Very long nitrous trip. Literally hours.

[Doldrugs]

50 in one night is definitely too much. Is it common for people to do 50-100 in a single sitting? Maybe I'm an unusually light user. I can understand people thinking nitrous is dangerous if that much is the norm.

 

[letherman]

I know a few people who would easily go through 2 or 3 boxes of 24 over a 8 hour period on their own if they could. The biggest thing holding them back is availability. I followed one mate, the heaviest huffer, as he did 5 one after another, while walking from a tent to a music stage at a small festival, without taking a break - chasing the buzz!!!... I always hold mine in reserve and ration them out in boxes of 10 to be shared and done together

 

[jason7]

This is DEFINITELY false.

I don't know where you are getting your data other than a couple random accidents.

If Nitrous were a serious health threat to the public we'd have heard about A LOT more deaths and brain damage and it would probably be banned now.

I really think you don't know what you are talking about when you say this and you already admitted that you have very little experience with nitrous and that you don't know much about it.

I doubt there's even ONE death per year from nitrous usage in the U.S., and assuming that there is...the number would be VERY low....CERTAINLY way under 100 people per year...and that's NOTHING in comparison to other drugs.

As long you don't go crazy using chargers for an hour or more straight and take breaths fairly regularly and don't usage nitrous more than once or twice a month max, you aren't going to be very likely to do yourself long term damage.

Dying on nitrous is VERY hard.

In order to do it most people would actually have to TRY to be overly reckless.

My guess is that if I bought a whole shit load of chargers and TRIED to overdose and commit suicide by way of nitrous that I would have about a 90% chance AT BEST of failing.

I'd probably just pass out and kill a whole shit load of brain cells and not feel well for a few days.

If something isn't a feasible means to committing suicide it's probably not easy to have an accidental nitrous overdose like you are saying.

It's FAR easier to overdose on alcohol, and even that isn't quite as easy as some might say unless other CNS depressant are involved or you are determined to drink yourself to death like some kind of "Leaving Las Vegas" scenario.

Nitrous is by and large a FAIRLY safe drug, but with dangers like most others drugs when taken too far...so basically...if you want to do it, you will probably be fine, as long as you don't go totally crazy.

You are making false assumptions based only on the very worst stories you've heard and that can be done with most drugs if you look for the horror stories.

I know someone who ended up in the ER from heart palpitations from drinking too much Iced Tea and that might lead me to believe Iced Tea is a dangerous drug, but it isn't.

Fine, whatever. Huff your brains out then. To me it's pretty much like sniffing solvents but if you find that sort of thing rewarding and worth the risks then by all means continue. I just pointed out some articles and some cases where people died from it and then I leave it up to the readers to decide how to use that information. I know that people will use dangerous drugs, like heroin or NBOMes, regardless of the potential negative effects or death. This is a drugs harm reduction forum so I posted some harm reduction related information. If that bugs you then maybe you're on the wrong forum.

 

[Doldrugs]

To me it's pretty much like sniffing solvents

And that's the problem with your contributions to this conversation. Good harm reduction comes from truthful information backed up by actual science. Your statement above is demonstrably false and based on your personal, unsubstantiated feelings. That's useless to everyone.

Are there dangers to nitrous oxide? Sure. Are they easily avoided when you're informed? Yes, they are. Is there any value to DARE style just-say-no doomsaying? No, there isn't.

Comparing nitrous to heroin, 25i, and huffing solvents is just completely absurd and has no basis in reality.

 

[Vlan]

Yeah seriously, I don't get what he is trying to say.

Why would not breathing oxygen cause you are breathing nitrous for 1 minute be MORE dangerous than not breathing oxygen for one minute because you are holding your breath, or for the sake of argument, under water for 60 seconds?

Is using nitrous (OTHER than depletion of B12) really more dangerous than staying under water for long periods of time?

I would assume only because you inhaled an oxygen free environment prior to holding your breath.

 

[Vlan]

So after you hold your breath, you feel the need to breathe deeper, feel dizzy, tingly, etc. which we normally associate with low oxygen saturation; however, the body is actually checking for high CO2 concentrations and not low O concentrations. So you could breath N2O and thus lower CO2 concentration and thus not get the warning signal.

