatrist told me that this AD is REALLY very, very weak, but that’s ********. If I take those 8-10 tablets per day, I feel really great… I expected feeling like this a years ago, when I was taking a lot of another AD, but without ANY EFFECT!!! Now I found out this Tianeptine’s mood brightening effect, which is great and after a years of experiments with other AD, I think this one is the “promised one” :). Now I need to tell all of my research and feelings to my doc, but I don’t know if she will not be against the using of the approx 8-10 tablets per day… Even if I will say to her that for me it’s something like a miracle!!! Especially, when any other AD isn’t working in my case…
Well, and those neuro-protective effects of Tianeptine are really, really very interesting!!! I think that those pharmaceutical firm didn’t expect back in the 60’s, what a interesting substance they have developed in the labs…
Anyway, so thx to the Tianeptine that after a years of searching for some useful AD, I’ve found that great drug, which helps me a lot!!! :)
You have to be careful with higher doses of Tianeptine since it is shown to have an effect on your opioid receptors in higher doses, therefore carrying similar risks to opiates.
I been suffering from extreme depression due to extreme social anxiety from abusing the street drug mdma a.k.a. xtc and came across this…I tried ssri Ad and believe it dont work cuz my serotonin neurons have been fried from extreme releases of it from the xtc witch made.me feel like a god @ the time but now it feels like a deAl with the devil! complete hell and it.once felt like heaven smh! I jus ordered tianeptine and believe it to be they only AD that will work for me cuz blocking.my lil levels of serotonin from.being reuptake makes no sense when most of thoes neurons r burnt out, but if u have a normal chemical balance in the brain ssri should work if not give this a try! Jus got sum on ebay
Do you sell it, do not see from this page way to purchase it
I am suffering from obessive compulsive disorders from last three months that ‘s why I have gone in depression. Now I am taking stablon three times a day. This is helping to reduce my anxiety. But some suspicion is there where it will reduce my obessive thoughts. reply me.
VERY DANGEROUS WITHDRAW FROM THIS DRUG! my brother lost two years of memories and ended up in the hospital after his attempt to stop taking it! BEWARE!!!!