| Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is gas
which is inhaled. Also know as Laughing Gas, its been used as a anaesthetic
since the late 18th century. It comes in small cylinders or large tanks
and generally decanted into balloons before inhaling. The medical use
as an inhalation anaesthetic by dentists has been largely discontinued
because of side effects and other dangers. It's also used in the dairy
industry as a mixing and foaming agent. It's used as 'rocket' fuel for
racing cars as well!
N2O is used recreationally brings about a sense of well-being, disinhibition and euphoria. Mild hallucinations have been reported as well but the effects last only a few minutes., Although its known that anaesthetics may alter the binding of neurotransmitter to specific receptor proteins, the exact mechanisms that causes these effects are unknown. N2O is a unique psychoactive substances in that reverse tolerance can be experienced. This means getting more intense or prolonged feelings with the same or lower quantities of a drug. Moderate recreational use of Nitrous Oxide is considered relatively harmless, but there are several issues users should know about. Firstly, you should not inhale a complete breath of Nitrous Oxide - at least a quarter of your breath should be air, otherwise you are starving your lungs of the oxygen you need to live. This will cause hypoxia and may result in irreversible brain damage. Therefore it should not be taken directly through a face mask either. The gas should not be taken direct from the storage cylinders or canisters, since this is freezing and can cause frostbite of the nose, lips and vocal cords. Being anaesthetised, the user will be unaware of this damage until it's too late. After the effects come on, you can rapidly lose motor control and your limbs will collapse under you. So you should be sitting comfortably and far away from any open window, and definitely not operating machinery or driving. Use may cause nausea, especially if you have just eaten. It has been shown that Nitrous Oxide interacts with the vitamin B12, causing interference with the synthesis of DNA. This does not happen for short exposures, but it builds up with continued use. The ultimate effect is damage to the bone marrow and nervous system Clinical data has shown exposure of over 2 hours of continuous use to cause these type of problems. You also need a break of at least three days between bouts for the accumulated effects to subside. There are also reports of immunological and reproductive problems in professionals who have been chronically exposed to N2O in surgeries. The Nitrous Oxide used for racing cars should not be inhaled because it contains Sulphur which will cause a lot of problems. There have been reports of
severe addiction to N20, as well as serious mood and personality changes
amongst heavy users. Lastly, once inhaled it dissolves out of blood
into air filled spaces (e.g. the intestines, the middle ear). In the
gut, this will just give you a pain, but if you have ever had middle
ear disease, or damaged ear drums, you could be in for permanent hearing
loss.
Updated 14 May 2005
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Last updated 05/14/2005