Nitrous Oxide

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: N2O, laughing gas, whippets, nitrous

Pharmacological Mechanism

Inhaled anesthetic gas; an NMDA-receptor antagonist with additional opioid and GABA-A modulation, producing brief euphoria, analgesia, and dissociation ("whippets"). Chronic use inactivates vitamin B12 (oxidizes its cobalt core), causing functional B12 deficiency and subacute combined degeneration / neuropathy.

Dosing Guidelines

• INH: Typical 8g (Range: 8 - 32 g)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• immune-hematologic