Posted by christophrejmc on September 23, 2004, at 11:27:03
In reply to Re: Laughing Gas...soupisgoodfood, posted by alexandra_k on September 20, 2004, at 18:32:02
The main danger with nitrous use is hypoxia (too little oxygen). This happens because most recreational users only inhale nitrous, as opposed to medically used nitrous which is delivered in conjunction with oxygen. Even if you mix the gas with air, you're still at a risk of not getting enough oxygen. This usually isn't serious enough to have a lethal effect, although it still may cause damage.
If I remember correctly, nitrous oxide is an NMDA antagonist (like the dissociative drugs ketamine, dextromethorphan, etc.). This may make heavy users susceptible to ill-effects associated with dissociative abuse including NMDA-antagonist neurotoxicity ("Olney's lesions" and the like).
There are surely dangers that I've missed (another poster already mentioned b12 pernicious anemia), so do your homework if you're going to continue using.
peace in the middle east, yo.
-christophre
poster:christophrejmc
thread:389377
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040722/msgs/394106.html