Nitrous

Psychoactive Class

Chemical Class

Nitrous oxide is an atypical dissociative inhalant with the chemical formula N₂O. First identified by Joseph Priestly in 1772, its anesthetic properties were later discovered in the 19th century, earning it the name 'laughing gas' due to its euphoria and laughter-inducing effects. When inhaled, it produces rapid analgesia, mild sedation, and brief psychedelic dissociation.¹² Widely used medically in surgery and dentistry, it is also commonly encountered recreationally through whipped cream chargers.¹² Chronic abuse may cause neurological damage through vitamin B12 inactivation.²

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Threshold4-4 g

Light4-8 g

Moderate8-16 g

Strong16-40 g

Heavy40+ g

Doses are commonly measured in whipped cream chargers; a single standard cartridge contains about 8 g of nitrous oxide and provides roughly one to three lungfuls of gas. One or two lungfuls is generally sufficient for a short experience, and a typical session involves 1-5 cartridges or balloons. Repeated use in quick succession should be avoided. Inhalation of pure nitrous oxide causes oxygen deprivation, which can lead to low blood pressure, fainting, and cardiac events, particularly with continuous inhalation from a mask or gas canister or with prolonged breath-holding. Non-medical formulations such as whipped-cream chargers contain no oxygen. Nitrous oxide is neurotoxic and can cause irreversible neurological damage; heavy single-session use (at or above 400 g, roughly 200 L of gas) or regular daily or weekly use has been associated with peripheral neuropathy including ataxia and paresthesia. Loss of gross and fine motor control, balance, and coordination is prominent, so users should be seated before onset to avoid falls and injury.

Duration

Onset5-10 seconds

Come Up5-10 seconds

Peak15-30 seconds

Offset1-5 minutes

After Effects15-30 minutes

Total1-5 minutes

Subjective Effects

Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.

Physical

Cognitive

Visual

Hallucinatory States

In comparison to other more classical dissociatives, hallucinations are particularly rare with nitrous but possible at high dosages.

Internal hallucinations

Suppressions

Auditory

The auditory effects found with nitrous oxide, although simplistic, are famously known to be particularly intense and consistent in their manifestation when compared to other hallucinogens.

Forked from Subjective Effect Documentation

by Josie KinsFebruary 2014.

Reagent Testing

Loading reagent data

Expected colorimetric results are being prepared.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

The mechanism of action of nitrous oxide is not fully understood, but it directly modulates a broad range of ligand-gated ion channels.³ NMDA receptor antagonism appears to be its primary pharmacological action, with an approximate EC50 of 30-40% inhaled concentration in cultured hippocampal neurons; even at 80%, N2O acts only as a partial inhibitor.⁴ It moderately blocks β2-subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (with preference for α4β2 over α4β4), weakly inhibits AMPA, kainate, GABAC, and 5-HT3 receptors, and slightly potentiates GABAA and glycine receptors.³ It activates two-pore-domain potassium channels, particularly TREK-1⁵, and weakly inhibits Cav3.2 low-voltage-activated calcium channels.⁶ The analgesic properties of N2O appear to involve the release of endogenous opioid peptides in the brainstem, which disinhibits descending noradrenergic neurons that modulate pain signaling at α2-adrenoceptors in the spinal cord⁷, and N2O has been reported to bind directly at opioid receptor sites. N2O may also influence nitric oxide signaling in the central nervous system.

Pharmacokinetics

Nitrous oxide has very low solubility in blood, with a blood/gas partition coefficient of 0.46, which provides rapid onset and equally rapid clearance once administration ceases.⁸ Predicted ADMET modeling indicates that N2O is not a substrate of major cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4) and has low CYP inhibitory promiscuity.

Metabolitesnone documented yet

Tolerance

Full Tolerance

Tolerance to many of the effects develops with prolonged and repeated use, resulting in users needing to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects.

Baseline Reset

1-2 weeks

Half Tolerance

3-7 days

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Moderate

Nitrous oxide has gained the nickname 'hippy-crack' due to its tendency toward compulsive redosing in some users. While uncommon, individuals with easy access to large quantities may use it many times daily.⁹ The substance is considered to have low to moderate abuse potential overall.