That is what I gathered from the article.

Yes, that is basically what it said. However, I feel the need to breathe deeper and I feel dizzy, tingly, ect when I hold a nitrous inhalation too for the same reason. If you inhaled nitrous one after another and never breathed in air then you wouldn't feel like you were lacking breath.

 

[Vlan]

I am not certain if the majority of recreational drugs commonly cause deaths by over dose; if you tried though, a 10 minute tank of nitrous and a certain mask sounds slightly easier than drowning yourself in alcohol.

And funner.

 

[jason7]

And that's the problem with your contributions to this conversation. Good harm reduction comes from truthful information backed up by actual science. Your statement above is demonstrably false and based on your personal, unsubstantiated feelings. That's useless to everyone.

Are there dangers to nitrous oxide? Sure. Are they easily avoided when you're informed? Yes, they are. Is there any value to DARE style just-say-no doomsaying? No, there isn't.

Comparing nitrous to heroin, 25i, and huffing solvents is just completely absurd and has no basis in reality.

What? Nitrous felt pretty much the same to me as solvents. I didn't compare it to heroin and NBOMes, I simply mentioned them as other drugs with potentially harmful or fatal effects. What makes you think that nitrous is so special and different from solvents or other inhalants? If you look up inhalant abuse they put nitrous right in there with solvents and duster. They all have pretty much the same effect, maybe minor variations but extremely similar. Granted it's not as harmful to tissue as solvents but it has other ways of harming you and it's just not a productive thing to do really. You'll just use it more and more until it takes over your life. At least that happens quite a lot, maybe not to you but there's a pretty good chance.

 

[Doldrugs]

What makes you think that nitrous is so special and different from solvents or other inhalants?

Science? You should try it some time.

 

[GreenMachine]

i can kind of relate to the OP. i have had a few sessions where slowly after a half an hour or so of heavy use i start to accumulate a longer-acting buzz from the nitrous. i think you have to do a lot. also nitrous oxide isnt inherently dangerous, its the hypoxia, the lack of oxygen in your lungs that is dangerous. that is what kills brain cells and makes your head hurt. even if you dont hold in your balloon, or hyperventilate it back into your balloon then bak into your lungs, you are still breathing N20, not oxygen. doing this for hours is going to kill some brain cells. my throat always feels messed up if i use the little chargers for too long, if i am going to really do some nitrous im going to do it from a tank. i dont recommend getting one though. my old roommates and i went in on a tank together and i did nitrous all day every day until it kicked. wake up--take a balloon, eat breakfast--take a balloon, etc. definitely killed some brain cells!

 

[Mycophile]

Fine, whatever. Huff your brains out then. To me it's pretty much like sniffing solvents but if you find that sort of thing rewarding and worth the risks then by all means continue. I just pointed out some articles and some cases where people died from it and then I leave it up to the readers to decide how to use that information. I know that people will use dangerous drugs, like heroin or NBOMes, regardless of the potential negative effects or death. This is a drugs harm reduction forum so I posted some harm reduction related information. If that bugs you then maybe you're on the wrong forum.

Dude, you are wrong, plain and simple.

Just look at Transform's response on this page.

He's a moderator, much more knowledgable than you or me and he agrees with me that MODERATE usage...note the word *MODERATE* is not very dangerous...ESPECIALLY with balloons and not a mask or tank.

Nitrous is NOT like huffing solvents.

Solvents like Glue and Gasoline will fry your brain beyond repair sometimes even in moderate usage.

Nitrous is an anesthetic dissasociative which has been used SAFELY in medicine for hundreds of years.

Last i heard Gasoline, lighter fluid and Pain thinner don't have medical usages.

ANY DRUG has deaths associated with it, but Nitrous is a FAIRLY safe drug used in moderation.

And excuse me I DON"T HUFF MY BRAINS OUT.

I barely ever use nitrous.

I think you missed my point about MODERATE USAGE.

What drugs have you even tried in your lifetime dude???

If you think Nitrous is SO dangerous even in moderate usage then you must be someone who's basically just smoked some weed and maybe done some shrooms or acid once or twice.

You've probably never done Oxycodone or Coke or drank profuse amounts or anything of that nature, because those drugs are most definitely in MOST WAYS more dangerous than Nitrous.

