Pain Isn't A Laughing Matter

2005-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

Fertilizing the Land, Not the Air

Nitrogenous chemicals are used for important fertilizers. By using these nitrogen-based fertilizers, crop yields are increased. However, by using these fertilizers, the greenhouse gas nitrogen oxide is released. Unfortunately, the exact reason to why nitrogen oxide is being produced is unknown. Nonetheless, an estimate of the amount of nitrogen oxide that will be produced can be calculated by measuring the nitrogen content in any fertilizer and the amount of fertilizer used. Certain practices can be utilized to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide produced. These include the "use of low N2O-emitting fertilizer; use of slow-release fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors; and reduction of leguminous sources of nitrogen" (CIESIN). However, of the three, the last is not possible because of the importance of legume for food security. One solution being formulated is irrigating the land with more water. As the nitrogen needs oxygen to form nitrous oxide, if the fertilizer is watered more, the nitrogen will sink deeper into the soil. As a result, the nitrogen will not have oxygen to react with, and less nitrogen oxide will be produced.

2005-11-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

Quitting Smoking: A Laughing Matter With Laughing Gas

Today, laughing gas seems to be an infallible solution to quitting smoking. According to Dr. Jesse Haven of Anchor Health Center, in Naples, Fl., and Dr. Allen Kuhn of Discover Wellness Clinic in nearby St. Petersburg, this extraordinary development may signigicantly help people overcome the smoking habbit by helping patients cope the tramautic withdrawal symptoms they experience in the first 72 hours after quitting. In an informal study that involved 25 patients who have decided to quit smoking, laughing gas was administered once for 20 minutes on the day they decided to quit. Supposedly, this dosage of laughing gas is supposed to stifle cravings for nicotine by directly "replenishing stores of the brain chemical dopamine, which becomes depleted during drug and alcohol withdrawal," phrases WebMD. This "helps patients overcome the physiological withdrawal from nicotine, which is a huge hurdle for smokers trying to quit the habit," says Haven. The study found that the number of cigarette smoked per day had dwindled 85%, and 42% were able to successfully quit smoking in the three day period.

2005-11-07T15:21:00.000-08:00

Abusing Nitrous Oxide

Even today, people continue to abuse the usage of nitrous oxide. They use the gas as an inhalant to evoke a sense of feeling “high”, thinking that it is a much safer alternative than drugs such as marijuana and alcohol. Abuse of this gas is most frequently seen on college campuses and at music concerts, as users tend to leave behind their gas cylinders after the concert is over. To obtain this gas, abusers usually either purchase the gas from dealers or steal the gas cylinders from legitimate users. Legitimate users include “anyone who can substantiate a medical, industrial, food, or other legitimate use for nitrous oxide” (CGAnet). Dealers sell their nitrous oxide through small balloons filled with the gas for about three to five dollars a balloon. These dealers also tend to remove warning labels and safety information on gas cylinders to convince their customers to thinking that abusing nitrous oxide cannot possibly be dangerous. Dealers in return receive about “$10,000 and $30,000 per a large cylinder of the gas” (Issues).

2005-11-03T21:18:00.000-08:00

Looking out for the Animals

The ethics of animal testing offers a large debate. Those who are against it argue that animals should not be tested because of the possible physical and psychological affects on the animal. Nonetheless animal testing is still currently legal; however, to test animals, the scientist must, many times, use some sort of anesthetic on the animal. Doing so will produce the same effects on animals as they produce on humans: a state of unconsciousness. Still, "it is important to learn about the drugs you will be using and about the physiology of the animal you will be monitoring" (University of Minnesota). This is because the physiology of each animal is different, therefore, the effects of a certain drug on animals will not always be reflect of the effects of the drug on humans. That being said, some anesthetics used on animals are ether, chloroform, and, of course, nitrous oxide. As the effects of ether are usually rough, there is a strict set of safety guidelines to be followed when this drug is used. Chloroform, which is very hazardous, cannot be used in certain areas. Finally, nitrous oxide is very strong so it must always be diluted before using. If too much is inhaled, it can cause hypoxia, so the use of this is discouraged.

