B12 deficiency side-effects from Nitrous oxide / 'laughing gas' are no joke - The Global Drug Survey 2015 findings

Some drugs sit in that grey area of legal versus not. Nitrous oxide is such a drug. And it remains true that a few balloons taken every now and then, somewhere safe and when you’re not already ‘munted‘ is not going to do you any harm but our data from almost 7000 last years' users offers some words of caution.

First thing is the big increase between GDS2014 and GDS2015 is people who reported being worried about the impact of nitrous oxide on their physical health – tripling from 2.5% to over 7.5%.

Second is that nitrous oxide inactivates Vitamin B12. Lack of that vitamin – commonly in vegetarians can cause anaemia and nerve damage – called a peripheral neuropathy.  

Our findings last year suggested a strong dose response relationship between the amount you used in a session and frequency of use people reporting numbness and tingling persisting after use – a sign of peripheral neuropathy.

This year with smarter questions developed with the help of a neurologist (thanks to Dr Paul Hart) our data seems to indicate even more clearly that somewhere in the region of 4% of last year users are reporting symptoms consistent with a peripheral neuropathy (numbness / tingling in face, arms, mouth, legs/shooting pains in limbs that persisted for weeks after last use).

There was strong relationship with how much and how often people used. So if you use balloons, notice persistent numbness/tingling in your fingers/toes or around your mouth / face or notice you are off balance or are finding it hard to operate your phone – go see your doctor.

Investigated and managed quickly the condition should be reversible. This is no laughing matter (the pun is intentional) and while we fear the media will come up with a headline like ‘hippy crack causes paralysis’ (thanks to Dr Stephen Kaar for that) we do just want to let people know that if you use a lot there are risks. You can avoid those risks by not using too much too often. 

I don’t think we need to regulate just educate… Our safer use advice is given below.

SAFER USE TIPS FROM GDS TO REDUCE THE RISKS OF USING NITROUS OXIDE.

• Don’t inhale directly from the charger

• Avoid mixing in nitrous when you are off your face on other drugs especially alcohol

• Try not to use more than 5 balloons in a session and leave time between them

• Make sure any space you are using is well ventilated

• Don’t use near roads, canals or other bodies of water

• Make sure you got mates around you in case you fall over and hurt yourself.

• Leave several minutes between rounds of hits and give yourself breaks between periods of use to refill those vitamin stores. Animal protein (beef and fish in particular), eggs, cheese are good sources of B12. Fortified soy products and supplements can be used by vegetarians.   And Marmite!!!

• If you experience persistent numbness, tingling or weakness in your fingers, hands or feet, or notice you’re having difficulty typing or losing your balance or coordination stop using and go see your doctor.

• Finally there are reports that cheap whipped cream bulbs imported for China leave an oily residue when the gas evaporates – probably making them unfit to dispense cream let alone to inhale. So if you are going to inhale try accessing your gas from a quality supplier.