Complete dosage information for Nitrous — threshold, light, common, strong, and heavy dose ranges across 1 route of administration.
Full Nitrous profileImportant Safety Notice
Dosage information is for harm reduction purposes only. Individual sensitivity varies greatly. Always start with the lowest effective dose and work your way up slowly. Never eyeball doses — use a milligram scale.
Fatal nitrous oxide overdose is primarily caused by asphyxiation (displacement of oxygen) rather than direct toxicity. Deaths have occurred from using nitrous oxide in enclosed spaces, from placing bags or masks over the head, or from inhaling directly from high-pressure tanks. The gas itself has relatively low toxicity when adequate oxygen is maintained. Signs of dangerous nitrous oxide use include: loss of consciousness (beyond the brief normal dissociation), blue-tinged lips or fingernails (cyanosis indicating oxygen deprivation), seizures, confusion persisting beyond a few minutes after the last inhalation, and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency (numbness, tingling, difficulty walking) indicating chronic nerve damage. If someone loses consciousness from nitrous oxide, move them to fresh air immediately. Check breathing and pulse. If not breathing, begin rescue breathing or CPR and call emergency services (911). If they regain consciousness, monitor for confusion and disorientation. For chronic users showing neurological symptoms, seek medical attention promptly, as B12-related nerve damage is partially reversible if caught early but can become permanent if use continues. Good Samaritan laws apply.
A common inhaled dose of Nitrous is 8–16 g.
The threshold dose for Nitrous via inhaled is approximately 4 g.
Nitrous typically lasts 0.01666666666666667–0.08333333333333333 hours via inhaled.