It has a history of abuse as long as its clinical use, and deaths, although rare, have been reported. Eventually Mr. Glover started experiencing psychosis. eCollection 2017. You turn blue, she said. Layzer RB, Fishman RA, Schafer JA. Releasing the nitrous oxide into a balloon helps to warm the gas and normalise the pressure before inhaling. This was not a secret. As a general anesthetic, it is very weak and is generally not used as a single agent. Br J Anaesth. What are inhalants? No Laughing Matter: Presence, Consumption Trends, Drug Awareness, and Perceptions of "Hippy Crack" (Nitrous Oxide) among Young Adults in England. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Arch Dis Child. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. 26258592 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12879 Abstract Nitrous oxide is an inflammable gas that gives no smell or taste. It has a history of abuse as long as its clinical use, and deaths, although rare, have been reported. [3] It is excreted essentially unchanged (ie, nonmetabolized) via the lungs; less than 0.004% is actually metabolized in humans. Kavanagh T, Buggy DJ. Severe combined degeneration of the spinal cord after nitrous oxide anaesthesia in a vegetarian. Limal N, Scheuermaier K, Tazi Z, Sene D, Piette JC, Cacoub P. Hyperhomocysteinaemia, thrombosis and pernicious anaemia. What are the effects? [5], Although not standard practice, additional described uses may include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, laser procedures, obstetrical labor pain, ophthalmic procedures, emergency medical care of patients in accidents and during ambulance transport, and minor invasive medical procedures, including joint injections. Support services are available specifically to help people supporting others with substance use or misuse. National Library of Medicine These reasons led to the early adoption of sedation in pediatric dentistry. Symptoms appeared from after 2 days to even after 2 months, with the initial symptoms including symmetric paresthesia or numbness in the limbs, which gradually spread to the trunk to cause gait unsteadiness. In other words, patients who are sedated by the inhalation of N2O through a mask are not only very receptive to being injected by a needle owing to the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of N2O (often being completely unaware of needling itself), but they may also not remember the injection. The described adverse effects profile below may be very uncommon and not of primary concern to standard medical practitioners. A prospective multicentric trial for effectiveness and tolerance of a N. Gall O, Annequin D, Benoit G, Van Glabeke E, Vrancea F, Murat I. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Practice patterns and adverse events of nitrous oxide sedation and analgesia: A report from the pediatric sedation research consortium. Is nitrous oxide necessary in the future? Incidence and pathogenesis of acute megaloblastic bone-marrow change in patients receiving intensive care. Since then, N2O has shared a 170-year history with modern dental anesthesia. Nitrous oxide bulbs are a common product and are readily available. [1]. Honzik T, Adamovicova M, Smolka V, Magner M, Hruba E, Zeman J. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Most people probably know it as laughing gas. Apart from accidental overdose during hospital procedures, intoxication with this gas is the result of voluntary inhalation. The first clinical application of nitrous oxide (N2O) was in 1844, by an American dentist named Horace Wells who used it to control pain during tooth extraction. Informational resources are available in 27 languages. June 25, 2021 Nitrous Oxide Misuse and Abuse Nitrous Oxide Use and Toxicity Often used as an anesthetic in the clinical setting, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is also among the more commonly abused inhalants, a group of xenobiotics that typically refers to a range of substances including hydrocarbons and alkyl nitrites. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, Dror DK, Allen LH. Death from nitrous oxide and other volatile substances - latest A 2020 study linked growth in nitrous use in the Netherlands to an upsurge in young people presenting to the hospital with neurologic complaints.. That said, there are many recorded deaths where nitrous was a primary factor. An example is shown in the image below. Visitwww.na.org.au. Ghada Aluzri, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of AnesthesiologistsDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. [17] The clinical relevance or significance of these effects requires investigation. Corresponding Author: Seong In Chi, Department of Pediatric dentistry, Dankook University Sejong Dental Hospital, 3rd floor Dankook building, 87, Do-um 8-ro, Sejong, 30107, South Korea. Later, he became addicted, he said. It is well documented that the media can influence perceptions and interest in drug use, and poor media reporting can work as an advertisement for drugs, piquing curiosity and normalising use. A casual whippets habit turned into three years of heavy use of a powerful anaesthetic. 