If nitrous oxide has become something you use more than you meant to, or you are worried about it, therapy can help you work out what comes next. I work with adults aged 18 and over only.
What this covers
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas sold in metal canisters and usually breathed in from a balloon. You may know it as NOS, laughing gas, "hippy crack", whippits or chargers. The effects arrive quickly and fade within a couple of minutes, which FRANK says can lead people to use more than they planned. It is a Class C drug in the UK.
Signs use may be becoming a problem
- Using more often, or more canisters, than you meant to
- Using again soon after the effects fade
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Feeling dizzy, or having blacked out or fainted after using
- Spending money on it that you cannot afford
- Feeling low or flat when you are not using
Nerve damage, B12 and safety: read this
FRANK says heavy regular use can lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency and a form of anaemia. Severe deficiency can cause serious nerve damage, with tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes, and the damage may be lasting.
- If you notice numbness or tingling, speak to a GP promptly. The NHS says B12 deficiency should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
- Too much can make you lose consciousness or suffocate through lack of oxygen, and dizziness can make you act carelessly. Never breathe it from a bag over your head.
- Call 999 if someone has collapsed or cannot be woken.
Support you can get alongside therapy
Therapy sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. How to get treatment without going through your GP, and where to find helplines. For nitrous oxide, a GP can check for signs of nerve damage or B12 deficiency, and your GP or a local drug service can help with cutting down or stopping; FRANK can point you to one.
What therapy can offer
- Looking at what nitrous oxide does for you, whether that is a quick escape, a social habit or a break from stress
- Working out what is behind using more than you planned
- Support with low mood, anxiety or money worries that can come with regular use
- Planning for cutting down or stopping, alongside medical advice where you need it
Confidentiality
Worried about your job or your driving licence? What I report, and what stays between us.
If it is someone you love
It can be hard to know what to say when someone you love is using nitrous oxide, especially if they say it is harmless, and you can have support of your own. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Is nitrous oxide addictive?
It may be possible to become psychologically dependent on it, according to FRANK, although it says the evidence on this is limited. Some people report cravings and a wish to keep using. The effects wear off within minutes, which can lead to repeated use. Therapy can help with what the habit is doing for you.
Is nitrous oxide illegal in the UK?
Yes. It became a Class C drug on 8 November 2023, and it is illegal to have, give away or sell it for inhaling. FRANK says possession can bring up to 2 years in prison and supply up to 14 years. Medical and dental use, and some industrial uses, remain lawful.
What does nitrous oxide do to your body if you use it a lot?
FRANK and the government warn that heavy regular use can lower vitamin B12 and cause a form of anaemia. Severe deficiency can damage nerves, causing tingling and numbness in fingers and toes, painful walking difficulty and possibly paralysis. FRANK says regular use can also stop white blood cells forming properly.
I have pins and needles after using nitrous oxide. What should I do?
Speak to a GP soon and tell them about your use. The NHS lists pins and needles as a symptom of B12 deficiency and says it should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, as nerve problems can sometimes be permanent. I cannot diagnose, but I can support you alongside medical care.
Can I drive after using nitrous oxide?
No. FRANK says that, like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal, and you may receive a heavy fine, a driving ban or a prison sentence. Dizziness and loss of coordination are part of the risk. If you are worried about how your use affects your life, we can talk it through.