Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It?
Introduction Nitrous oxide (NO), also known as “laughing gas” is a colorless gas used as an anesthetic, a propellant in some foods, an engine performance enhancer and a recreational drug. When inhaled, it is known to provoke a rapid feeling of euphoria or excitement for a short period of time, diss...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018478/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616678167642112 |
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| author | B. Leal D. Vila-Chã S. Garcia I. Pinto R. Mateiro M. Avelino M. Martins J. Salgado |
| author_facet | B. Leal D. Vila-Chã S. Garcia I. Pinto R. Mateiro M. Avelino M. Martins J. Salgado |
| author_sort | B. Leal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Nitrous oxide (NO), also known as “laughing gas” is a colorless gas used as an anesthetic, a propellant in some foods, an engine performance enhancer and a recreational drug. When inhaled, it is known to provoke a rapid feeling of euphoria or excitement for a short period of time, dissociative phenomena and sometimes laughter. As its fellow anesthetic agent and NMDA-receptor antagonist, ketamine, NO is being studied for its possible therapeutic profile in treatment resistant major depression (TRMD).
Objectives
TRMD is a serious illness, that urges for effective alternative treatments. In that regard, we explored the recent studies conducted in these patients, using NO in different dosages when compared to placebo.
Methods
The authors revised the published literature about this topic, selecting relevant articles with the topic words: “Depression”, “Treatment Resistant Major Depression” and “Nitrous Oxide” in scientific data base.
Results
Since 2018, at least two randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that NO has considerable antidepressant effects in TRMD, when compared to placebo. Investigators noted that these positive effects where maintained at least for two weeks after a single 1-hour inhalation. In a more recent study, scientists compared different NO concentrations (25% vs. 50%) concluding that the 25% concentration had similar efficacy with a lower risk of adverse effects.
Conclusions
There appears to be encouraging results when treating patients with TRMD with NO in a 25% concentration. Nonetheless, there is need for further investigation, namely through studies that compare NO with other valid TRMD treatments and not only versus placebo.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:44:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e77f2c389ca64f6d9493782cc305fb34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:44:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e77f2c389ca64f6d9493782cc305fb342023-11-17T05:08:02ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S716S71610.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1847Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It?B. Leal0D. Vila-Chã1S. Garcia2I. Pinto3R. Mateiro4M. Avelino5M. Martins6J. Salgado7Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, PortugalCentro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clínica 1, Lisboa, Portugal Introduction Nitrous oxide (NO), also known as “laughing gas” is a colorless gas used as an anesthetic, a propellant in some foods, an engine performance enhancer and a recreational drug. When inhaled, it is known to provoke a rapid feeling of euphoria or excitement for a short period of time, dissociative phenomena and sometimes laughter. As its fellow anesthetic agent and NMDA-receptor antagonist, ketamine, NO is being studied for its possible therapeutic profile in treatment resistant major depression (TRMD). Objectives TRMD is a serious illness, that urges for effective alternative treatments. In that regard, we explored the recent studies conducted in these patients, using NO in different dosages when compared to placebo. Methods The authors revised the published literature about this topic, selecting relevant articles with the topic words: “Depression”, “Treatment Resistant Major Depression” and “Nitrous Oxide” in scientific data base. Results Since 2018, at least two randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that NO has considerable antidepressant effects in TRMD, when compared to placebo. Investigators noted that these positive effects where maintained at least for two weeks after a single 1-hour inhalation. In a more recent study, scientists compared different NO concentrations (25% vs. 50%) concluding that the 25% concentration had similar efficacy with a lower risk of adverse effects. Conclusions There appears to be encouraging results when treating patients with TRMD with NO in a 25% concentration. Nonetheless, there is need for further investigation, namely through studies that compare NO with other valid TRMD treatments and not only versus placebo. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018478/type/journal_articleDepressionTreatment Resistant Major DepressionNitrous Oxide |
| spellingShingle | B. Leal D. Vila-Chã S. Garcia I. Pinto R. Mateiro M. Avelino M. Martins J. Salgado Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? European Psychiatry Depression Treatment Resistant Major Depression Nitrous Oxide |
| title | Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? |
| title_full | Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? |
| title_fullStr | Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? |
| title_short | Nitrous Oxide in Treatment Resistant Major Depression: Should We Laugh About It? |
| title_sort | nitrous oxide in treatment resistant major depression should we laugh about it |
| topic | Depression Treatment Resistant Major Depression Nitrous Oxide |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822018478/type/journal_article |
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