A systematic review of five randomized controlled trials (212 participants) found that psychotropic analgesic nitrous oxide (PAN) may improve alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reduce the amount and duration of sedative medication needed, with better psychomotor function compared to oxygen or benzodiazepine regimens. No significant differences were observed for depression or anxiety one hour after treatment, and no serious adverse effects were reported. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes, and the authors recommend further high-quality trials before routine clinical use.
Nitrous oxide, an analgesic gas, has long been thought to have euphoric and sexual effects, but these have only recently been studied scientifically. In a small experiment with 7 men and 6 women, nitrous oxide generally reduced objective measures of sexual arousal from erotic videos. However, 7 of the 13 participants reported subjectively that the gas made them more aroused, contradicting the objective measurements. The authors suggest this discrepancy may stem from nitrous oxide's effects on the endogenous opioid system, possibly acting in opposing directions centrally and peripherally, and propose the gas as a tool for investigating sexual function.