Laughing gas for severe depression: New study finds rapid, lasting breakthrough

The researchers in a recent study have discovered that nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas, could offer a potential breakthrough to cure severe or treatment-resistant depression quickly.

The analysis led by the team from the University of Birmingham in the UK, consists of robust clinical data which shows the impacts of medically administered laughing gas on the adults reeling from the treatment -resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorders (MDD).

In the medical industry, laughing gas or nitrous oxide is often used as pain relief. Several studies often attributed nitrous oxide to fast-acting anti-depressant.

As per findings, published in eBioMedicine, inhaling a 50 percent concentration of nitrous oxide in a single session produced significant outcomes by reducing symptoms of depression within 24 hours. 

Unfortunately, the relief proved short-lived, disappearing within a week. However, the repetitive inhaling tends to produce more sustained results.

According to Kiranpreet Gill, a PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham and first author of the analysis, “Depression is a debilitating illness, made even more so by the fact that antidepressants make no meaningful difference for almost half of all patients diagnosed with it.”

"This study brings together the best possible evidence indicating that nitrous oxide has the potential to provide swift and clinically significant short-term improvements in patients with severe depression," she added.

Calling nitrous oxide as “a part of a new generation of rapid-acting treatments”, Dr Gill urged for the longer trials to assess the efficacy of treatment for long-term.

Given the efficiency of results, the team is also prepared to start its first National Health Service (NHS) trial in the UK to analyze whether nitrous oxide could be the next fast-acting breakthrough for severe clinical depression treatment or not.