2005-11-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

Infertility and Nitrous Oxide

There exist many chemicals and compounds that can impair sperm production and fertility. Is nitrous oxide one of these compounds? According to an experiment, evidence shows that there was a “decrease in sperm count in rats exposed to nitrous oxide” (Infertility), proving nitrous oxide to be toxic to the sperm of rats. Studies show that there is an increased spontaneous abortion rate in the wives of anesthesiologists as well as a slight increase in birth defects. Another study of anesthesiologists chronically exposed to low concentrations of anesthetics showed no significant difference in semen quality or any alterations in reproductive outcomes.

Although there is a discrepancy between rats and humans, it has been proven that having a deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to reduced sperm counts and sperm mobility. Also, inhaling nitrous oxide can lead to a deficiency of that vitamin. However, studies show that taking vitamin B12 as supplements when infertile does not always benefit the user; only in some cases did the patients taking the supplements appear to be helpful. One conclusion we can come up with is that nitrous oxide may lead to reduced sperm count and mobility as the rats exposed to nitrous oxide have shown, but a deficiency of vitamin B12 may not be the only cause of infertility.

2005-10-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

Painless Painkillers

Of course, not every surgical operation requires knocking out every patient under the operating table unconscious. Enter local anesthesia: any one of the myriad of techniques available to the medical world that can isolate and nullify only a specific region of a body from pain without affecting consciousness. According to Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, there are distinct advantages to administering local anesthesia in numerous cases, namely because it often involves fewer drugs and does not significantly affect on blood pressure and heart rate. In minor procedures such as dental operations, for example, administration of local anesthesia allows “protective reflexes such as the gag reflex, which helps prevent choking, to remain intact” (“Local Anesthesia”). In addition to dentistry, local anesthesia is widely used in orthopedic operations as well. Depending on the drug and technique, the anesthetic effect may persist from less than an hour to several hours. The earliest known local anesthetic was cocaine, but because of its addictiveness, has rarely been administered. Today, lidocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic, and there are a host of familiar drugs as well, such as procaine, or novocaine, and bupivacaine.

2005-10-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

Is Nitrous Oxide Legal?

The possession of nitrous oxide is in fact illegal in most areas in the United States. The reason for this is due to the common abuses of this gas of inhaling it for entertainment. Unless one is under the care of a physician or dentist, it is illegal to use nitrous oxide. A brief list of the states’ laws can be found here. Using nitrous oxide for nitrous oxide systems in automobiles is legal in most of the United States. However, using the nitrous oxide systems outside of professional uses will most likely result in many traffic violations and myriads of fines. Some areas require certified NOS. In many cases, drivers were arrested for the possession of nitrous oxide in their vehicles on the grounds that they intended to inhale the gas leisure. What most people do not know is that this is highly unlikely since the nitrous oxide used in automobiles are mixed with hydrogen sulfide, which causes deleterious effects on the user if inhaled.

2005-10-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

A Druggie for Every Drug

As narcotics were available commercially throughout the nineteenth century, doctors would readily prescribe the drug to treat diarrhea, menstruation, and headaches. Becoming more aware of the euphoric state that the drug produced, people began to abuse the drug. They were used "much in the way aspirin is used today...Opium dens provided a place for people to smoke the drug." However, this was never perceived as a problem for many years. Like many other drugs, narcotics have proven to be harmful. After consistent use, the body begins to rely on the drug and therefore the brain does not allow the production of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers in the body. Other complications include pneumonia, liver dysfunction, seizures, infections of skin, etc. Also after consistent use, people begin to develop a physical and mental dependence on the drug, and on top of that, they begin to develop a tolerance to the drug. Symptoms of narcotic abuse range from euphoria and pain relief to nausea, vomiting, itchiness, constipation, slurred speech and confusion. The symptoms of withdrawal are much worse and include irritability, vomiting, muscle aches, lack of appetite, cravings for the drug, and rapid breathing. Suddenly the hippie druggie life doesn't seem all that peaceful.

