Consumption of nitrous oxide has become commonplace in recent years, particularly among young people. Yet it is not without health risks. Researchers at the University Hospital of Lille are working to improve treatment for patients who have fallen victim to "proto".
Psychiatric disorders, permanent paralysis, tingling... Consumption of laughing gas - nitrous oxide - is not without health risks. In recent years, however, consumption of this gas, which has been hijacked for its euphoric effects, has exploded among young people, who use it as a party drug.
Serious health consequences
Consuming laughing gas may make you laugh, but it can also make you cry... because nitrous oxide can have serious health effects.
Immediate risks from the very first consumption: asphyxia due to lack of oxygen, loss of consciousness, cold burns from gas expelled from the cartridge, loss of cough reflex (risk of false route), disorientation, dizziness, risk of falling.
Risks associated with chronic use or high doses: because the gas acts on the central nervous system, repeated use at short intervals can lead to side-effects such as headaches and dizziness, as well as more serious effects such as neurological damage, heart rhythm disorders, asphyxiation and psychiatric disorders...
Interviewed by our France 3 colleagues, Emeline Gernez, a medical biology intern at Lille University Hospital, details its damaging effects."The neurological symptoms are varied: tingling, walking difficulties, paralysis with patients in wheelchairs... We also have patients who suffer thrombosis or stroke, for example". And let's not forget the cardiac and psychiatric consequences, as well as the indirect road accidents it can cause.
Two recent studies, conducted in France and the UK, have analyzed cases of serious side effects from recreational use of nitrous oxide, and confirm this finding. According to the August 2024 issue of Prescrire, "Several hundred cases of myeloneuropathy have been reported, including gait and sphincter disorders. Psychological, cardiac and hematological disorders have also been observed".
Researchers attempt to identify biological markers of clinical severity
To improve patient care, researchers at Lille University Hospital are working to identify the molecules responsible for these effects on the health of laughing gas users. By taking blood samples, researchers are attempting to identify biological markers.
This is because the molecule cannot be measured directly in the blood, as would cannabis, for example. " The half-life of nitrous oxide is so short that we can't measure the molecule directly. We have to use indirect markers, which are also less reliable," reports Dr Guillaume Grzych, head of the nitrous oxide network at Lille University Hospital. However, their research seems to be bearing fruit.
"Increased blood markers were found in patients with greater clinical severity," further reports Emeline Gernez, whose work has been rewarded in the USA. "The results of this work will enable us to adapt the treatment protocol, particularly in terms of medical imaging.
A national network set up in Lille
Faced with this growing scourge and the increasing quantities inhaled through the consumption of gas cylinders (equivalent to 300 unit cartridges), doctors in Lille have set up a national network to educate doctors on the subject, accessible at www.protoside.com. "The site, created by our group of doctors, is aimed at both the general public and healthcare professionals," adds Guillaume Grzych. "The aim is to raise awareness of the dangers of nitrous oxide, train healthcare professionals on the subject, inform patients..."
For Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo , "we're not dealing with a recreational, hilarious product with no serious consequences". The doctor points out that "the after-effects of its use are sometimes permanent, with real paralysis for example".
In his opinion, it is essential to ban its use, but also to inform the young population and parents about the risks. " Finally, it is vital to develop research into the mechanisms involved, in the face of this new and underestimated public health scourge", he concludes.
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