You aren't experienced with this substance, you've admitted that much, and have probably never felt it under a medical setting like I have either at a dentist's office, so you haven't seen how much potential there is for it to be safely used.

Albeit, I'm not doctor, but when you inhale a balloon and don't hold your breath for a long time afterwards, then just wait for the effects to wear off and do a couple more, then put the nitrous away, you aren't doing something that is absolutely MIND FRYING and LIFE THREATENING like you think it is.

The studies you linked and are talking about all seem to be worst case scenarios about people using MANY MANY chargers in a row, masks, tanks and unsafe conditions.

This forum is about harm reduction....REAL...Harm reduction...not Over exaggerating dangers of drugs, but giving the TRUTH about them.

Nitrous CAN be dangerous...that's the truth...and it can also be SAFE...that's also the truth.

If you are interested in over exaggerating the dangers and not looking at all the safe usage that has taken place and want to place a dangerous spin on a drug you are unfamiliar with and won't admit to the fact that it CAN be safely used then maybe YOU are on the wrong forum my friend...

 

[swilow]

What? Nitrous felt pretty much the same to me as solvents. I didn't compare it to heroin and NBOMes, I simply mentioned them as other drugs with potentially harmful or fatal effects. What makes you think that nitrous is so special and different from solvents or other inhalants? If you look up inhalant abuse they put nitrous right in there with solvents and duster. They all have pretty much the same effect, maybe minor variations but extremely similar. Granted it's not as harmful to tissue as solvents but it has other ways of harming you and it's just not a productive thing to do really. You'll just use it more and more until it takes over your life. At least that happens quite a lot, maybe not to you but there's a pretty good chance.

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments you are expressing here, I think you are relying a bit too much on anecdotal reports. I don't know if you are able to present any evidence that nitrous addiction "happens quite a lot". In comparison with? Why is there a good chance of addiction? From what do you base that statement?

Of course, there are dangers associated with drug use and its good of you to point them out, but there is still a requirement for evidence before we can really consider what you are saying. Up until that point, its just an opinion and we don't know what criteria you have used to form that opinion.

In controlled and small doses, nitrous oxide is incomparable with other 'traditional' solvents. It can be neuroprotective due to NMDA interaction. It is non flammable. It is less likely to be used to unconsciousness and subsequent aspiration of vomit. This easily found article indicates that more people died by inhaling helium in 2009 (UK) then through use of nitrous. Nitrous generally contains less additives then things like petrol/gasoline, butane, etc. Most literature seems to agree that nitrous (and a select few other inhalants) is quite different to use of volatile solvents. The similarity lies merely in their ROA and some physiological effects.

I think its great to have this discussion, and I would agree that nitrous oxide is widely seen to be safer then it is, but that doesn't mean that, with careful, planned, controlled use whereby a person limits their intake, supplelments with B12 and ensures that they inhale sufficient oxygen, nitrous is not a relatively safe and mild substance to use recreationally.

 

[Mycophile]

What? Nitrous felt pretty much the same to me as solvents. I didn't compare it to heroin and NBOMes, I simply mentioned them as other drugs with potentially harmful or fatal effects. What makes you think that nitrous is so special and different from solvents or other inhalants? If you look up inhalant abuse they put nitrous right in there with solvents and duster. They all have pretty much the same effect, maybe minor variations but extremely similar. Granted it's not as harmful to tissue as solvents but it has other ways of harming you and it's just not a productive thing to do really. You'll just use it more and more until it takes over your life. At least that happens quite a lot, maybe not to you but there's a pretty good chance.

First of all, now you are just sounding like a drug-war tyrant.

There's only as much chance that nitrous "takes over your life" as you let there be.

I haven't heard many cases of it taking over people's lives except for some of the very extreme reports of people who CONSCIOUSLY DECIDED to go crazy with the stuff.

It happens, but those people are just being really really stupid.

No drug "takes over anyone's life" even though the argument could be more easily made with HIGHLY addictive drugs like Heroin, Crack and Meth, of which nitrous is NOT one.

And since I am busy right now I'm not going to have the time to look up links showing differences between solvents and nitrous, though I or maybe someone else will get to it later...but I will tell you this much:

Like I said...Nitrous has a medical usage, none of these others do.