1997 Sep-Oct;200(3-4):65-72. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. The effects may start to be felt immediately and can last from 2 3 minutes; some effects may last up to 30 40 minutes. Now, the coronavirus pandemic may be driving its popularity. An overview of the implications for psychiatric practice. Lassen H, Henriksen E, Neukirch F, Kristensen H. Treatment of tetanus: Severe bone-marrow depression after prolonged nitrous-oxide anesthesia. [21], Frequently, patients receive 100% oxygen for 5 minutes once the nitrous oxide flow diminishes. It was called hippie crack, he said. The objective of this review was to investigate the properties of N2O as a PSA agent and identify the adverse events (AEs) associated with N2O. Nitrous oxide use has been linked to 17 deaths in the last three years, according to official statistics, with around one in 11 16-to 24-year-olds using it last year. [17]. There is a risk of diffusion hypoxia after cessation of N2O [20], which may be minimized by using O2 together with N2O where 100% O2 is supplied after cessation of N2O [21]. At times he would use hundreds of canisters per day, he said. [7], Nitrous oxide use in children undergoing basic procedures including lumbar puncture, venous cannulation, or dressing changes has demonstrated a significant reduction in pain levels, allowing for a shorter recovery. [28] Intramuscular administration of cobalamin may be curative in these cases. Death from Nitrous Oxide - PubMed Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug ReferenceDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. What is nitrous oxide, and how dangerous is it? - Medical Xpress Reversible nitrous oxide-induced myeloneuropathy with pernicious anemia: Case report and literature review. Burnweit et al. We report the fatal case of a 32-year-old male who died during inhalation of nitrous oxide from whipped dairy cream cans and hint on the role of the internet in creating new behaviors among drug addicts. 2009 Jan. 45(1):47-54. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Moreover, because dental treatments regions coincied with upper airway space, there is a high risk of airway irritation during dental treatment. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. It makes sense for the current moment. Long term treatment with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes and risk of vitamin b-12 deficiency: Randomised placebo controlled trial. (A group of scientists and artistic types, including the poet Samuel Coleridge, experimented with it at parties.) Although there is very little difference in the prevalence of DFA between adults and children [1,2], adults are able to avoid their DFA by canceling or delaying their own dental appointments, whereas children often do not have such options. In addition, this study also reported that frequency of minor AEs (MAEs) increased with longer treatment time or deeper sedation [9]. Annequin D, Carbajal R, Chauvin P, Gall O, Tourniaire B, Murat I. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Inhalants are chemicals found in certain household and workplace products that produce chemical vapors. Caution must be exercised in individuals with a history of stroke, hypotension, and known cardiac conditions. In a medical setting, it is usually inhaled, mixed with oxygen, through a small mask that fits over your nose. Megaloblastic haemopoiesis in patients receiving nitrous oxide. 2005-2006. Limited analgesic efficacy of nitrous oxide for painful procedures in children. Gen Dent. While there are various non-pharmacological methods for dealing with DFA, these methods may not be effective in patients with severe DFA; therefore, pharmacological approaches including sedation and general anesthesia (GA) may be unavoidable in treating some patients [4]. Seizures temporally associated with nitrous oxide administration for pediatric procedural sedation. Pichardo D, Luginbuehl IA, Shakur Y, Wales PW, El-Sohemy A, O'Connor DL. Olfert SM. Numerous studies have reported that N2O can be used safely and effectively as a procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) agent. 2002 Nov. 97 (5):1305-8. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Council on Clinical Affairs. Because nitrous oxide is not heavily metabolized during inhalation, it may build up in the treatment area, particularly if the room is poorly ventilated. Its use as an anesthetic is appealing because of its ability to initiate a timely and brisk emergence from anesthesia (generally < 3 min). It has been used recreationally since the late 1700s, when British aristocrats held laughing gas parties. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. A 22-year-old from Seattle (whom The Times agreed to grant anonymity because of his employment in the tech world) is among the most prominent posters in the TikTok nitrous scene, known as WhipTok; his account has millions of views. Workers may be harmed from exposure to nitrous oxide. Staff may be affected by the exhaled nitrous oxide and experience some of the same effects as the patient undergoing treatment. FOIA [18]. J Pediatr. Even in those patients with no signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, repeated occupational exposure or recreational abuse may place them at high-risk of N2O toxicity. Abstract Intoxications with nitrous oxide have been, and still are, a rarity in forensic medicine. The chances of an overdose are increased if taken with other depressants drugs such as benzodiazepines or opiates. Cases of laryngospasm after a high-dose of N2O have been reported, and even a few cases of death. [25] reported that preoperative fasting is a cause of nausea and vomiting. Nitrous oxide is a weak general anesthetic and is generally not used alone. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dankook University Sejong Dental Hospital, Sejong, South Korea. I was being instructed to kill myself, and I considered that demon spirits, he said. Occupational contact with nitrous oxide has raised some concern regarding potential reproductive hazards of miscarriage, decreased fertility, or increased incidence of cervical cancer in female staff subject to chronic or prolonged exposure. Using nitrous oxide with other depressants can affect breathing rate and the heart and blood vessels. Wang YY, Wang RB, Hong W, Jiao JS, Peng DT, Liu ZJ, Tian ZH, Jin M, Dong MR, Duan XH, Liu L, Sun Q, Sun SJ, Wang L. Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. According to the 2019 Global Drug Survey, it is the 10th most popular drug in the world. Death caused by addictive inhalation of nitrous oxide - PubMed Moreover, as a major advantage of using N2O is the mitigation of needle phobia [7], it is therefore commonly to achieve PSA in pediatric patients. Pediatr Dent. Oxygen and nitrous oxide tanks used in anesthesia delivery equipment. Nitrous Oxide Overdose: How Much is Too Much? | Zinnia Health Oxygen and nitrous oxide, shown in the images below, are part of the required equipment. Dent Clin North Am. Lots of Silicon Valley folks are very cerebral in nature, he said. Br J Anaesth. Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, 2.5 mg Morphine sulfate IV 1 hour before PSA, Apnea >15 seconds (on return to room air), Desaturation to 89% (on return to room air), Unresponsive/desaturation to 89% (On return to room air), Tonic-clonic seizure for 3 min just after the 3, Two febrile and one nonfebrile seizure history, Macrocytic, hyperchromic anemia with decreased serum levels of vitamin B, Borderline anemia with decreased serum levels of vitamin B. BMJ. If a large amount of nitrous oxide is inhaled it can produce: inhaling nitrous oxide can be fatal if you don't get enough oxygen, which is known as hypoxia. There were approximately 20 empty canisters of nitrous oxide nearby. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (, Conscious Sedation, Nitrous Oxide, Vitamin B. Chanpong B, Haas DA, Locker D. Need and demand for sedation or general anesthesia in dentistry: A national survey of the canadian population. [58] reported that exposure to 66% N2O for over 4 hours resulted in a significant increase in postoperative plasma homocysteine concentration levels, whereas in 2013, Hakimoglu et al. Rosen MA. Call (02)4734 2129 or (02) 4734 1333. He said the scariest part of his experience was the feeling of powerlessness he felt under the drugs influence. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Duncan GH, Moore P. Nitrous-oxide and the dental patient - a review of adverse reactions. Death in both cases was due to nitrous oxide augmentation of plastic bag asphyxia, manner suicide. Respondents to the Global Drug Survey put nangs as the seventh most popular drug worldwide, excluding caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. But the inhalants use and misuse seems to be on the rise, fueled by the stress and isolation of the coronavirus pandemic. The site is secure. [23]. Nitrous oxide is an inflammable gas that gives no smell or taste. Practice Patterns and Adverse Events of Nitrous Oxide Sedation and Analgesia: A Report from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Co-Occurring Subacute Combined Degeneration and Guillain-Barr Syndrome Resulting From Nitrous Oxide Abuse: A Case Report. Severe neurologic deficit after nitrous-oxide anesthesia. It acknowledges the wisdom of Elders past and present, and pays respect to all Aboriginal communities of today.We wish to advise that this website may contain names and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now deceased. Share cases and questions with Physicians on Medscape consult. Case-series of nurse-administered nitrous oxide for urinary catheterization in children. Nitrous, in the early days, produces some kind of insight, or the illusion of insight into consciousness., Ultimately, though, it leads to delusional belief that the drug is actually good for you, and that you found something wondrous that the rest of the world doesnt know about., Only after losing his company and damaging many relationships did Mr. Chugh seek treatment. 2004 Sep. 93 (3):464-6. Inform antenatal staff, or your local doctor, of any drug use and attend regular antenatal check-ups. 2019 Apr 18;51(2):288-292. doi: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2019.02.017. Thus, reactions of a patient must be carefully observed to titrate the concentration of N2O. Nitrous Oxide Administration - Medscape [12, 13, 14, 15, 16]. 2014 Sep 5. However, the important factor was not whether N2O was used for GA or PSA, but the degree of exposure to N2O: that is, the concentration of N2O used and how long and often the patient was exposed to N2O were important [54,55,56]. You are being redirected to Laughing gas. Attached flow meters like the one shown below restrict the proportion as well as the flow rate of nitrous oxide in order to keep a minimum oxygen concentration. He described voices compelling him to keep consuming the drug. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32756. Influence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms on homocysteine concentrations after nitrous oxide anesthesia. FOIA At the time of the report, prolonged N2O use was not identified as the cause; this was subsequently determined by Lassen et al. One of the most common uses of nitrous oxide in anesthesia is during mask induction of general anesthesia in pediatric patients. Nitrous oxide is administered by inhalation, absorbed by diffusion through the lungs, and eliminated via respiration. [5]. Nitrous oxide-related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings. Shes seen friends lose consciousness. Although levels of B12 may be low to normal, levels of methylmalonyl CoA and homocysteine may be elevated. [1, 4], Nitrous oxide may also be useful for prolonged or more involved dental procedures as well as in patients with hyperresponsive gag reflexes. It is known to have potential teratogenic and fetal toxic effects, particularly with chronic use. Explainer: what is nitrous oxide (or nangs) and how dangerous is it? 2005 Jan. 19(1):3-8. Nitrous oxide for relief of labor pain: a systematic review. As a result, nitrous is contraindicated in patients in whom expansion of these air-filled cavities could compromise patient safety. Always phone 000 (triple zero) for an ambulance and tell the operator that the person has overdosed (the police will usually not come unless the person dies or becomes violent). The effects of nitrous oxide on vitamin b12 and homocysteine levels in methyltetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation. Acta Neurol Taiwan. However, because the human body is unable to synthesize vitamin B12, it must be obtained through the consumption of foods of animal origin [31]. If a person has small infrequent doses, there is a low risk of significant problems with this drug. Expert Opin Drug Saf. Arash M Saemi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Radiological Society of North America, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, Society of Interventional RadiologyDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Dr. Michael McCormick, the medical director of the Healthcare Professionals Program at Caron, a prominent rehab facility, said he had seen an uptick in patients abusing nitrous over the past year. Vital signs and gas concentrations as well as subjective symptoms were recorded. The first time I saw these oscillations, I said, I understand now why people can die, he said. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. 