2005-10-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Sound familiar?

Opioids are any chemical agent that bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. They are grouped into four broad categories: endogenous opioid peptides, ones found naturally in the body; opium alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine; semisynthetic opioids, such as heroin; and fully synthetic opiods. According to the online lexicon Wikipedia, there is nothing more effective in treating severe pain. Coedine is the prime ingredient in cough medicine, for example, and morphine is widely used to null sharp, acute pain after surgery. And, according to the American Pain Society, opioids are becoming more and more popular in treating chronic pain and easing the discomfort of terminal illnesses as well. Maybe almost too popular for good, they say.

Everybody has heard of heroin, right?

2005-10-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Laughing Gas Alive and Well

In a study published in the British medical gazette The Lancet in September, researchers from around the globe confirmed that the administration of laughing gas during surgical operations does not hinder or delay the process of recovery from wounds.

"In a...study of [several hundred] patients who underwent...surgery, there were no differences in postoperative infection rates, wound healing, length of stay, or death between patients who received surgical anesthesia with...nitrous oxide or nitrogen," cites Ozan Ocka, MD.

The Outcomes Research Group in the University of Kentucky, Louisville, conducted a study, which Ocka anchored, that anesthesized 418 patients in Hungary and Austria who were scheduled to undergo colon resection procedures that were expected to last longer than two hours. Colon resection was selected because it has a high risk of postoperative infections.

The study asserts that hospitals can continue to administer the drug with impunity. Declares Dr. Ocka: "Nitrous oxide still remains the most commonly used general anesthetic in the world."

Decommissioning laughing gas?(?!) Unthinkable.

2005-10-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

Narcotics are the New Black

Other than anesthetics, another type of drug used to ease pain for patients is narcotics. The effects of narcotics vary with the dosage, previous dosage, how it is administered, and placebo. Generally, though, narcotics reduce tension and aggression, and allow the person to enter a more joyful state. Other side effects include sleepiness, lack of concentration, carelessness, nausea and vomiting, and shallow breathing. Even with all these side effects, narcotics do not impair motor coordination and speech. Narcotics can be taken orally, intravenously, or through the skin with skin patches. Legally, narcotics refer to opium and opium derivatives. These are the drugs that are mostly used in hospitals. However, because the term narcotic also refers to other substances such as cocaine, medical professionals have begun to refer to the opium and opium derivatives as opioids. Unfortunately, as with any other drug that provides a euphoric state-of-mind, narcotics are also abused illegally. They can be highly addictive, and cause death. Sometimes, if the drug is taken intravenously, the person can contract AIDS or hepatitis, not from the drug, but from a non-sterilize needle.

2005-10-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Where Can I Get Nitrous Oxide?

Some ways in which nitrous oxide can be obtained are: purchase cylinder cans that say “Whipped Cream” on it, buy medical-grade nitrous, buy auto-grade nitrous, or brew it through proper chemical reactions. The first method can be found in most supermarkets. The only danger of getting nitrous oxide through this process is the fact that the gas is very cold when released; in other words, direct contact after release should be avoided since it can cause frostbite. Medical-grade nitrous oxide can be bought from chemical supply houses and gas companies. This type of nitrous oxide is designed for human use. Auto-grade nitrous oxide can be bought from high performance racing stores; the auto-grade nitrous oxide is mixed with hydrogen sulfide, which produces a rotten egg smell. This kind of nitrous oxide is only intended for improving engine outputs. To make nitrous oxide, follow the steps on the following link: How to Make Nitrous Oxide. However, making homemade nitrous oxide is highly not recommended since people tend to produce different toxic compounds instead.