Physical

Low

Physical dependence with psychological symptoms is possible with continuous use. The substance does not produce a classical physical withdrawal syndrome⁹, though psychological dependence can develop in heavy users.

Toxicity

Central Nervous System

Heavy and frequent long-term use can cause serious neurological damage including subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord¹⁰; occasional recreational use at typical doses carries minimal risk, while chronic daily or weekly use significantly increases the likelihood of peripheral neuropathy.

Hematological

Chronic heavy use can cause megaloblastic changes¹⁰ and, in severe cases, agranulocytosis; these effects are associated with prolonged B12 inactivation rather than occasional use.

Cardiovascular

Hypoxia from improper use can cause low blood pressure, fainting, and cardiac arrhythmia; serious cardiac events are rare and typically associated with pre-existing conditions or continuous inhalation without oxygen.

Respiratory

High-pressure administration directly from tanks can rupture blood vessels in the lungs and cause pneumothorax; this risk is eliminated by releasing gas into a balloon first.

Oropharyngeal

Direct inhalation from tanks or whippits can cause frostbite to the lips, throat, larynx¹¹, and bronchi due to extremely cold gas temperatures.

Psychosis Risk

Psychological issues including personality changes, mood disorders, psychosis, and hallucinations can occur¹⁰, primarily in the context of chronic heavy use and associated B12 deficiency rather than acute intoxication.

Seizure Risk

A short period of slight hypoxia from nitrous oxide use could potentially raise the chance of seizure in some users. Persons suffering from epilepsy are advised not to consume nitrous oxide.

History & Culture

Discovery and Early Research

Nitrous oxide was first synthesized in 1772 by English natural philosopher and chemist Joseph Priestley, who initially called it "dephlogisticated nitrous air."¹³ He produced the gas by heating iron filings dampened with nitric acid and passing the…

Legality

International

World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines

By Country

United StatesLegal (Regulated)

Nitrous oxide meeting official-compendial standards is a federally designated medical gas.²⁴ Certified designated nitrous oxide is deemed approved for analgesia and is subject to prescription-drug requirements; its final-use medical container must bear “Rx only.” Separately, food-grade nitrous oxide is affirmed GRAS for specified food uses subject to current good manufacturing practice.²⁵ Nitrous oxide is not controlled under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

AustriaPrescription Only

Austria lists dinitrogen monoxide in the prescription-only medicines annex with the designation NR.¹⁸ The official legend defines NR as prescription required with repeat dispensing prohibited. The authorised product information identifies the substance as medical nitrous oxide and limits use to trained medical professionals.

CanadaLegal (Regulated)

The Food and Drug Regulations prohibit selling nitrous oxide to the general public and advertising it for sale to the general public.¹⁹ The provision applies to nitrous oxide itself and is not limited to products marketed for inhalation. Medical uses remain regulated as drug uses; the provision does not create a possession offence.

Czech RepublicRestricted

Nitrous oxide is not listed in the Czech schedules of narcotic or psychotropic substances, or in the lists for listed psychoactive and psychomodulatory substances. It is nevertheless an “other substance” under the Criminal Code’s definition of an addictive substance; the Constitutional Court upheld convictions for spreading addiction following commercial sales of nitrous-oxide balloons. Section 287 criminalises inducing, supporting, inciting, or disseminating misuse of an addictive substance other than alcohol or a psychomodulatory substance, punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment or a prohibition of activity. The controlled-drug schedules do not themselves apply to possession or ordinary handling of nitrous oxide.

FranceLegal (Regulated)

Nitrous oxide remains a consumer product subject to targeted public-health controls. Sale or offering to minors is prohibited, as is sale or offering in premises selling alcohol or tobacco. Products must carry a danger warning, and equipment promoted for psychoactive extraction is prohibited.

IndiaLegal (regulated)

Available for general anesthesia purposes as Nitrous Oxide IP. India's gas cylinder rules (1985) permit the transfer of gas from one cylinder to another for breathing purposes.

JapanIllegal

Japan designates nitrous oxide as a designated drug. Manufacture, import, sale, possession and use for non-medical purposes are prohibited. The restriction preserves medical uses specified by the ordinance.