8600 Rockville Pike Decades later, a 2010 Village Voice article chronicled the Nitrous Mafia, a coalition of dealers who sold nitrous-filled balloons from gas tanks at raves and jam-band concerts, using violence to maintain their dominance. In: Clark MS, ORR-II DL, Reed KL, Soler JG, editors. 2002 May. 2007 Dec;62(12):1202-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2007.05193.x. Breathing nitrous oxide can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death. 2011 Jun;20(2):129-37. Self-administered nitrous oxide for the management of incident pain in terminally ill patients: a blinded case series. Its likely he was embellishing for his Facebook audience. Previously, reports on N2O toxicity have been related to GA, recreational abuse, and occupational exposure [49,50,51,52,53]. Nangs is a slang term for nitrous oxide, an anaesthetic that has been used for more than 100 years. government site. Dental administration uses a partial mask that covers the nose but allows access to the mouth. Neurological effects include encephalopathy, myelopathy, and neuropathy. There are also tips for talking with kids about alcohol and other drugs (part 1 and part 2). J Can Dent Assoc. Like cannabis, nitrous oxide is responsible for almost none of the overdose or misuse drug deaths each year, but its use can lead to death. Opiates have been the leading menace in drug deaths for a while, resulting directly in about 48,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2019 alone. Nitrous Oxide: Can You Overdose? How Much Is Lethal? Nitrous oxide has been used for obstetric analgesia (primarily outside of the United States). Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies The anxiolytic effect is similar to that of benzodiazepine and may involve gamma aminobutyric (GABA) receptors. Overdose deaths have been reported in the United Kingdom and United States but we are not aware of any in Australia. In a 2017 essay about Silicon Valley culture published in N+1, the writer Anna Wiener describes a party that feels like a normal event in the Burning Man off-season whippets, face paint, high-design vaporizers.. Whippets, she said, are more dangerous than people realize. Bookshelf Hornbein TF, Winter P, Smith G, Wetstone D, Smith K. The minimum alveolar concentration of nitrous oxide in man. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Recently, laryngospasm was reported after PSA with only N2O/O2 [26]. Anesthesiology. Nitrous oxide is a weak inhalational anesthetic. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Wu R, Okrainec A, Penner T. Laparoscopic Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Insertion Using Nitrous Oxide under Procedural Sedation. They can also feel dizziness, have difficulty thinking. When inhaled, the fumes enter the bloodstream very quickly and the effects are felt after just a few seconds. Nitrous oxide analgesia during intra-articular injection for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Before The incidence of postoperative atelectasis in the dependent lung following thoracotomy: the value of added nitrogen. Hadzic A, Glab K, Sanborn KV, Thys DM. Apart from accidental overdose during hospital procedures, intoxication with this gas is the result of voluntary inhalation. Mixing drugs can also increase the risk of passing out and suffocating or chocking on vomit. and transmitted securely. Tap on a body part to learn more of the effects nitrous oxide places on your body. Zier JL, Doescher JS. Disclaimer. He is aware of the drugs dangers, even as a fan and a proponent. Nitrous Nation: A Party Drug Endures - The New York Times Krajewski W, Kucharska M, Pilacik B, Fobker M, Stetkiewicz J, Nofer JR, et al. A casual party drug endures. Thats when you will realize that no matter how alluring that thing may be, you just got sucked into something really monstrous.. Potential Side Effects of Nitrous Oxide - Healthline Guideline on appropriate use of nitrous oxide for pediatric dental patients. So banning nangs could cause more harm than it prevents. A phase 2 trial of inhaled nitrous oxide for treatment-resistant major depression. ), potential birth defects (if consumed during pregnancy). Short term side effects are not very common, but they can occur. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. World J Surg. Moreover, children are often unable to repress their expression of fear, which may manifest as excessive crying and/or physical struggle. An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name ofa professor of medical engineering at M.I.T. He liked it. Farrell MK, Drake GJ, Rucker D, Finkelstein M, Zier JL. Research has shown that interest in a drug peaks after widespread media coverage and that restricting the availability can lead to increased use. The rate of SAEs after PSA with only N2O is low (00.3%), with vomiting being the most common AE. