Whippets is a steel cylinder or cartridge filled with nitrous oxide (N2O) that is used as a whipping agent in a whipped cream dispenser. The nitrous oxide in whipped cream chargers is also used by recreational drug users as an inhalant for its psychoactive effects.
Abstract
Whippets is a steel cylinder or cartridge filled with nitrous oxide (N2O) that is used as a whipping agent
in a whipped cream dispenser. The nitrous oxide in whipped cream chargers is also used by recreational
drug users as an inhalant for its psychoactive effects. Chargers are capsules used as a cheap source of
nitrous oxide, normally reserved for small, powerful model rockets.
[1]
Other Names
Nitrous Oxide,
N2O,
Laughing gas
Whippets (Nitrous oxide cartridges)
“Whippets” (mini-tanks)
Whipped cream cans
[1]
History
It is a dissociative drug which was discovered in 1772 and has been in common usage recreationally since
the early 1800s.
The psychological effects of nitrous oxide were discovered in 1799 by British chemist and inventor Humphry
Davy. When inhaled, nitrous oxide can cause euphoria, sedation, analgesia (pain relief),
laughter/giggling, dissociation of the mind from the body, auditive distortions, visual hallucinations
(rare) and other phenomena. In 1800, Humphrey Davy started marketing nitrous oxide as a recreational drug.
Nitrous oxide was called ‘laughing gas’ and its use became popular at social events, predominantly those
of the British upper classes, where it was commonly sold for entertainment. In modern times, nitrous oxide
is sometimes used at parties, where the gas is used to fill up balloons that users proceed to inhale.
[3]
Pharmacology
Nitrous oxide is a central nervous system depressant. It dulls the senses, blunts perception of painful
stimuli and produces a carefree attitude about one's surroundings. The actual mechanism by which it
produces this pain relief is unknown. However, it is thought that it potentiates the release of endogenous
endorphins, which react with opioid receptors in the central nervous system to elevate the pain threshold
and create a feeling of relaxation and euphoria. It has little to no effect on the cardiovascular system
other than mild cutaneous vasodilatation. Both heart rate and blood pressure remain relatively unchanged.
There is no direct effect on skeletal muscle.
It is indicated for the temporary relief of pain in the out-of-hospital environment. It is particularly
useful for pain due to isolated extremity injuries, burns, renal colic and cardiac chest pain when
morphine or other narcotics are contraindicated. The agent is self-administered by breathing the gas
through a demand valve mask. The dose is considered to be sufficient when the patient reports adequate
pain relief or the mask drops out of their hand.
[4]
Uses
It is used by Dentists to relax and sedate patients while they are performing various procedures.
Inhalation of nitrous oxide for recreational use, with the purpose of causing euphoria and/or slight
hallucinations is a common form of abuse.
[4]
Scheduling
It is an Unscheduled drug in the US.
Contraindications
Overall, nitrous oxide is a very safe drug with few absolute contraindications.
Nitrous oxide is contraindicated in patients with significant respiratory compromise.
The blood:gas partition coefficient of nitrous oxide is 34 times greater than that of nitrogen. This
differential solubility means that nitrous oxide can leave the bloodstream and enter air-filled cavities
34 times faster than nitrogen. As a result, nitrous is contraindicated in patients in whom expansion of
these air-filled cavities could compromise patient safety. This includes patients with pneumothorax,
pulmonary blebs, air embolism, bowel obstruction, and those undergoing surgery of the middle ear.
Dental nitrous oxide may be contraindicated in patients with severe nasal congestion, those who breathe
through their mouths, or those unable to wear a nasal mask.
Some patients, especially children experiencing severe anxiety or extreme uncooperativeness, may not be
good candidates for this milder therapy and may require more potent sedating intravenous or general
anesthesia.
[5]
Adverse Effects
Complications up to and including death have been described. They are relatively uncommon with standard
medical and dental use but have arisen from chronic use or recreational abuse. The described adverse
effects profile below may be very uncommon and not of primary concern to standard medical practitioners.
Adverse effects that may be associated with nitrous oxide include gagging, coughing, hypotension, asthma
attack, involuntary tracheal closure (spasm), lung damage, neuropathy, tinnitus, extremity numbness,
anoxia and general respiratory distress, cardiac events (including myocardial infarcts), seizures,
misperception of time, and vision-altering perceptions.
[6]
Addiction Liability
It is not an addictive substance, however one is likely to develop tolarance after repeated use.
Physiological Effects
Disorientation
Fixated vision
Throbbing or pulsating auditory hallucinations
Similarly pulsating visual hallucinations
Increased pain threshold
Lowered vocal pitch
[4]
Pricing
The standerd whippet which is about 8g of N2O is available in general, in the box of 24pieces. Such boxes
are typically priced in between $9 to $12.
[3]
References
[1] http://www.creamright.com/whippits.html
[2] http://nitrousoxideabuse.com/nitrous-oxide-abuse-signs
[3] http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Nitrous_Oxide
[4] http://www.eiga.org/fileadmin/docs_pubs/Doc%20116%2007%20E.pdf
[5] http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1413427-overview#a05
[6] http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1413427-overview#a17