NetherlandsIllegal

Nitrous oxide is listed as distikstofmonoxide/lachgas (N2O) in List II of the Opium Act from 1 January 2023. Article 3 prohibits importing or exporting, preparing, processing, selling, supplying, transporting, possessing, or manufacturing List II substances. The prohibition does not apply where nitrous oxide is intended for technical purposes or as a food additive; medical handling remains subject to the Opium Act’s authorization and professional-exemption framework.

NorwayRestricted

Norway prohibits supplying nitrous-oxide products for intoxicating purposes and supplying them to persons under 18.²¹ Consumer sales are limited to 17 grams per day, subject to stated exceptions. Consumer importation is prohibited.

PortugalIllegal

Portugal expressly lists nitrous oxide as a new psychoactive substance. The listed-substance regime prohibits production, import, export, advertising, distribution, sale, possession and making available. The listing applies to nitrous oxide as N2O.

SingaporeUnscheduled

Singapore expressly excludes nitrous oxide from the Fifth Schedule’s psychoactive-substance coverage.²² The exclusion means nitrous oxide is not controlled as a substance under that Act’s psychoactive-substance mechanism. Other product, food and workplace rules may still apply to particular uses.

SwedenLegal (Regulated)

Since 1 July 2025, Sweden regulates nitrous oxide (lustgas; dikväveoxid, N2O) under the Lag (2025:621) om lustgas, except where it is covered by the Medicines Act. Commercial sale or other supply is prohibited when there is particular reason to assume it will be used as an intoxicant, and supply to persons under 18 is prohibited; supply to a private person is normally limited to 18 grams in no more than two containers of up to 9 grams each. Import is limited to persons aged 18 or older and normally subject to the same limit, although holders of a special motorsport nitrous-oxide competition licence may import up to 60 kilograms per occasion. Retail sale requires prior notification to the Public Health Agency²³, and specified unlawful sales are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to six months.

United KingdomClass C

Classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act as of 8 November 2023. Prior to this, it was illegal to sell or provide nitrous oxide to anyone under 18 if there was reasonable cause to believe it would be inhaled for intoxication purposes. It remains permitted for use within the medical and food industries.

United States - FloridaMisdemeanor/Felony

A 2005 law makes possession and use for inhaling purposes a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Selling, purchasing, transferring, or possessing more than 16 grams for inhalation purposes is a third-degree felony punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Possession of nitrous oxide paraphernalia with intent to use is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

AustraliaLegal (Regulated)

Nitrous oxide is a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine when for therapeutic use and is otherwise a Schedule 6 poison under Australia’s current Poisons Standard. The current edition commenced on 1 June 2026 and classifies the substance for implementation through state and territory poisons legislation.

BrazilLegal (medical use only)

Nitrous oxide is legal for medical use only, though it is reportedly available for purchase over the internet.

ColombiaLegal (Regulated)

En Colombia, el óxido nitroso está regulado como gas medicinal altamente estable desde la publicación de la Resolución 1497 de 2023, el 22 de septiembre de 2023.²⁰ Los gases medicinales destinados al mercado sanitario están sujetos a registro sanitario y a requisitos de estabilidad, envase y almacenamiento aprobados por el INVIMA. La norma asigna al óxido nitroso una vida útil estándar de 24 meses cuando cumple esas condiciones; la sedación odontológica con el gas requiere formación clínica específica del profesional.

DenmarkRestricted

Denmark limits consumer marketing and importation of nitrous oxide and requires sellers to confirm the purchaser is of age before sale. Consumers may not import more than 17 grams daily and persons under 18 may not import it. Possession in publicly accessible places is prohibited unless connected with business activity or another recognised purpose.

GermanyRestricted

Since 12 April 2026, the Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (NpSG) lists nitrous oxide (Lachgas) in Anlage 2. The Act prohibits dealing, placing on the market, manufacture, import, export, transit, acquisition, possession and administration where it is packaged in a container holding more than 8.4 grams. It also prohibits supplying more than ten containers of up to 8.4 grams in one sales transaction; mail-order and vending-machine supply are prohibited, as are supply to under-18s and acquisition or possession by under-18s. Recognized commercial, industrial and scientific uses are exempt.

