ReviewCureus2025
From "Laughing Gas" to "Galaxy Gas": An Updated Review on the Neurological, Pathologic, and Psychiatric Sequelae of Nitrous Oxide Abuse.
Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The Gut-Brain Axis-From Science to Clinical Practice.Gastro hep advances · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N₂O), a dissociative anesthetic and analgesic, has seen a concerning rise in recreational abuse, particularly among adolescents and young adults. This resurgence is fueled by its easy accessibility in large-volume, flavored canisters marketed as cooking aids, which exploit legal loopholes, as well as its promotion through popular culture and social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. This literature review synthesizes current knowledge on N₂O abuse by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for articles published from January 1, 2015, to February 3, 2025. The review focuses on the pathophysiology, symptoms, and long-term effects of N₂O abuse in both adult and pediatric populations, including its physical, psychiatric, and addiction-related consequences. The review of 13 studies, which included retrospective cohorts, case series, and cross-sectional surveys, highlights the severe neuropsychiatric and physical consequences of N₂O abuse. Epidemiological data consistently show that use is highest among young adults aged 16-30 years, with a notable overrepresentation of males and a disproportionate impact on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. The most prominent physical effect is subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SCD), which is a spinal cord disorder caused by demyelination of its lateral and posterior columns. It typically leads to neurological symptoms with common signs including numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, coordination problems, and difficulty walking. Biochemically, N₂O abuse leads to a functional vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, marked by elevated homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels. Psychiatrically, N₂O use is strongly associated with a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The review also notes patterns of compulsive use and polydrug abuse, which suggests a high potential for dependence. This review underscores the urgent need for heightened clinical suspicion of N
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.