Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula N2O. It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects. It is known as "laughing gas" due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it, a property that has led to its recreational use as a dissociative anesthetic. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocketry and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidizer similar to molecular oxygen.
Abstract
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula N2O. It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic effects. It is known as "laughing gas" due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it, a property that has led to its recreational use as a dissociative anesthetic. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocketry and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines. At elevated temperatures, nitrous oxide is a powerful oxidizer similar to molecular oxygen.
[1]
Street Names
NOS,
N2O,
Laughing Gas,
Crackers
History
Nitrous oxide was first produced by the English chemist and Presbyterian minister, Joseph Priestley, in 1772 and further investigated by Humphrey Davy in 1800 at the Pneumatic Medical Institution in Bristol. In his book on nitrous oxide, Davy recorded that breathing the gas helped to relieve toothache - from which he was suffering at the time - and suggested: 'it may probably be used with advantage in surgical operations'. But the pain-relieving properties of nitrous oxide were not explored any further until nearly fifty years later. Initially, society was more interested in nitrous oxide as a source of amusement and entertainment. It is for this reason, no doubt, that nitrous oxide was commonly called 'Laughing Gas'
[2]
Pharmacology
The chemical formula for Nitrous oxide is: N2O
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.
[3]
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 abuse of Nitrous Oxide.
[4]
Scheduling
It is an Unscheduled drug in the US. Nitrous oxide can produce the following effects: giggling, euphoria, auditive distortions (flanging of sound), analgesia, loss of balance, tingling or numbing in extremities, dissociation and dream-like states. When nitrous oxide administration is prolonged, the user usually falls unconscious and can experience dreams and visions, out-of-body experiences and sometimes mystical and religious experiences
[4]
Withdrawal Effects
As it is not an addictive substance, there are no withdrawal effects observed. When nitrous oxide is used heavily and over an extended period of time, vitamin B12 depletion will probably become a major problem, as it can cause brain and nerve damage. Physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include: tingling sensation in extremities, paresthesias (no sense of touch and pain), difficulties with motor control (can lead to inability to walk), etc. If a frequent user of nitrous oxide experiences one or more of the above symptoms, it is vital to cease the use immediately and consume healthy amounts of vitamin B12 and other vitamins (especially folic acid). If symptoms persist or get worse, a physician has to be consulted. There are some reported cases of chronic nitrous oxide use resulting in the symptoms mentioned above. However, virtually all of the patients used nitrous oxide excessively, up to 400 whippets each week, over the period of several months.
[4]
Physical effects
Physical effect may include:
Disorientation
Fixated vision
Throbbing or pulsating auditory hallucinations
Similarly pulsating visual hallucinations
Increased pain threshold
Lowered vocal pitch
[5]
Pychological Treament
As it is not an addictive substance, there are no specific pyschological treatments associated with it.
Medical Treatment
There are no medical treatment options for effects caused by Nitrous Oxide. Breaking away from the loop proves to be a good method to avoid the unpleasent experience of prolonged use of Nitrous Oxide.
References
[1] http://www.epa.gov/nitrousoxide/index.html
[2] http://www.akamoto.co.uk/info/history-nitrous-oxide.htm
[3] http://watcut.uwaterloo.ca/webnotes/Pharmacology/page-11.html
[4] http://www.enotes.com/nitrous-oxide-reference/nitrous-oxide-176983#effects-body
[5] http://www.pamf.org/teen/parents/risk/inhalants.html#Types of Inhalants
