It is a drug used primarily in the treatment of major depressive disorder, although it may also be used to treat asthma or irritable bowel syndrome. chemically it is a tricyclic antidepressant (tca), but it has different pharmacological properties than typical tcas as recent research suggests that tianeptine produces its antidepressant effects through indirect alteration of glutamate receptor activity (i.e., ampa receptors and nmda receptors) and release of bdnf, in turn affecting neural plasticity.tianeptine has antidepressant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties with a relative lack of sedative, anticholinergic and cardiovascular adverse effects, thus suggesting it is particularly suitable for use in the elderly and in those following alcohol withdrawal- such persons can be more sensitive to the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs. recent results indicate possible anticonvulsant (anti-seizure) and analgesic (painkilling) activity of tianeptine via immediate or downstream mo