Can Nitrous Oxide Kill You?
Repeated use of Nitrous oxide, or N2O, can cause toxic exposure and a nitrous oxide overdose. Inhaling any gas other than oxygen deprives your body of the air it needs, which can cause brain damage or even death.
People may think it is just innocent fun to inhale a whippet of nitrous oxide gas, but 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.
If you or a loved one are struggling with nitrous oxide addiction, Zinnia Health can help. Call our intake coordinators 24/7 at (855) 430-9439.
Can You Overdose on Nitrous Oxide?
Yes, you can overdose on Nitrous Oxide gas by inhaling too much causing you to fall unconscious or suffocating from a lack of oxygen, which could lead to your death.
What to Do in An Emergency?
If you suspect someone close to you is overdosing on nitrous oxide, call 911 immediately.
If you or someone you know has a nitrous oxide overdose, you must get medical help immediately.
If you think you’ve overdosed or are with someone who has, you must:
- Call for an ambulance immediately, do not transport the patient yourself, the emergency response team will know what to check for and can administer oxygen immediately if required.
- Be honest about what substances the individual has taken–tell medical staff as quickly and clearly as possible to avoid misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment.
- Follow all advice from medical professionals.
What Are the Symptoms of a Nitrous Oxide Overdose?
Because it’s a gas, it’s impossible to dose correctly. Users may take the gas directly from a canister, usually by filling a balloon or other flexible vessel.
They breathe directly from the balloon, taking a little or a lot at one time. There is no accurate way to determine how much N2O someone has inhaled, or how long it has been in their system.
That’s why it’s critical to get medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Extremely irritated nose, throat, or eyes with no other explanation
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing, especially a cough that keeps getting worse
- Wheezing
- Gasping for air
- Choking
- Tight feelings in the chest, or you may see them clutching at their chest
- A blue tinge to the lips or fingers
- Heart rate changes, particularly an extremely rapid heart rate
- Any symptoms associated with a heart attack such as arm pain, unexplained back pain, or sudden nausea
- Any symptoms associated with strokes, such as muscle weakness or dizziness
- Seizures
- Hallucinations or psychotic episodes
Of course, many of these symptoms can be linked to other causes including underlying medical conditions.
But, if you take nitrous oxide, or know someone who does, all these symptoms could indicate a nitrous oxide overdose.
What Are the Treatment Options for an Nitrous Oxide Overdose?
Most of the problematic symptoms are caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. That means the individual may need to be given oxygen in a medical setting. They may also need extended treatment, depending upon the severity of the laughing gas overdose.
Whilst waiting for medial help to arrive you can:
- See if the individual can move, try to sit them up and keep them calm.
- Ventilate the room or take them outside if they can move safely.
- If they are disoriented or dizzy, don’t risk moving them. Don’t allow them to take another inhalation of nitrous oxide, even if they feel better.
- Remove temptation by hiding the canisters or means of inhalation.
- Don’t let them take any medicine such as painkillers without consulting with medical staff or the ambulance team.
How Much Nitrous Oxide is Too Much?
There are no recommended specific amount of balloons or whippets you can huff and stay within a safe limit. Huffing nitrous oxide will affect everyone differently.
Is a Nitrous Oxide Overdose Dangerous?
Yes, it can be very dangerous. In extreme cases when a person experiences an overdose of nitrous oxide the person can fall into a coma from a lack of oxygen to the brain.
What Are the Risks of Inhaling Nitrous Oxide?
A 2021 study showed that the recreational use of nitrous oxide was on the rise in several countries.
When you consider the risks associated with repeated use of laughing gas, that raises many concerns.
The immediate risks of inhaling nitrous oxide recreationally include:
- Dizziness leading to falls
- Losing consciousness due to lack of oxygen to the brain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lack of judgment and poor choice making
- Feelings of disassociation or a sense of unreality.
Nitrous oxide also affects blood pressure and heart rate, making it dangerous for anyone, but especially those with even minor heart conditions.
Another related issue is that the gas from the canisters is often extremely cold. This can lead to burns on the lips or fingers for those inexperienced at dealing with high-pressure compressed gas.
Other problematic issues come from social and environmental factors. The risks highlighted above can be worsened due to:
- A lack of ventilation, often common in small rooms where users may gather together to partake in their recreational nitrous oxide use
- Users taking the gas on their own are prone to falls or passing out with no one to help them or offer medical assistance
- Users who slip into a coma may be left with other people who are too “high” or have had their judgment impaired so much that they don’t follow the correct emergency procedures such as calling for an ambulance
If you know someone who you think is using nitrous oxide recreationally, contact the Zinnia Health compassionate team at (855) 430-9439 for a free 15-minute assessment. We can offer you advice on the next steps, potential treatment options, and how to approach the subject with your friend or family member.
What Are the Side Effects of a Nitrous Oxide Overdose or Overuse?
As with many substances, long-term use or short-term intense use can cause debilitating side effects. Knowing about potential side effects can be the first step to overcoming substance addiction, with the right support. Repeated nitrous oxide use can lead to:
- Severe vitamin B12 deficiency
- Fatigue
- Digestive issues
- Loss of appetite
- Issues with vision
- Breathing problems
- Anemia
- Issues with the nervous system which can lead to paresthesia: prickling, tingling, or numb sensations on the skin with no external cause
- Bone marrow suppression which severely impacts the body’s immune system
- Lung damage
- Brain damage
- Coma
- Death
In a medical setting, staff may look out for muscle weakness or a lack of response to nerve impulses. They may also check for ataxia, which means a lack of coordination that can affect speech, eye movements, and even how you walk. It’s important to remember that every time you inhale nitrous oxide, you’re depriving your body of oxygen.