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O), commonly known as laughing gas or happy gas, was first discovered in 1793 by the English scientist Joseph Priestly and has been used for more than 150 years. PMC Secure the mask and start the flow of nitrous oxide, as in the image below. Opiates have been the leading menace in drug. [9], Nitrous oxide has been proven beneficial in young children receiving injections for juvenile arthritis. Recognizing the signs of nitrous oxide addiction and seeking treatment as soon as possible could save your life, or the life of a loved one. Divatia JV, Vaidya JS, Badwe RA, Hawaldar RW. Can a Puff of Cool Air Up the Nose Stop Acute Migraine? Meanwhile, Zier and Liu reported that the frequency of AEs increased with a longer duration of N2O supply [12]. Babl FE, Oakley E, Seaman C, Barnett P, Sharwood LN. 2011 Dec. 27(12):1107-12. Richardson PG. Lacassie HJ, Nazar C, Yonish B, Sandoval P, Muir HA, Mellado P. Reversible nitrous oxide myelopathy and a polymorphism in the gene encoding 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2402. However, N2O can lead to the irreversible inactivation of vitamin B12, which is essential for humans; although rare, this can be fatal in some patients. Hirvioja J, Joutsa J, Wahlsten P, Korpela J. Oxf Med Case Reports. Nitrous oxide toxicity | Radiology Reference Article - Radiopaedia.org Elevated Hcy levels have been correlated with increased postoperative complications, including possible cardiovascular morbidity. Nitrous oxide analgesia for minor pediatric surgical procedures: An effective alternative to conscious sedation? Zier JL, Liu M. Safety of high-concentration nitrous oxide by nasal mask for pediatric procedural sedation: experience with 7802 cases. Paediatr Anaesth. Whippets. Potentially dangerous adverse effects include overdose, hypoxia, severe hypotension, unconsciousness, or death. Accessibility To reduce the risks associated with misusing nitrous oxide don't: If you cant wake Hu MH, Huang GS, Wu CT, Hung PC. Nagele P, Zeugswetter B, Wiener C, Burger H, Hpfl M, Mittlbck M, et al. St George's, University of London reports 17 nitrous-related deaths in the UK between 2006 and 2012. Edith Cowan University and Curtin University provide funding as members of The Conversation AU. Amos et al. The present case is interesting with regard to its rarity, diagnostic difficulties and potential harm from nitrous oxide used by the food industry. Our best data source for population drug trends in Australia, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, doesnt specifically ask about nitrous oxide use. Particular precautions should be taken in pediatric patients with underlying vitamin B12 deficiency (genetic or environmental) and conditions related to vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin b12 deficiency as a worldwide problem. Rowland AS, Baird DD, Shore DL, Weinberg CR, Savitz DA, Wilcox AJ. Suffocation caused by plastic wrap covering the face combined with nitrous oxide inhalation. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This results in a calm, euphoric. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Baum VC, Willschke H, Marciniak B. The 2:1 ratio of nitrous oxide to oxygen is also used in medical anesthesia. Further studies may be needed to elucidate these observations. Would you like email updates of new search results? Between 2001 and 2020, there were 56 registered deaths involving nitrous oxide in England and Wales - 45 of them since 2010, according to the government report. [1]. Inhalants are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Nitrous oxide is stored in closed gas cylinders. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Nitrous oxide provides a short-lived (20 second) high, in which people who use it feel euphoria and relaxation. Sethi NK, Mullin P, Torgovnick J, Capasso G. Nitrous oxide "whippit" abuse presenting with cobalamin responsive psychosis. 2007 Spring. Given the effects on coordination and dizziness, it shouldnt be used in risky situations and its advisable to have a person present who isnt using. Mr. Glover also said that nitrous is misunderstood by many as a lighthearted party drug. Laryngospasm with apparent aspiration during sedation with nitrous oxide. Nitrous Oxide: Can You Overdose? How Much Is Lethal? It is also sometimes referred to as an inhalant or a volatile substance. Inhaling any gas other than oxygen deprives your body of the air it needs, which can cause brain damage or even death. 1997 Sep-Oct;200(3-4):65-72. For each method of administration, proper equipment, monitoring, and storage unit integrity are necessary in order to avoid unintended gas leakage or excessive exposure.