Nitrous oxide headache

Adverse effects reported from nitrous oxide use have included nausea, vomiting, and headache. In addition, heavy chronic use has occasionally been reported to resemble the sort of dependence that develops with other depressant drugs. With hca y use come more severe problems, including numbness of the extremities and permanent peripheral nerve damage. There have also been some reports of death by asphyxiation after using large amounts in a poorly ventilated space (Walker Zacny, 2005). 

Nitrous oxide causes drowsiness and headache. Anesthesia with nitrous oxide as the sole anesthetic in normal humans for periods of 7.-A h has induced tachypnea, tachycardia, increased systemic blood pressure, atrioventricular junctional rhythm, acute cardiovascular failure, mydriasis, diaphoresis, and occasional clonus and opisthotonus. 

Preliminary investigations of intramuscular droperidol, nitrous oxide, and intravenous propofol have yielded favorable results in the treatment of acute migraine headache. Future studies may establish a more defined role for these agents in migraine management. 

Triner WR, Bartfield JM, Birdwell M, Robak N. Nitrous oxide for the treatment of acute migraine headache. Am J Emerg Med 1999 17 278-281. 

Male preteen children are most likely to experiment with solvent inhalation. Abuse of nitrous oxide is relatively common. Toxic inhalants such as heptane, hexane, methylethylketone, toluene, and trichloroethylene may result in central and peripheral neurotoxicity, liver and kidney damage, and pulmonary disease. Sudden death has occurred following inhalation of fluorocarbons. Industrial solvents rarely cause methemoglobinemia, but this (and headaches) may occur following excessive use of nitrites. The answer is (C). 

The oxides of nitrogen are somewhat sol in w, reacting with it in the presence of oxygen to form nitric and nitrous acids. This is the action that takes place deep in the respiratory system. The acids formed are irritants, causing congestion of the throat and bronchi, and edema of the lungs. The acids are neutralized by the alkalies present in the tissues, with the formation of nitrates and nitrites. The latter may cause some arterial dilation, fall in blood press, headache and dizziness, and there may be some formation of methemoglobin. However, the nitrite effect is of secondary importance... 

---