Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective anxiolytic and analgesic agent that is mixed with oxygen. Nitrous oxide is used during procedures and treatments to help make you feel more comfortable. 

The nitrous oxide and oxygen analgesia system delivers a safe mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen which is inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask, providing you control over self-administration. Your doctor will ask you to breathe normally through your mouth, and within a few short minutes you should start to feel the effects of the gas mixture. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off within 5-10 minutes after the last inhalation of the N2O/O2 mixture. 

No. The provided nitrous oxide and oxygen ratio is not strong enough to provide anesthesia and put you to sleep. You will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions the doctors may have. 

Most patients will say it makes them feel relaxed, and their arms and legs feel light. Some patients feel tingling in their extremities and report feeling like they are floating, and/or sinking. As nitrous oxide is often called “laughing gas”, some patients will feel giggly when the gas mixture takes effect. Moreover, your voice may temporarily change during the administration of nitrous oxide since vocal cords are affected by nitrous oxide. 

For most patients, the calming, relaxing effects of nitrous oxide will be felt within a minute or two or after a couple of deep inhalation/exhalation cycles. Effects may vary from patient to patient. Once you stop inhaling the gas mixture, you will start feeling back to normal within 5-10 minutes. 

This is dependent upon the procedure performed, other medications administered, etc. For example, if you were also administered Valium for anxiety during bone marrow aspiration, the effects of Valium will not allow you to operate machinery safely. The effects of nitrous oxide and oxygen on their own are completely out of your system within a few minutes. It is reasonable that you can safely go home about 10 minutes after ceasing use of nitrous oxide and oxygen assuming all other discharge criteria have been met.

Nitrous oxide does not eliminate pain. This is important to understand and to set your expectations. This will also not replace an anesthetic which is often used to numb locally (if required). Nitrous oxide is intended to take the edge off, help you relax, make you feel more comfortable, and reduce anxiety. This is not something you would use for extremely painful procedures.

Nitrous oxide has been used for over 100 years [1] and has a long-standing safety record. When the Nitronox device is used, you are awake (conscious), responsive, and breathing normally on your own. 

Side effects are usually minimal. With a self administered protocol, you are in total control minimizing side effects. Side effects that can occur in some patients are dizziness and nausea. If you do not like how you are feeling, stop inhaling the N2O/O2 mixture and breathe room air. This should quickly reverse any negative effects.