Biomaterial Database

Clinical role and mechanisms of action of analgesic nitrous oxide. 1998

M A Gillman, and F J Lichtigfeld

South African Brain Research Institute, Johannesburg Republic of South Africa.

We give a brief history and development of the use of analgesic nitrous oxide in various clinical situations, emphasizing the very important difference between analgesic and anesthetic concentrations of the gas. We give evidence for the opioid nature of analgesic nitrous oxide and the probable role that these opioid properties play in its clinical effects. Its uniqueness among the opioids arises from its ability to safely stimulate both mu and kappa opioid receptors thereby modulating these systems, which are at times antagonistic to each other. These opposing systems appear to be particularly important during addictive withdrawal. We also discuss the possible relationship existing between nitric and nitrous oxide.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009609	Nitrous Oxide	Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream.	Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
D004723	Endorphins	One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; OPIOID PEPTIDES is used for the broader group.	Endorphin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D018685	Anesthetics, Inhalation	Gases or volatile liquids that vary in the rate at which they induce anesthesia; potency; the degree of circulation, respiratory, or neuromuscular depression they produce; and analgesic effects. Inhalation anesthetics have advantages over intravenous agents in that the depth of anesthesia can be changed rapidly by altering the inhaled concentration. Because of their rapid elimination, any postoperative respiratory depression is of relatively short duration. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p173)	Inhalation Anesthetic,Inhalation Anesthetics,Anesthetic Gases,Anesthetic, Inhalation,Gases, Anesthetic
D018712	Analgesics, Non-Narcotic	A subclass of analgesic agents that typically do not bind to OPIOID RECEPTORS and are not addictive. Many non-narcotic analgesics are offered as NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS.	Non Opioid Analgesic,Non-Opioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesic,Nonopioid Analgesics,Analgesics, Nonnarcotic,Analgesics, Nonopioid,Non-Opioid Analgesics,Analgesic, Non Opioid,Analgesic, Non-Opioid,Analgesic, Nonopioid,Analgesics, Non Narcotic,Analgesics, Non-Opioid,Non Opioid Analgesics,Non-Narcotic Analgesics,Nonnarcotic Analgesics,Opioid Analgesic, Non