Laughing Gas Examined For Treatment-Resistant Depression

the Psychiatry Advisor take:

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas and a staple of a dentist’s office, helped relieve depressive symptoms in a small number of patients with treatment-resistantdepression.

Peter Nagele, MD, an anesthesiologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues conducted a small study involving 20 depressed patients whose symptoms did not improve on antidepressants. Each participant had a one-hour session of laughing gas and placebo, spaced a week apart. Depressive symptoms were measured two hours, 24 hours, and one week after each session.

One day after receiving nitrous oxide, three patients reported that their symptoms had disappeared almost completely, and another seven reported significant improvement, the researchers reported in the journal Biological Psychiaty. Another seven participants reported mild improvement in their symptoms. But no one reported symptom worsening after they were administered laughing gas.  

Meanwhile, a day after taking the placebo, none of the patients reported their depression was virtually gone, and one reported feeling worse the next day. But there was a placebo effect seen the day after as five patients reported feeling mild improvement and two reported significant improvement.

Although further study is needed, nitrous oxide could become a safer option to another alternative depression treatment, ketamine. Both drugs are antagonists that work on the brain’s NMDA receptors, which influence neurotransmitters and brain signaling.

Laughing Gas Examined For Treatment-Resistant Depression

The dentist's office might be the last place you'd look to find a quick cure for an implacable bout of depression. But new research suggests that laughing gas — the mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that eases the pain and anxiety of having dental work — may help banish treatment-resistant depression in about the time it takes to fill a cavity.

At concentrations used in dentist's offices, and in the latest study, laughing gas can induce euphoria, disorientation and mild sedation. The experience is sought out by some drug abusers, who inhale the propellant in jarred whipped cream for a fleeting high

But it is actually another legitimate sedative-turned-party-drug, ketamine, that prompted researchers to explore whether nitrous oxide might have a rapid anti-depressant effect.

Hidden Uses Of Toothpaste

By Savings Experiment Staff - Posted 9/10/14

Basic white toothpaste can brighten up your smile, but it can also has many household uses that can save you money in the long run. Here are a few ways you can make this common item work for you.

Toothpaste is a great jewelry polish. Simply apply a little dab on your silver, gold or hard gemstones with a soft brush or cloth. Polish gently, then rinse off and repeat until the dirt and tarnish disappears. You can use toothpaste to scrub away stubborn clothing and carpet stains, too.

Toothpaste also dries out and reduces redness on pimples. Just apply a little to the affected area, and depending on how sensitive your skin is, leave it on for a couple of hours or even overnight. A little bit can even help soothe minor burns and itching and swelling from mosquito and bug bites.

Lastly, you can quickly deodorize your hands of fish, onions and garlic odor by simply scrubbing with a bit of toothpaste. Keep in mind that it's best to use a white, non-gel toothpaste with less fluoride and no whitening agents, which can sometimes irritate the skin and be less effective.

Remember, a little toothpaste can go a long way. Try these tips, and you'll see that just a few dabs can save you a few dollars!