"Laughing gas" may offer quick, long-lasting relief from depression

[cheryl]

"Laughing gas" may offer quick, long-lasting relief from depression - Big Think

Laughing gas may be far more effective for some than antidepressants.

• Standard antidepressant medications don't work for many people who need them.
• With ketamine showing potential as an antidepressant, researchers investigate another anesthetic: nitrous oxide, commonly called "laughing gas."
• Researchers observe that just a light mixture of nitrous oxide for an hour alleviates depression symptoms for two weeks.

The usual antidepressants don't work for everyone. That's what makes a new study of the antidepressant properties of nitrous oxide so intriguing. It looks like just a single low dose of what your dentist may call "laughing gas" can help alleviate symptoms of depression for weeks afterward.