2005-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hone in on This

"By knowing exactly how [anesthetics] work, we can begin to see what it takes for the brain to keep us awake," says Dr. Alkire. Even after 150 years of using anesthetics, scientists have yet to figure out how they actually work. However, once anesthetics are figured out, scientists believe that they can learn to change them in order to hone in on specific parts of the brain. In doing so, unnecessary effects of anesthetics will be removed and undesired side effects will also be removed. Dr. Michael Alkire is a leading scientist in this study and is trying to figure out how a certain anesthetic, halothane, affects the brain. After halothane was administered to five volunteers, they were given a slightly radioactive glucose. Then, using certain devices to detect the glucose, scientists could determine where, specifically, the halothane had taken affect. It was found that this anesthetic had affected the mid-brain area, which indirectly controls consciousness. Scientists have also determined that because this area is shut down, that signals cannot pass through it to areas of the brain that control memory.

2005-10-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Relax, This Won't Hurt

With the growing technology comes more drugs. With more drugs comes more anesthetics. There are currently many subdivisions of anesthetics. Some of these subdivisions that they can now be broken down into are local anesthetics and general anesthetics. General anesthetics can be further broken down into inhalant anesthetics and intravenous anesthetics. As the name explains, inhalant anesthetics are those that are inhaled. The gas goes into the lungs, which the heart pumps blood through, and instead of picking up oxygen, the blood picks up these gases. An example of an inhalant anesthetic would be Nitrous Oxide. Intravenous anesthetics, on the other hand, are those that are administered directly into the vein via needles. One group of intravenous anesthetics is muscle relaxants . Whether or not muscle relaxants are anesthetics is debatable. Normally, anesthetics are used to provide pain relief or unconsciousness. However, muscle relaxants do neither. Acetylcholine is a chemical released to bind to receptors to contract a muscle. Muscle relaxants prevent this by blocking access to these receptors. Muscle relaxants can also be divided into two groups: depolarizing muscle relaxants and non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. The difference between DMR and NDMR is that the former activates the receptor whereas the latter does not. There is only one type of DMR being offered to treat patients, which is Succinycholine. This ephemeral drug is used when the effects are only necessary for short periods. However, side effects do occur, and they include twitching, soreness, and increases in ocular pressure. NDMR on the other hand, can be very short lived, but can also last very long. Various NDMR have different side effects. However, whatever the muscle relaxant, all are ultimately very useful, more to the operator than the patient. They are useful for the operator because they create the best operational conditions. Unfortunately, they do nothing to ease the pain of the patient.

2005-10-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

Voluntarily

Voluntarily. The term so vehemently used by Merck (research) scientists to proudly explain why they so clandestinely pulled the controversial painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib) from the market last June. A dignified, laudable deed, so charismatically retracting a drug out of genuine concern for the safety of its consumers? Perhaps. Or a scandalous, fraudulent coverup to suppress potentially more problematic truths going public?

Vioxx may not be as exhilarating as laughing gas, but it has effectively been a painkiller that received just as much attention in the news as N2O did in the entertainment industry over a century ago. The drug was FDA approved in May of 1999. Merck initiated the VIGOR trial in January earlier that year, whose results in March 2000 "demonstrated a difference in the cardiovascular event rate" between those patients taking Vioxx and those taking another Cox 2 drug, naproxen. After several meticulous studies with placebo control groups, researchers concluded that naproxen was having "a cardio protective effect" and effectively waived the potential threat for years. In September of 2004, the four and a half year study, APPROVe, proved "that beginning after 18 months, here was a discernible and unexpected increased risk for confirmed cardiovascular events in patients taking [Vioxx]." On September 30, Merck "promptly and voluntarily" withdrew the drug. Merck has undeniably been under much fire recently from multimillion dollar lawsuit after another, beginning with the one that granted the wife of a Texan engineer $253 million on the grounds that Vioxx was the primary cause of the fatal heart attack that killer her husband in August (full story). Not to mention a pessimistic FDA, who have been rigorously conducting studies on their own. No doubt they will be, either. Merck faces an abundant number of lawsuits this year that will be, without a doubt, diligently challenging the integrity and treasury of the pharmaceutical company "where patients come first".

