Sustained remission of treatment-resistant depression following two inhalations of nitrous oxide: A case report

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O, laughing gas) is a colorless gas commonly used as an anesthetic and analgesic, delivered in an oxygen mixture to prevent hypoxia, with concentrations up to 70 % considered as safe (Knuf and Maani, 2024). Recently, N2O has gained significant attention in psychiatry as a promising new treatment for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Rapid antidepressant effects similar to ketamine have been reported, although more research is still needed in particular in regard to the long-term efficacy of N2O (e.g., Kronenberg et al., 2024). This report presents the case of a 65-year-old woman with generalized anxiety disorder and chronic major depression, who underwent two 30 min N2O treatment sessions. Following treatment, she achieved remission and reported sustained well-being without signs of depression or anxiety at a three-month follow-up.