That inherently makes it different from gasoline, paint thinner or lighter fluid.

Now it can be used improperly, but it's in a different class of drugs also.

Nitrous is a dissociative anesthetic.

It has effects more similar in some ways to a hallucinogen and the gas itself is HARMLESS...100% harmless...again...it's the lack of Oxygen that is dangerous...GET IT???

But gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluid...these are dangerous IN AND OF THEMSELVES.

When someone inhales gasoline the fumes can enter the nasal passages and dissolve the nasal membranes and it frequently causes brain damage.

Nitrous can only cause brain damage if you aren't breathing oxygen...I.E....If you hold your breath while on nitrous...which is easy to do yes....it can and does kill brain cells.

But if you consciously take a lot of breaths of air...you will be RELATIVELY safe...you'll still kill brain cells cause some lack of oxygen is inevitable...but guess what, drinking kills brain cells too.

Nitrous is not in any way, shape or form on the level of caustic solvents that cause brain damage due to their toxic fumes like glue, gasoline and paint thinner.

 

[Mycophile]

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments you are expressing here, I think you are relying a bit too much on anecdotal reports. I don't know if you are able to present any evidence that nitrous addiction "happens quite a lot". In comparison with? Why is there a good chance of addiction? From what do you base that statement?

Of course, there are dangers associated with drug use and its good of you to point them out, but there is still a requirement for evidence before we can really consider what you are saying. Up until that point, its just an opinion and we don't know what criteria you have used to form that opinion.

In controlled and small doses, nitrous oxide is incomparable with other 'traditional' solvents. It can be neuroprotective due to NMDA interaction. It is non flammable. It is less likely to be used to unconsciousness and subsequent aspiration of vomit. This easily found article indicates that more people died by inhaling helium in 2009 then through use of nitrous. Nitrous generally contains less additives then things like petrol/gasoline, butane, etc. Most literature seems to agree that nitrous (and a select few other inhalants) is quite different to use of volatile solvents. The similarity lies merely in their ROA and some physiological effects.

I think its great to have this discussion, and I would agree that nitrous oxide is widely seen to be safer then it is, but that doesn't mean that, with careful, planned, controlled use whereby a person limits their intake, supplelments with B12 and ensures that they inhale sufficient oxygen, nitrous is not a relatively safe and mild substance to use recreationally.

Good comments.

 

[jason7]

Seems like a lot of people end up doing hundreds of chargers. Now I admit that nitrous is less dangerous than solvents or alcohol, as long as you take enough b12, but it just seems to lead to overuse pretty easily. I suppose if a person can keep it down to a reasonable amount and take their B12 then it probably wouldn't cause any major problems. Making sure you take enough B12 to counter the effects of the nitrous seems to be the key to staying healthy, or not using a lot of nitrous in the first place. Under those conditions it's probably safer than most other recreational substances I suppose, as long as you get enough oxygen and don't end up meeting Peco in the parallel dimension due to being dead, like the guy in that NDE I linked. Trust me, you don't want to meet Peco.

 

[Doldrugs]

So now nitrous is less dangerous than huffing solvents? What changed? A little bit earlier in the thread it was on your list of "potentially harmful or fatal drugs like heroin or nbomes."* Are you pretending that successive posts aren't completely at odds with previous ones?






*not a comparison, though, just randomly and irrelevantly mentioning extremely dangerous drugs next to nitrous with nothing implied

 

[swilow]

^I think we should applaud him for his humility in admitting that he may have been mistaken, not questioning him for having the balls to change his mind.

 

[letherman]

I know people who do far too much NOS, I know people who don't do it because they dont like NOS (or the idea of it), or who just wont do it, who just do it every so often and I even know one guy who wont do it because he thinks poppers are more effective... so like most drugs people have personal choices and tastes.

Its good to see this discussion because I'm starting to understand my own and my friends usage/view of NOS. Yes I used to do too much of it and am now very liberal in my usage. Over here its sometimes called "Hippy Crack" because some people chase the euphoria and use it to "top-up" other psychedelics... and you can get addicted to being in that state of mind.