The following is the comprehensive response from the Food and Drug Administration to the withdrawal of Vioxx:

1. What action did Merck take today?
Merck announced a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib).
2. What is Vioxx?
Vioxx is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Vioxx is also related to the nonselective NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Vioxx is a prescription medicine used to relieve signs and symptoms of arthritis, acute pain in adults, and painful menstrual cycles.
3. Did FDA require this action?
No, Merck made this decision independent of input from FDA. The Agency has not had an opportunity to review the data from the study that was stopped in the depth that Merck has, but agrees with the company that there appear to be significant safety concerns for patients, particularly those taking the drug chronically.
FDA plans to work closely with Merck to coordinate the withdrawal of this product from the US market.
4. What action did FDA take today?
FDA issued a public health advisory concerning the use of Vioxx. This advisory is based on Merck & Co., Inc. voluntarily withdrawing Vioxx from the market due to safety concerns.
5. What should I do if I am currently taking Vioxx?
The risk that an individual patient will suffer a heart attack or stroke related to Vioxx is very small. We encourage people taking Vioxx to contact their physician to discuss discontinuing use of Vioxx and alternative treatments. Any decision about which drug product to take to treat your symptoms should be made in consultation with your physician based on an assessment of your specific treatment needs.
6. What are the likely long-term health effects, if any, of taking this product?
The new study shows that Vioxx may cause an increased risk in cardiovascular events such as heart attack and strokes during chronic use.
7. What evidence supports the Public Health Advisory?
Merck’s decision to withdraw Vioxx from the market is based on new data from a trial called the APPROVe [ Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on VIOXX] trial. In the APPROVe trial, Vioxx was compared to placebo (sugar-pill). The purpose of the trial was to see if Vioxx 25 mg was effective in preventing the recurrence of colon polyps. This trial was stopped early because there was an increased risk for serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, first observed after 18 months of continuous treatment with Vioxx compared with placebo.
8. Why wasn’t the APPROVe trial stopped earlier?
The APPROVe trial began enrollment in 2000. The trial was being monitored by an independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB). It was not stopped earlier because the results for the first 18 months of the trial did not show any increased risk of confirmed cardiovascular events on Vioxx.
9. What did FDA know about the risk of heart attack and stroke when it approved Vioxx?
FDA originally approved Vioxx in May 1999. The original safety database included approximately 5000 patients on Vioxx and did not show an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. A later study, VIGOR (VIOXX GI Outcomes Research), was primarily designed to look at the effects of Vioxx on side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding and was submitted to the FDA in June 2000. The study showed that patients taking Vioxx had fewer stomach ulcers and bleeding than patients taking naproxen, another NSAID, however, the study also showed a greater number of heart attacks in patients taking Vioxx. The VIGOR study was discussed at a February 2001 Arthritis Advisory Committee and the new safety information from this study was added to the labeling for Vioxx in April 2002. Merck then began to conduct longer-term trials to obtain more data on the risk for heart attack and stroke with chronic use of Vioxx.
10. Is FDA’s expedited review process putting riskier drugs on the market?
No. Vioxx received a six-month priority review because the drug potentially provided a significant therapeutic advantage over existing approved drugs due to fewer gastrointestinal side effects, including bleeding. A product undergoing a priority review is held to the same rigorous standards for safety, efficacy, and quality that FDA expects from all drugs submitted for approval.
11. What other drugs are similar to Vioxx?
Vioxx is a COX-2 selective, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Other COX-2 selective NSAIDs on the market at this time are Celebrex (celecoxib) and Bextra (valdecoxib). Vioxx is also related to the nonselective NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. You should consult your physician to determine which treatment is right for you.
12. Does today’s action suggest that other drugs in the same class are dangerous?
The results of clinical studies with one drug in a given class do not necessarily apply to other drugs in the same class. All of the NSAIDs have risks when taken chronically, especially of gastrointestinal (stomach) bleeding, but also liver and kidney toxicity. Patients using these drugs for a long period of time (longer than two weeks) should be under the care of a physician.
13. Will Vioxx be recalled?
FDA did not request a recall of Vioxx. This product is being voluntarily withdrawn from the market by Merck.
14. Can my pharmacist continue to fill my prescription for Vioxx?
No, Merck is initiating a market withdrawal in the United States to the pharmacy level. This means Vioxx will no longer be available at pharmacies.
(Vioxx (rofecoxib) Questions and Answers

2005-10-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

What is NOS?

