Tianeptine vs Kratom: Differences, Side Effects and Where to Buy

There are lots of kratom users out there who have tried tianeptine or are curious to do so. Here’s the thing, tianeptine can be far less practical and more harmful than kratom. In this easy read, I’ll share some really useful information that’ll get you to think twice about the synthetic option.

Tianeptine is an antidepressant drug that’s sold in certain European, Asian, and Latin American Countries. Kratom is a natural, tropical evergreen tree that’s often grown in Southeast Asian countries. The effects of tianeptine and kratom are similar to opioids. There are major differences between the two, such as side effects, pricing and more.

Let’s get into the key differences first.

How Tianeptine and Kratom Compare

Kratom and Tianeptine can have some similarities in terms of certain effects and why people use them (which you’ll see in a bit), but there are mostly differences between the two that I think you should really take into consideration. 

Here’s how the two compare. 

Effects

When it comes to effects, both tianeptine and kratom can act very similarly. Heck, they’re both known to have opioid-like effects. Some of these effects can include:

• Stimulation
• Sedation
• Increased Motivation
• Soothing Effects
• Relaxation
• Euphoric “high”

Those are just naming a few. Kratom and tianeptine are also used for similar purposes. Those looking to feel good, unwind, destress, and bring some relief tend to like the effects that kratom and tianeptine give for these purposes. 

Duration

When comparing the two, Kratom is said to last a lot longer in terms of effects. Tianeptine has a half-life of about 2.5 hours. For those who build a high tolerance, the effects can be pretty short-lived.

Kratom can last anywhere between 2.5-6 hours. Of course, this is all going to depend on a ton of different factors, such as your weight, your tolerance level, your kratom strain of choice, and if you’ve had a meal or not. 

Withdrawals/Side Effects

Kratom and Tianeptine can have very similar side effects. Here are some of them:

• Vomiting 
• Hallucination 
• Increased Anxiety
• Confusion
• Developing a tolerance
• Etc.

However, Tianeptine can have a few other side effects that aren’t typically found in kratom users (although they possibly can be). Some of these include high dependency, depression, coma, overdose, and even death. 

These can be pretty serious side effects from Tianeptine, which makes you weigh the consequences a little more.

Forms

Another major difference is how they’re both ingested or taken. 

Tianeptine is (and should only) be taken orally via tablet form. There are some that snort or smoke it, but that is highly dangerous and addictive. It should never be taken this way due to dangerous side effects and abuse. 

Kratom, on the other hand, can be enjoyed in many different ways. Traditionally, it’s taken as a tea. Today, you can make your own kratom tea at home with kratom powder. You can also take it directly and then wash it down with your favorite beverage, which is known as the “toss and wash method”. You can even buy kratom capsules or tinctures, which make life easier. 

Price

If you’re looking for affordability, kratom is definitely the option to go with. Some online shops sell 50 grams of powder for as low as $10! On the other hand, tianeptine can be pretty expensive, especially since its a lot harder to come by. 

In some places, Tianeptine sells 10 grams of product for as high as $100. Prices can really vary, especially when we’re talking about quality. 

Legality

Tianeptine is considered an uncontrolled substance in the US except in states like Alabama and Michigan, where it’s banned. 

But, due to the high abuse and dangers of tianeptine, it’s a larger harder to purchase and a lot more expensive. Far more regulations and bans are being pushed for this synthetic drug. Shops are quickly shifting towards selling other alternative products. 

Kratom is mostly legal, but banned in certain states, counties, and cities. Here’s the banned kratom list:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California- (Banned in San Diego County) 
• Indiana
• New Hampshire- (Banned in Franklin City)
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee -(Synthetic Kratom is banned. Non-synthetic is legal)
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

Just be aware that laws are constantly changing, so check in on your local and state government for updates. 

So, What is Tianeptine?

Tianeptine is a synthetic prescription antidepressant drug that is commonly used to alleviate depression. It was first introduced in France for this purpose, and soon became an approved prescription drug in various other countries. But, the US is not one of those places. It can’t be prescribed by doctors, but is commonly sold in headshops as “supplements”. 

Those who take tianeptine at higher doses report feeling opioid-like effects. Unlike kratom, tianeptine acts upon the glutamate system, which ultimately allows you to get used to high stress and feelings of sadness. However, we don’t make claims that it helps any of that. 

Can you fail a drug test for Tianeptine?

Fortunately, Tianeptine does not show up on any type of drug test, at least, not currently. It’s possible that they will create drug tests for the use of Tianeptine in the future. 

What About Kratom? 

Kratom is a natural evergreen tree found in tropical countries within Southeast Asia. They’re part of the Rubiaceae family, which is related to the coffee plants. It’s been used for centuries, if not, thousands of years. Traditionally, locals would chew on the leaves to help them with discomfort or for recreational purposes. They claimed it helped with their hard labor and work.

There are tons of alkaloids within each kratom leaf. These alkaloids attach to brain receptors and is to to attach to the mu-opioid receptors. Although it’s not an opioid, it can give the same enjoyable effects. 

Today, kratom is widely used by many all over the world. This raises some concerns, too. Does kratom show up on a drug test? The quick answer is- it can. They’d have to specifically test for it or it. But, you’re pretty much in the clear. 

Reddit User’s on Tianeptine and Kratom

There’s a lot of good talk and bad talk about tianeptine and kratom on reddit forums. Some really like tianeptine and think kratom is just okay, but there are a lot of other users who see the negative effects tianeptine can have, so they prefer kratom.

Here are some of the most honest and helpful Reddit users’s experiences I came across:

“I would highly advise that you dont [take tianeptine]. If you keep taking kratom every few hours , you will do the same with Tia. No ifs and or buts. You will. It will get ahold of you. Im telling you… Kratom helped to get off of it. And it feels way better in my opinion. So. Just be careful. It’s an expensive habit, just so you know.” -kratomstew

“I used it for anxiety. I kept pushing to dose of tianeptine sodium higher and higher until I became an addict. I had to wake up in the middle of the night to dose. It was pathetic and sad. Being forced to dose every few hours is no way to live. Also it causes mood swings and nodding at higher doses. Don’t even go there. Stay away, believe the stories, they are true.” -miachaelmode

“Haha. Man personal experiences are different. Tianeptene not only didn’t work on me at any dose, I noticed absolutely no WD after stopping. I was taking a ton daily, hoping it would work. I tried the 12.5 mg as well. NO EFFECT. Not even like a background effect…. f****** nothing and it was a let down. After a month of taking 50-100mg daily, I stopped. Absolutely zero WD/down.. Nothing. I love kratom. The two don’t compare; they are chemically and structurally different (yes, yes.. Mu opiate agonists I know); They can’t be compared IME at least.” Canibeyourdoctor

What to Choose

Based on affordability, more minimal side effects, duration, and overall benefits, I’d recommend going for kratom.

It’s way more natural and side effects aren’t as bad as tianeptine. When it comes to your overall health, it just makes sense to take the more natural route. I will say this- use kratom responsibly. It can become addictive if taken at higher doses for a long time. It’s not recommended to use on the daily, but a few times a week and low to moderate doses can do just fine. 

Where You Can Buy Kratom

Luckily, you can easily get your hands on kratom nowadays. It’s often sold online and in headshops. But, I highly suggest getting it online as it’s a lot cheaper and the quality can be really good! Places like Kratom Krush offer quality and affordable kratom products.