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Review
. 2018 Apr;38(2):144-148.
doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000837.

Exploring Nitrous Oxide as Treatment of Mood Disorders: Basic Concepts

Peter Nagele, Charles F Zorumski, Charles Conway
Review

Exploring Nitrous Oxide as Treatment of Mood Disorders: Basic Concepts

Peter Nagele et al. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) has shown early promise as a rapidly acting antidepressant in patients with treatment-resistant major depression and is currently investigated in several clinical trials. Because nitrous oxide is rarely administered outside operating rooms or dental practices, most psychiatrists are not familiar with how nitrous oxide is administered in a medical setting and what regulations guide its use. The goal of this brief review was to educate psychiatrists about the basic concepts of nitrous oxide administration and pharmacology. Furthermore, common misconceptions about nitrous oxide will be discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest:

Nagele:Dr. Nagele has filed for intellectual property protection related to the use of nitrous oxide in major depression. No other conflicts of interest related to this work. He has received research support from Roche Diagnostics, Abbot, and Express Scripts unrelated to this work.
Zorumski:Dr. Zorumski serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Sage Therapeutics. Sage Therapeutics was not involved in this study.
Conway:Dr. Conway was previously on the speaker’s bureau for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. He has received research funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cyberonics, the Stanley Baer Foundation and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example of a Nitrous Oxide Delivery System
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