NOS stands for Nitrous Oxide Systems. People sometimes call the nitrous oxide used in the NOS as “nitrous” or “nitro” for slang, which is a common word in movies such as Fast and the Furious. In a vehicle, nitrous oxide acts as an oxidizing agent that is able to raise the output power of an engine. The nitrous oxide increases the output power by allowing the fuel (usually gasoline) to burn much more efficiently. At high temperatures, nitrous oxide breaks down into nitrogen and oxygen gas, which raises the partial pressure of oxygen in the gas mix, which is different from the ones found in normal atmospheric air. Due to this increase in partial pressure of oxygen, the fuel burns at a more efficcient rate. Nitrous oxide systems are capable of increasing a vehicle’s horsepower by 35% or up to 1,200 horsepower, but it varies depending on a car’s configuration. NOS are used mostly in drag racing classes such as Pro Street, Top Sportsman, and Pro Mod.

There exists three different types of NOS: “Dry”, “Wet”, and “Fogger”. In a “Dry” nitrous system, an excessive amount of fuel runs through fuel injectors, which keeps the upper intake dry of fuel. By increasing the pressure of the fuel injection system or by increasing the time a fuel injector stays open during a car’s engine cycle can result in a different fuel flow. When these fuel injectors are open, the excessive fuel is burned with extra oxygen from nitrous oxide, resulting in a bigger output power.

A “Wet” nitrous system is similar to the “Dry” system, but the difference is that the fuel and nitrous oxide are combined together, which causes the upper intake to become wet with fuel. The “Wet” nitrous systems create more power than that of a “Dry” one. However, they can tend to have distrubution problems between the fuel and nitrous oxide, which results in problems with the nitrous system.

A “Fogger” nitrous system is the most powerful, expensive, complex and efficient one of them all. A general overview of how it works is that nitrous oxide and fuel are directly added into each intake ports on an engine. The system would take the nitrous oxide and fuel and combine it through a fogger nozzle,which allows each separate cylinder to be independent to the others. If any problems occur with one cylinder, the others will not get affected.

2005-10-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

Not so Green in the Greenhouse

When sunlight comes into our atmosphere, it bounces off the Earth back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation. There are certain gases that can absorb this radiation and hold onto the energy released by the radiation; these gases are called greenhouse gases. When these gases are trapped in the atmosphere, they will absorb the energy from the sun’s radiation and cause an increase in temperature. Some of these common natural gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, and the gases in the ozone. Come less prevalent gases are methane, sulfur hexafluoride, and, of course, nitrous oxide.

The release of nitrous oxide is sometimes, a product of many seemingly harmless events: it is naturally released from the ocean and soil. However, the cultivation of land also contributes to the increase of nitrous oxide. This is because nitrous oxide is a natural fertilizer. Unfortunately, it is now being commercially distributed as fertilizer for lawns. Other sources of nitrogen oxide are the burning of fossil fuels and the production of nylon.

I already stated that nitrous oxide is a less common gas in the atmosphere, so the threat of nitrous oxide may seem insignificant. However, although nitrous oxide is sparse, it also traps 270 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Therefore, scientists have begun using certain gases, namely nitrogen oxides, to decrease the greenhouse gas emission. Nonetheless, if greenhouse gases significantly increase in our atmosphere, the new climate may not be as kind to plants as real greenhouses are to theirs.

2005-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Shirts'n'Things

Lawrence Teiman is not laughing now.

In May 2000, a federal grand jury in Roanoake, NC formally charged Teiman for "repeatedly selling nitrous oxide to customers in the Western District of Virginia via the Web site bongmart.com." The jury sentened the "proprietor of [the] Internet-based 'virtual' retail business" and owner of a Tempe, Arizona retail business, Shirts'n'Things, to fifteen months behind bars and fined $40,000 for delivering laughing gas into "'misbranded' interstate commerce...intent to mislead government officials" within a year after his indictment, in March 2001.

