Medical providers around the country have seen an increase in patients seen in emergency departments and other medical offices as a result of nitrous oxide use. The negative effects from using nitrous oxide are often neurological (having to do with the nervous system) and range from tingling in the limbs, loss of sensation, and significant weakness to long-term nervous system damage. This fact sheet provides information about nitrous oxide and treatment options.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide (also know as laughing gas, noz, or whippets/whip-its) is a colorless gas that is used for sedation and pain relief in medical/dental settings, but is also used recreationally. In medical/dental settings, nitrous oxide is highly regulated and often given along with oxygen to ensure safety. When used outside of a medical/dental setting, it is often taken at high concentrations and without oxygen.
How is Nitrous Oxide Used?
Nitrous oxide most often comes in highly pressurized, metal canisters. People who are using nitrous oxide often inhale the gas through balloons. Inhaling nitrous oxide directly from the canister is dangerous because the gas is under high pressure and comes out extremely cold, which can damage the throat and lungs, stop breathing, or slow the heart to a dangerous level.
Can You Overdose?
Inhaling nitrous oxide can be deadly in rare instances if you don’t get enough oxygen (known as hypoxia) or if you experience a loss in blood pressure that leads to a heart attack.
What Are the Short-term Effects of Nitrous Oxide?
The short-term effects of nitrous oxide vary for each person. It often produces a sense of dissociation of the mind from the body (a sense of floating) and distorted perceptions.
Nitrous oxide affects everyone differently, based on:
Amount taken
Person’s size, weight, and health
Whether the person is used to taking it
Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
The following effects can be felt almost immediately and can last for a few minutes:
Euphoria
Sedation
Giddiness
Sweating
Blurred vision
Confusion
Numbness of the body
Uncontrolled laughter
Uncoordinated movements
Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
Feeling tired/weak
What Are the Long-term Effects of Nitrous Oxide?
Long-term effects also vary from person to person and depend on the frequency, amount, and length of use.
Heavy use of nitrous oxide may result in:
Memory loss
Vitamin B-12 depletion
Brain and nerve damage, significant paralysis, foot drop, inability to walk
Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Incontinence (inability to control bladder and/or bowels)
Numbness in the hands or feet
Limb spasms and incoordination
Potential birth defects (if consumed during pregnancy)
Weekend immune system
Disruption of reproductive systems
Depression
Psychological (mental) dependence
Psychosis
Low blood pressure
Lack of judgment and safety awareness
Is Treatment Available?
While nitrous oxide is not physically addictive, psychological (mental) dependence does happen. Anyone experiencing the effects of long-term nitrous oxide use, including nerve damage, should consult a medical practitioner as soon as possible since research shows early treatment improves the chances of recovery.
Common medical tests include lab tests for Vitamin B12 levels and homocysteine levels. The primary treatment for the neurological impacts of prolonged nitrous oxide use is typically repeated injections of Vitamin B12, although the success of this treatment and recovery varies for each person.
For additional information and support, please contact the UCSB Alcohol and Drug Program at Student Health for free and confidential counseling support