Know your nangs

You may have read stories in the news recently about people who’ve been hospitalised after taking NOS – also known as nitrous oxide, nangs, whippits or laughing gas – so what’s going on?

In small amounts, say a few small silver cannisters, NOS has a low risk of harm for most people.

But recently we’ve been seeing more larger 2 to 3L canisters being sold, which contain upwards of 200 doses. These can make it really hard to know how much you’ve taken – which means it can be really easy to take too much.

Nitrous oxide can stop your body from being able to process B12, which doesn’t sound serious, but at its worst it can result in permanent nerve damage, paralysis or psychosis.

Taking B12 supplements or eating steak won’t prevent you from developing B12 issues if you’re using lots of NOS. That’s because your body can’t absorb B12 while you are using NOS.

So how can you stay safer?

If you are going to use NOS, try to stick to the common dose of 1-3 small cannisters per session and take long breaks between using, to reduce the risk.

Whether you’re using smaller charges or large cannisters, releasing the gas into a balloon first helps prevent freeze burns and means you can keep track of how much you’ve had. If you’re using this method, a common dose is 1-3 balloons.

If start to notice you feel more tired than usual, out of breath, have pale skin, have numbness, burning or tingling in your hands/feet, mouth sores, foggy brain or headaches, it is a good idea to go and see you GP to get your B12 levels checked.

If you have an existing B12 deficiency, or a family history of b12 deficiency, it might be a good idea to give NOS a miss.

Recapping our key tips to stay safer:

• Get your B12 levels checked before using NOS
• Avoid overdoing it – a common dose is 1-3 small silver cannisters
• Release the gas into another container (like a balloon) first to avoid the risk of freeze burns 
• Never use a facemask with nitrous oxide and don’t use it in an enclosed space, like a car 
• Reduce your risk of injury from falling over by sitting or lying down. Use in a safe space away from dangers and never use NOS while driving or operating machinery.
• Take a break between each charger or balloon, and take breaks between sessions. Using nitrous oxide every day increases your risk of experiencing problems.
• Don’t use automotive grade nitrous oxide as this can contain other substances that are harmful 
• Don’t use NOS with other drugs or medications that reduce your blood pressure (including Viagra and poppers) as this can make your blood pressure drop so low it can cause death.

For more information, visit our nitrous oxide page.