Nitrous oxide is emerging as a surprisingly fast-acting option for people with major or treatment-resistant depression.
New research shows that even a single inhaled dose can ease symptoms within a day, while repeated sessions may create longer-lasting improvements.
Nitrous Oxide Shows Potential for Fast Depression Relief
Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, including many who have not improved with first-line antidepressants, may benefit from short-term treatment with nitrous oxide. This conclusion comes from a large meta-analysis led by the University of Birmingham.
A new paper published in eBioMedicine on November 30 reviewed the most reliable clinical data available to examine how medically administered nitrous oxide (N2O) may offer rapid relief from depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Understanding TRD and Why New Options Are Needed
TRD refers to depression that remains insufficiently controlled after a person has tried two different antidepressants. According to a previous study* by the same research team, about 48% of UK patients see limited benefit from current treatments, making the search for alternative approaches increasingly important.
To explore this further, researchers from the University of Birmingham, University of Oxford, and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust examined seven clinical trials and four protocol papers produced by scientists around the world. These studies focused on how nitrous oxide, a gas commonly used as pain relief in medical settings, might help treat depressive disorders such as MDD, TRD, and bipolar depression.
Hellbound and Down 