There are the obvious dangers of doing anything in excess or doing things without self-educating ourselves first. I've stopped someone putting a hand-cracker to their lips to inhale; talked to people who used nails to pierce a bulb and then inhale; suffered 2nd degree burns to my hands from using a cheap cracker too much (and didn't even notice how bad it was I did it until the next day!!); and I've seen people use cheap non-foodgrade chargers... all of this is as dangerous as over-doing NOS leading to lack of oxygen.

In fairness to NOS (in balloons), it does give you warning signs... headache/metallic taste in your mouth from over doing it, freezing balloons, balloons wearing out from over use and not being able to get the bulbs out of the box from the shakes. Its one of the few things that you can normally say to someone "maybe you've had enough take a break for a while" and most people will normally agree.

Its about the quality of your product/accessories, environment and mindset that makes a big difference, just like any drug.


OP, for me doing 50 over an 8 hour period was way too much, so I can't even imagine what 150 in a 3 hour sitting is like. It took me months to finally get rid of the metallic taste, buzzing in my arms and what I can only describe as electrical shocks / zapping feeling that I got.

I was working in Austrian Alps (where you could buy the stuff in the local supermarket and managed to resist) I eventually asked my doctor about the symptoms and he told me it was mild oxygen deprivation, normally only something he'd see in high altitude areas. I should have told him about the NOS, but that was enough for me to only do it occasionally.

I think, from personal experience. you are doing far too much and seeing the signs of damage from oxygen deprivation if the short-term effects are lasting up to 5 hours.


On brands, yes (imho) it makes a difference. Medium priced/branded chargers seem to have the best effect (the more expensive ones do whip cream better though!!)... avoid the very cheap ones and definitely the non-foodstuff ones, the bulbs haven't been fully steralized and there can be traces of metallic dust from the manufacturing process which isn't good for you to inhale.

I look at country of origin/manufacture. Over here we have a couple of choices, China, a couple of eastern european countries and Austria. For me its a no brainer, even though I'm not living there anymore, I purchase the austrian manufactured stuff as they have the highest standards imposed on them by their countries laws.

As you can tell I havn't given up using NOS, but only do it from time to time to accentuate the effects of an acid trip and I love it even more now that I only do it occasionally.

 

[jason7]

So now nitrous is less dangerous than huffing solvents? What changed? A little bit earlier in the thread it was on your list of "potentially harmful or fatal drugs like heroin or nbomes."* Are you pretending that successive posts aren't completely at odds with previous ones?
*not a comparison, though, just randomly and irrelevantly mentioning extremely dangerous drugs next to nitrous with nothing implied

I meant that the high was similar to solvents, not the danger, and nitrous is indeed as harmful or fatal as heroin or NBOMes. If you breathe too much you die. That sounds as fatal as heroin to me. However, you can reduce the risk substantially with B12 supplementation and by proper mixing with oxygen. I merely acknowledged that the danger can be reduced, if you know how, to a lower level. I still think huffing nitrous is stupid, just like all inhalant abuse. Apparently, you and a few others are the spokespeople for the nitrous huffers antidefamation league. Sorry to have offended the huffers by pointing out the grim reality of nervous system disorders, habituation and death. Now go anesthetize yourself.

 

[Doldrugs]

^I think we should applaud him for his humility in admitting that he may have been mistaken, not questioning him for having the balls to change his mind.

That's the thing, though. He didn't change his mind. He just says stuff as if it's reality, then directly contradicts himself, then contradicts himself again. And he doesn't realize that he's not making any sense.

To me it's pretty much like sniffing solvents but if you find that sort of thing rewarding and worth the risks then by all means continue.

Now I admit that nitrous is less dangerous than solvents or alcohol, as long as you take enough b12

I know that people will use dangerous drugs, like heroin or NBOMes, regardless of the potential negative effects or death.

I didn't compare it to heroin and NBOMes, I simply mentioned them as other drugs with potentially harmful or fatal effects.

I meant that the high was similar to solvents, not the danger, and nitrous is indeed as harmful or fatal as heroin or NBOMes.

If you look up inhalant abuse they put nitrous right in there with solvents and duster. They all have pretty much the same effect, maybe minor variations but extremely similar.

I still think huffing nitrous is stupid, just like all inhalant abuse.

See what I mean?