More than just joy: A qualitative analysis of participant experiences during nitrous oxide sedation.
Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica August 1, 2024 Petra Valtonen, Saara Markkanen, Kaija Järventausta et al.
Nitrous oxide, increasingly used for sedation and pain control rather than general anesthesia, produces highly variable subjective experiences that are not always pleasant. In twenty healthy male volunteers who inhaled 50% nitrous oxide for 20 minutes, qualitative analysis of open-ended responses revealed two overarching themes: the drug is mind-altering and causes sensory overload. Mind-altering effects included dreamlike states—encompassing changes in consciousness and scary, bizarre, or transcendental dreams, but no pleasant dreams—and heightened emotions such as euphoria, anxiety, and fear of losing control. Sensory overload comprised distorted perception, bodily sensations, and a heightened sense of surroundings. These findings help clinicians understand patient likes and dislikes during nitrous oxide sedation.