IndonesiaLegal (Regulated)

In Indonesia, dinitrogen monoxide (nitrous oxide, N₂O) is an authorised food additive in the propellant category under BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2019. BPOM Circular No. 2 of 2026, in force since 27 February 2026, regulates its production, importation, registration, and circulation; domestic and imported food-use N₂O preparations require BPOM marketing authorisation and may circulate only in primary packages of 10 g or less. Medical N₂O is limited to use in health-service facilities.

MexicoLegal (Regulated)

NOM-073-SSA1-2015 classifies nitrous oxide as a medicinal gas and imposes mandatory pharmaceutical stability and container-compatibility requirements on Mexican facilities that manufacture medicines for sale. Mexico’s General Health Law does not schedule nitrous oxide as a narcotic or psychotropic substance; additional psychotropics require a specific Health Secretariat determination published in the Official Gazette. Medical-product importation is subject to COFEPRIS sanitary authorization.

New ZealandIllegal

Since 5 June 2026, nitrous oxide in canisters with a net weight exceeding 10 grams is a declared psychoactive substance, subject to specified medical-device, industrial, fuel, and laboratory exceptions. Supply, offers to supply, possession for supply, and personal possession of an unapproved psychoactive substance are offences under the Psychoactive Substances Act. Importation of nitrous oxide is prohibited unless the importer holds a Director-General of Health permit for lawful use. Nitrous oxide supplied for inhalation as a therapeutic medicine remains a prescription medicine.

PolandLegal (Regulated)

Poland permits nitrous oxide as an extraction solvent in food production in accordance with good manufacturing practice. The instrument identifies nitrous oxide by name in the permitted-solvent list. It does not place nitrous oxide in a controlled-drug schedule.

RussiaRestricted

Russia regulates nitrous oxide through a dedicated law restricting its circulation. The legal regime prohibits its promotion for non-medical use and supports penalties for unlawful distribution. The instrument is distinct from the narcotic and psychotropic drug schedules.

South KoreaIllegal

Nitrous oxide, except when used for medical purposes, is a hallucinogenic substance under Article 11(4) of the Enforcement Decree of the Chemical Substances Control Act. Article 22 prohibits its ingestion or inhalation, possession for that purpose, and knowing sale or provision to a person intending to ingest or inhale it. Article 59 provides up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 50 million. The designation has applied since 1 August 2017.

SwitzerlandPrescription Only

Swissmedic places compressed or liquefied nitrous-oxide medical gas, including oxygen/nitrous-oxide mixtures, in dispensing category B. Category B medicines require a prescription. The classification concerns authorised medicinal-gas products.

United States - CaliforniaMisdemeanor (recreational possession)

Under California Penal Code 381b, possession of nitrous oxide with intent to inhale for intoxication purposes is a misdemeanor. This does not apply to administration by licensed medical, surgical, or dental personnel. The city of Rialto passed an ordinance in March 2017 making sale or distribution illegal regardless of intended use, except for lawful medical and industrial purposes, punishable by jail time, a $1,000 fine, or both.

United States - OregonRestricted

Oregon defines a substance capable of causing intoxication that contains nitrous oxide as an inhalant. Possessing an inhalant with intent to induce intoxication, or using it for that purpose, is a Class C violation; prescribed or health-practitioner-supervised use is excepted, and a second or subsequent violation is a Class B misdemeanor. Retailers may not sell or deliver directly inhalable nitrous oxide canisters to people under 18; since January 1, 2026, they must verify age before sale or delivery, and online deliveries also require a signature and identification check.

References

Citations

Automated synthesis
Information aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.

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Nitrous

Nitrous

Contents

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Duration

Subjective Effects

Physical

Cognitive

Visual

Hallucinatory States

Suppressions

Auditory

Reagent Testing

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacokinetics

Tolerance

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Physical

Toxicity

Psychosis Risk

Seizure Risk

History & Culture

Discovery and Early Research

Legality

International

By Country

References

Citations

Suggest an edit

Nitrous

Contents

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Duration

Subjective Effects

Physical

Cognitive

Visual

Hallucinatory States

Suppressions

Auditory

Reagent Testing

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacokinetics

Tolerance

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Physical

Toxicity

Psychosis Risk

Seizure Risk

History & Culture

Discovery and Early Research

Legality

International

By Country

References

Citations

Suggest an edit