Nitrous Oxide Therapy |
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There are currently Phase II studies that are having great success using nitrous oxide inhalation for severe treatment-resistant depression. The treatment is very similar to ketamine, but allows the patient to drive after treatment and can be a nice alternative for those for which an IV is not an option.
Nitrous oxide (what your dentist calls laughing gas!) has been in use for hundreds of years and at small amounts creates euphoria. In larger amounts it works as an anesthetic. When administered properly using the right equipment to ensure the correct percentages of Oxygen and Nitrous oxide, treatment is very safe and very effective.
Nitrous oxide affects many receptors in the nervous system including, but not limited to: dopamine receptors, alpha-2 adreno-receptors, benzodiazepine receptors, and N-methyl, d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. NMDA receptor antagonism is also a mechanism of action for ketamine, and is generally theorized to be the most likely mechanism by which ketamine is so effective as treatment for depression – this also explains nitrous oxide’s potent anti-depressant effect.
Nitrous oxide (what your dentist calls laughing gas!) has been in use for hundreds of years and at small amounts creates euphoria. In larger amounts it works as an anesthetic. When administered properly using the right equipment to ensure the correct percentages of Oxygen and Nitrous oxide, treatment is very safe and very effective.
Nitrous oxide affects many receptors in the nervous system including, but not limited to: dopamine receptors, alpha-2 adreno-receptors, benzodiazepine receptors, and N-methyl, d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. NMDA receptor antagonism is also a mechanism of action for ketamine, and is generally theorized to be the most likely mechanism by which ketamine is so effective as treatment for depression – this also explains nitrous oxide’s potent anti-depressant effect.
"Psychology is not just the study of weakness and damage, it is also the study of strength and virtue.
Treatment is not just fixing what is broken, it is nurturing what is best within ourselves."
-Martin Seligman
Treatment is not just fixing what is broken, it is nurturing what is best within ourselves."
-Martin Seligman
