A Case-Based Review of Nitrous Oxide Toxicity: Multisystem Pathology, Fragmented Care, and Self-Guided Harm Reduction
American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience September 22, 2026 Priya Choudhary, Jessica Cho, Aneeqa Ahmed et al.
Although recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) often causes acute, severe symptoms–most notably spinal cord degeneration due to functional vitamin B 12 inactivation–diagnosis remains challenging. It is frequently missed by frontline providers because multi-system involvement complicates the differential diagnosis, which is further obscured by internet-guided harm reduction. This...