Every cell in your body requires oxygen, which is transferred from your lungs into your blood with each breath you take. If you replace even a few of those breaths with nitrous oxide, you’re missing out on oxygen that your body and brain need to keep functioning.
If you do this over and over, your body suffers, and you may experience some of the long-term side effects listed above. That’s why it’s critical to get support if you feel you’re not coping, in over your head, or too overwhelmed to face your addiction alone.
What is Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, or N2O, is a gas used for pain relief, or to sedate surgical or dental patients.
Nitrous oxide is also used in the catering industry, which unfortunately makes it easily available and not illegal to buy or own as long as it’s not being provided for human consumption.
Why Do People Use Nitrous Oxide?
It’s important not to assume that there is one “type” of person who takes nitrous oxide.
There’s a prevailing image of young people at music festivals passing balloons around; whilst these stereotypes certainly have their roots in reality, it’s far from the complete story.
Many professionals with access to nitrous oxide may turn to the gas for stress relief from their high-pressure jobs.
Ontario’s Royal College of Dental Surgeons describes nitrous oxide use as a “silent addiction,” leaving dentists who use it feeling isolated, confined to their offices, and prone to further self-destructive behavior.
Nitrous Oxide: How it Works
Nitrous oxide was isolated as a gas in its own right by Joseph Priestly in 1772. The gas was used for “entertainment” purposes for years before scientists realized its pain-killing and anesthetic potential.
In the late 1800s, dentists started to use this gas as a sedative during extractions and other treatments. That use of nitrous oxide continues to this day.
Because nitrous oxide is a gas, it’s delivered via a mask directly to the lungs. This means it can take effect much quicker than injected forms of anesthetic. A mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen comes through the mask. The oxygen keeps the patient breathing normally, while the nitrous oxide triggers a release of endorphins and dopamine, the body’s natural painkillers and “feel good” chemicals.
It’s this release of dopamine and other “positive” chemicals that recreational nitrous oxide users seek–that’s what provides the happy feelings that give laughing gas its name.
Slang Names for Nitrous Oxide
If you’re unsure whether someone you know is taking nitrous oxide, or if you’ve been offered nitrous oxide, listen out for the following common slang names:
- Whippets or whippits, named for whipped cream canisters that use nitrous oxide as an aerosol
- Nos
- Noz
- Nox–usually combined with other substances such as MDMA
- Hippy crack
- Sweet air
- Buzz bomb
- Shoot the breeze or shooting the breeze
- Giggling gas
- Laughing gas
How Does Nitrous Oxide Make You Feel?
Users of nitrous oxide enjoy the “giggly” feeling it produces, and may feel euphoric and happy, but only for a few minutes at a time. This short-lived “buzz” can lead to nitrous oxide users taking the gas over and over.
It makes the patient feel lightheaded and like they want to laugh, hence the nickname “laughing gas”.
Nitrous oxide is popular among recreational substance users for the feelings the gas provides, including:
- Intense euphoria and a “rush”
- Feelings of happiness–which can lead to addiction where general happiness is low in a person’s life
- Philosophical periods of deep thought, which may present as being introverted or quiet
- Increased feelings of energy or motivation
- Lowered inhibitions or the courage to take risks
How Long Does The Feeling of Nitrous Oxide Last?
As soon as the gas is removed and the user starts to breathe normal air again, the body metabolizes and expels the laughing gas, returning the user’s state of mind and physical feelings to normal.
It’s important to note that no matter how tempting these feelings may be to the user, all these sensations are extremely short-lived.
In contrast to the euphoria they were feeling before, they may feel low, let down, or even depressed. This is what leads the user to seek another “hit,” and how addictions develop.
How to Treat a Nitrous Oxide Addiction
Addiction doesn’t mean the same as physical dependence on a substance.
You can’t become physically dependent on nitrous oxide. Your body doesn’t get “hooked” on the gas in the same way as it can with opiates.
However, you can become addicted, as your brain craves the pleasurable feelings the gas provides.
As we touched on above, there’s no single “type” of person who is prone to N2O addiction.
The following factors can be linked to nitrous oxide addiction:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Desire to fit in
- Peer pressure
- Stress
- Trauma
- Periods of dissatisfaction with life
- The misconception that nitrous oxide is a “safe” high
- Grief or unhappiness
- Poverty or other socioeconomic factors
Laughing gas addiction can be challenging thanks to the short-lived effects of nitrous oxide. Individuals who enjoy the feeling seek it again and again. They take hit after hit. And, as we’ve seen, that can lead to nitrous oxide overdose or long-term ill health. There has to be a point at which support is offered to break the cycle of addiction.
Talk to a professional about the best way forward. Extreme or long-term addiction may require medical intervention. In most cases, a combination of behavioral therapy, compassionate support, and removal from the source of the substance should have a positive impact.
Because most people view laughing gas as “fun” or less addictive than other substances, they may not look for treatment until damage has been done.
We encourage anyone who wants any advice about the dangers of nitrous oxide use to seek help now, to prevent future health problems or long-term addiction.
Don’t suffer in silence. If you’ve decided you need help with your nitrous oxide usage, or you know someone who does, call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 or contact us online today. We can talk you through what options are available, without judgment. Most importantly, we’ll help you decide what your next move is, and help you take that step on the road to recovery and good health.