title: Nitrous oxide: a nonnarcotic analgesic for emergency use.
abstract: Thirteen years of clinical experience in Great Britain and five years of experience in the United States have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of 50:50 N2O:O2 for the relief of significant pain without masking symptoms important to diagnosis. This mixture may be safely self-administered by a wide variety of patients who are currently receiving other forms of analgesia. This article discusses the pharmacology and physiologic effects of 50:50 N2O:O2, the indications and contraindications for its use, and a system for delivery of the gas mixture to the patient.
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012646:Self Administration / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D009294:Narcotics; D009609:Nitrous Oxide