Nitrous Oxide Drug Testing: Is Laughing Gas Detectable?

Nitrous oxide is well-known for its recreational use, producing feelings of euphoria, calmness, and relaxation in those that inhale it.

If you’re worried about nitrous oxide showing up in drug tests, likely, you’re not the only one. The recreational use of nitrous oxide is rising, putting many people in a similar position.

So, do standard drug tests pick up nitrous oxide? And is there a specific test for detecting nitrous oxide?

Analysis of existing research shows that it is very uncommon for typical drug tests to screen for nitrous oxide. In many cases, blood and urine samples only detect nitrous oxide under specific scientific conditions.

However, like many things in life, there can be exceptions. When it comes to passing or failing a drug test, your best bet is to avoid use of illicit and banned drugs in the first place—including nitrous oxide use (unless otherwise advised by a qualified health practitioner).

Please note that inhalation and recreational use of nitrous oxide can pose significant risks to your health. We strongly recommend you avoid using nitrous oxide without proper medical supervision or consultation with a licensed health professional.

While it’s virtually impossible to pinpoint how long nitrous oxide stays in the body, evidence shows that the substance metabolises quicker in older individuals, physically active people, and those with a high nitrous oxide tolerance.

Is There a Drug Test for Nitrous Oxide?

At present, research shows it is not common for typical drug tests to screen for nitrous oxide. And it seems some users are taking advantage of this—a 2018 Metro News report describes a rather disturbing case of an individual inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon whilst driving.

According to their findings, this isn’t the only case; officers in London, UK, have received numerous reports of nitrous oxide abuse and inhalation while driving.

However, would nitrous oxide show up if police were to pull over and drug test these individuals?

Do Drug Tests Typically Screen for Nitrous Oxide?

Research demonstrates that nitrous oxide typically doesn’t show up in routine drug tests. It usually only appears in urine and blood samples shortly after exposure.

However, this is only when researchers administer the tests in a particular way, with special techniques and precautions in place.

If you didn’t know this, you’re not the only one! According to a 2006 study, only 10% of physicians knew nitrous oxide, ecstasy, and oxycodone are usually undetectable on a standard urine test.

So, specially conducted drug tests can pick up nitrous oxide shortly after exposure.

Drug Tests for Nitrous Oxide: Commonly Asked Questions

Can Nitrous Oxide Show Up In a Hair Test?

Nitrous oxide doesn’t typically show up in hair tests because hair testing predominantly focuses on detecting ingested substances.

Hair tests don’t currently screen for solvents or nitrous oxide. However, this doesn’t mean that hair tests won’t pick up nitrous oxide in the future.

Do Urine Tests Detect Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide can appear in urine tests. However, not typically in the standard urine tests with which you may be familiar.

In fact, most evidence suggests that nitrous oxide is only detectable shortly after exposure and under particular conditions not included in routine testing.

Does Nitrous Oxide Show Up In a Blood Test?

Research has similar findings for nitrous oxide in blood tests; while it does show up when laboratories use special techniques and precautions, this isn’t the norm for typical blood tests undertaken during doctor or hospital appointments.

And again, the evidence available predominantly focuses on testing shortly after exposure.

How Long Does Nitrous Oxide Take To Work?

Nitrous oxide produces a reliable ‘high’ in just a few seconds. The substance has a variety of effects:

• Giggles
• Loss of balance
• Dizziness
• Euphoria
• Visual and auditory hallucinations

If pure nitrous oxide is inhaled directly from the tank, this can produce more intense sensations, such as tingling limbs and a faster heart rate.

This method is considered highly dangerous, as nitrous oxide of this concentration displaces the air in the lungs, causing temporary oxygen deprivation — which in extreme cases can result in nitrous oxide causing brain damage.

Regardless of inhalation method, all forms of nitrous oxide use without medical supervision or consultation with a licensed health practitioner is considered unsafe and strongly discouraged.

How Long After Consumption of NO2 Can Drug Tests Pick It Up?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to establish an exact timeline for how long nitrous oxide remains in urine and blood.

Nevertheless, evidence demonstrates that nitrous oxide has a half-life of around 5 minutes, suggesting that it doesn’t stay in your system for long.

Furthermore, the nitrous oxide you consume isn’t all metabolised. According to research, the human body metabolises less than 0.004% of the nitrous oxide it consumes.

This is because we excrete most of it unchanged (unmetabolised), primarily via the lungs but also through the skin.

On the flip side…

Some evidence suggests that nitrous oxide stays in your system for up to 18 hours after consumption.

A study looking at the exposure of hospital workers to nitrous oxide found a concentration of up to 120 µg/L (micrograms per litre) in blood and urine samples directly after exposure. 

When blood and urine samples were taken 18 hours after exposure, this concentration declined to between 1.5 and 4.9 µg/L. However, this was still significantly higher than the control group. 

This study also showed that if participants had nitrous oxide already in their system at the time of exposure (around 1.5 µg/L), they showed a higher concentration of nitrous oxide when exposed a second time.

This demonstrates that prior use can influence the metabolism of nitrous oxide within the body.

What other factors may be at play?

What Factors Influence Nitrous Oxide Metabolism in the Body?

Research demonstrates that various physiological factors affect the way our bodies metabolise drugs.

These factors include:

• Age
• Physical activity
• Frequency and intensity of use

First, let’s look at the effect of age.

Age

Evidence shows there is likely a relationship between age and drug metabolism in general.

Specifically, individuals who are older show higher blood concentrations of drugs and altered metabolism.

Some researchers suggest that this metabolic change is due to changes in body composition and plasma protein binding. Higher doses of any water-soluble drug are required for children because a higher proportion of their body mass is water.

Therefore, it’s possible that age influences nitrous oxide metabolism and hence the detection period in specially conducted drug tests.

Physical Activity

Physical activity influences the absorption, metabolism, elimination and distribution of certain medications.

For example, the rate of appearance and concentration of Terbulatine, an inhalant used to prevent shortness of breath and wheezing, were higher after cycling. Researchers believe this was due to the increase in pulmonary blood flow and enhanced movements of the drug across the alveolar membranes.

It may be the case that exercise influences the metabolism of nitrous oxide, another inhalant, in a similar way. More research in this area is necessary to confirm this relationship.

Frequency and Intensity of Nitrous Oxide Use

Another influential factor in the nitrous oxide detection period is the frequency and intensity of use.

As found in Brugnone and colleagues’ study on hospital workers mentioned earlier, previous nitrous oxide exposure can increase the concentration of the substance upon the second exposure.

However, tolerance may mediate this: When an individual has a high tolerance for drugs in general, the substance appears to metabolise quicker, reducing the length of detection time.

How Long Does Nitrous Oxide Take To Wear Off?

The effects of nitrous oxide last between 1–5 minutes, depending on the individual and the dosage. Once the effects have worn off, the person returns to a normal state.

Summary

Nitrous oxide use doesn’t appear on standard drug tests; yet, it may show up in blood and urine tests under specific conditions shortly after nitrous oxide use.

It’s difficult to know how long nitrous oxide will stay in the body, but if you’re older, physically active, or have no recent exposure, nitrous oxide concentrations within your body are likely to be lower.

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