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Chronic Nitrous Oxide Toxicity Despite Elevated Serum Vitamin B12 Level: A Case Report

  • 0Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital LLC, Department of Emergency Medicine, Paducah, Kentucky.
Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine +

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May 22, 2025

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Nitrous oxide (N2O) toxicity is an uncommon but important-to-recognize presentation of neurologic deficits and hematologic abnormalities, which may never resolve in some patients. In the United States, nitrous oxide is legal to possess and easily obtainable for purchase in stores and online. Nitrous oxide abuse and its long-term sequelae must be recognized by the emergency physician to ensure proper follow-up and maximize neurologic outcomes.

CASE REPORT

A 28-year-old male with past medical history of alcoholism and polysubstance abuse presented to the emergency department with progressive paresthesias, shortness of breath, and neurologic complaints following daily inhalation of N2O for three weeks. He was diagnosed with N2O toxicity due to functional vitamin B12 deficiency in the setting of elevated B12 levels from prophylactic self-supplementation.

CONCLUSION

While most recreational users of nitrous oxide will experience transient neurologic symptoms resolving within minutes of cessation, frequent or heavy users may develop permanent neurotoxicity. Exposed patients require close follow-up with neurology and vitamin B12 supplementation to maximize neurologic recovery. In this patient, there was persistence of neurologic symptoms over 24 hours after cessation of use despite self-supplementation of vitamin B12.

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