Sheldon, Rollo JG and Reid, Michael and Schon, Frederick and Poole, Norman A (2020) Just say N2O – nitrous oxide misuse: essential information for psychiatrists. BJPsych Advances, 26, (2), Doi: https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2019.57.
External website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-ad...
Nitrous oxide (N2O) misuse is widespread in the UK. Although it is well known that it can cause devastating myeloneuropathy, psychiatric presentations are poorly described. There is little understanding of who it affects, how it presents, its mechanism of action and principles of treatment. We begin this article with a case study. We then review the literature to help psychiatrists understand this area and deal with this increasing problem, and make diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We describe a diagnostic pentad of weakness, numbness, paraesthesia, psychosis and cognitive impairment to alert clinicians to the need to urgently treat these patients.
B Substances > Inhalants and solvents
B Substances > Inhalants and solvents > Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
G Health and disease > State of health
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Type of care > Mental health care (Psychiatry / Psychology)
VA Geographic area > Europe > United Kingdom
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