Nitrous oxide is not illegal, nor is it controlled; on the contrary, it is widely used in the fields of dentristy and food preparation. Namely, Teiman marketed laughing gas to Andrew McCoy, a student in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in a box marked, "ISI Cream Chargers" and "Specifically Made for Making Whipped Cream in ISI Cream Chargers". The Blacksburg, Virginia Police found McCoy dead in his apartment in 1999. Teiman has historically been marketing the drug like that, says Horace Coleman, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigation. "Teiman would write 'for food use only' on shipments as a way to conceal that they were really for drug use."

Federal authorities traced Teiman's activities to Tempe, Arizona, where he operates Shirts'n'Things, through an invoice that police received posing as McCoy. Supposedly, police have raided it once in 1999 and noted the presence of boxes marked similarly to what they found in McCoy's apartment later that year, but failed to pursue the investigation.

Teiman's conviction marks the first successful federal prosecution of someone for distributing nitrous oxide. He most certainly is not laughing now.

2005-10-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Nitrous Oxide and Hospitals

As you know, Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) or also commonly known as laughing gas, is a remarkable invention. It allows us to become disoriented, creates hallucinations, and dulls any incoming pain signals; this dreamlike state is very helpful in surgical procedures as it prevents patients from getting up and screaming bloody murder before they pass out. However, uneducated people continue to abuse this gas, and we all know a lot of anything is harmful. Let’s take a more scientific approach of the harmful side effects of Nitrous Oxide. When this compound with at least 20% oxygen is made, it creates a symptom known a hypoxia to the user, which may cause irreversible brain damage. In order to produce safer versions of N₂O, there must be a concentration of oxygen of at least 50%. Ever wondered what those balloons attached to anesthetic gas masks were for in hospitals? They are not merely for show; instead, they are used to prevent direct inhalation from the Nitrous Oxide tanks. What makes inhaling N₂O directly from tanks so dangerous is the conditions the gas is stored in. When the gas is flowed out of the tank, it is extremely cold. When it is used in this state, it can create frostbite and even damage vocal cords. Also, Nitrous Oxide must be mixed with oxygen if it is to be used for a longer duration than a few minutes. So the next time you go to a hospital for surgery, make sure that you are breathing in nitrous oxide from balloons and not directly from the tank.

2005-10-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Nitrous Oxide: A History in a Nutshell

In The Fly in the Ointment: Pain Isn’t a Laughing Matter, Dr. Joe Schwarcz describes the history and uses of Nitrous Oxide. Joseph Priestly, who was the first to isolate many elemental gases, was also the discoverer of Nitrous Oxide. He isolated it by heating ammonium nitrate with iron, and bubbling any gases through water. The reaction yielded nitrous oxide and ferrous hydroxide. Although Priestly discovered the gas, another scientist, Humphrey Davy, is given credit for recognizing uses of the gas. While he worked for Dr. Beddoes’s Pneumatic Medical Institution, he was asked to research the physiological properties of the gas. There, he realized that, when inhaled, the gas relieves pain and can be used as an anesthetic. However, doctors did not use the gas, but used ether and chloroform instead. When Davy moved to Great Britain, he began to lecture about science. His most popular lecture was about laughing gas. Mr. Henry, a conjurer, was in the audience of Davy’s lectures and began to put on shows featuring nitrous oxide as well. These shows became popular as volunteers would come on stage and inhale the gases. The volunteers would then act anything but sober. At an important show that Gardner Quincy Colton hosted, a local dentist named Horace Wells volunteered to inhale the gas. He noticed that another volunteer hurt himself, but did not seem to feel the pain. Later, Wells called Colton to bring some gas to his office. Wells inhaled the gas and asked a colleague to pull out a tooth. Wells, like the other volunteer, did not feel any pain. That was the birth of nitrous oxide for medical purposes.