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Nitrous: Does it Kill Brain Cells?

by Chris


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In an earlier post I mentioned some scientific reports on the possible dangers of prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide. This elicited some reactions that focus around the definition of "prolonged exposure". How much nitrous taken in how much time will rot your nerves?

To get an idea i will transcribe two case reports from a more recent nitrous horror story. At the same time it will give you an idea what "neuropathy" and "myeloneuropathy" looks like and what signs to watch out for when you are a nitrous regular.

From: Stacey et.al (1992) " Methionine in the treatment of nitrous oxide induced neuropathy and myeloneuropathy" Journal of Neurology 239:401-403.

Case 1 (quote)

This 36-year old electrical engineer came to the emergency room complaining that he was unable to walk. Symptoms had begun 4 days earlier with "pins and neeedles" in both feet that gradually worsened and ascended to involve the knees and the fingertips. With worsening of the paresthesias (-no sense of touch or pain-) he noted difficulty in maintaining proper control of the movements of his arms and hands and trouble in walking. He also reported the sensation of electric shocks through his back and legs upon flexion of the neck. He denied bladder or bowel impairment but he had been unable to have an erection for the past week. His past medical history was unremarka- ble except for occasional abuse of alcohol in the past. However he denied any drinking of alcohol for the past 8 months.

For recreational purposes he had inhaled two to three boxes of nitrous oxide, each box containing 24 cartridges, practically every day for the past six months.

When first seen his general physical examination was completely unremarka- ble. The neurological examination showed hyperesthesia and hyperalgesia in the lower extremities up to the knees. He had severe bilateral sensory dystaxia and could only stand with support.

(-More Neurological and Blood statistic Stuff Deleted- ed.).

Intramuscular B12 injections were started and during the following days his hematological status inproved, (-apart from neurological symptoms, the functional B12 deficiency caused by N2O also produces megaloblastic anemia,- ed.) although his neurological condition continued to deteriorate. The paresthesias ascended to the nipples and he developed fecal and urinary incontinence.

(- stuff deleted-)

Four weeks later he began to improve and four months after the onset of the symptoms, and his last use of nitrous oxide he could walk with some hesitation and had completely regained bowel and bladder control and sexual function

(-stuff deleted-).

Case 2

This 32 year old woman was admitted tho the neurology service for inability to walk and paresthesias in her limbs and trunk. Her symptoms began 3 weeks prior to admission with a "tingling" sensation in the soles of her feet, trunk and hands. Her gait bexcame progressively less steady and the day prior to admission she had an episode of urinary incontinence.

Her past medical history was significant for bulimia and occasional intranasal use of cocaine. for the previous 3 months she had inhaled nitrous oxide for recreational purposes, up to 200 cartriges a day, three to four times a week.

(-stuff deleted, similar neurological signs as above, some antisocial behavior).

(end quote)


What this shows is that these people really did a lot of nitrous, say 300-400 cartridges a week, for a few months in a row to develop these really nasty symptoms. But it also shows that people who do such things do exist (can you believe it?)

For the really health conscious among you (a contradiction in terms?) if you "must" do nitrous for a longer period be sure to take high doses of folic acid (is also depleted from your body as a result of functional B12 deficiency ) and vitamin B12. (No injury NOT guaranteed, but it might help)

Also, but less well known, the state of B12 deficiency caused by regular use of nitrous oxide produces hyperhomocysteinemia, an accumulation in the blood of the amino acid homocysteine.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for vascular disease of all sorts. Furthermore, hyperhomocysteinemia, B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency early in pregnancy all increase the risk of getting a child with a neural tube defect (spina bifida and anencephaly, childeren with no brains or open spinal cord). If you are a woman, planning to get pregnant or just "at risk of getting pregnant", nitrous is a bad idea.

More literature on neurological aspects of nitrous use:

Pulsson (1979) "Recreational" misuse of nitrous oxide, J. Am Dent. Soc. 98:410-411

Sahenk et al.(1978) "Polyneuropathy from inhalation of N2O cartridges through a whipped cream dispenser" Neurology 28:485-487.

Chris ( [email protected] )

 
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