Wednesday, June 09, 2021

Major depression is no laughing matter or is it? Try laughing gas!

Good news! According to latest research inhaled low concentration laughing gas may help with treatment-resistant major depression.

Is it not common wisdom that laughing is good for your mental health? Laugh more, be happier!

"Laughing gas improves depression
About one-third of individuals suffering from depression are at risk for treatment resistance. Whereas inhaled 50% nitrous oxide has early antidepressant effects on individuals with treatment-resistant major depression (TRMD), adverse effects can occur at this concentration. In this phase 2 clinical trial, Nagele et al. studied the effects of a single 1-hour treatment with 25% nitrous oxide on depression symptoms in those with TRMD, finding that this lower concentration had comparable efficacy to 50% nitrous oxide over several weeks but was associated with significantly fewer adverse effects. These results highlight that lower concentrations of nitrous oxide may be a useful treatment for TRMD."

A phase 2 trial of inhaled nitrous oxide for treatment-resistant major depression | Science Translational Medicine (no public access)

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