Historique
Article de Périodique
First episode of catatonia followed by a psychotic episode related to chronic nitrous oxide use: A case report (2025)
Auteur(s) :
TAILLEFER DE LAPORTALIERE, T. ;
REDON, M. ;
ROUSSIN, A. ;
WILLEMET, E. ;
VERY, E. ;
OLIVIER, J. ;
LAPEYRE-MESTRE, M.
Année
2025
Page(s) :
908-912
Sous-type de document :
Etude de cas / Case report
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Refs biblio. :
26
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
PRO (Produits, mode d'action, méthode de dépistage / Substances, action mode, screening methods)
Thésaurus géographique
FRANCE
Thésaurus mots-clés
ETUDE DE CAS
;
PROTOXYDE D'AZOTE
;
EFFET SECONDAIRE
;
NEUROPSYCHIATRIE
;
VITAMINES
;
SYMPTOME
Résumé :
INTRODUCTION: Nitrous oxide is widely used for recreational purposes, leading to constantly increasing cases of severe use disorder. Although the scope of the deleterious consequences of nitrous oxide use is relatively well described for neurological and thromboembolic-related complications, this is not the case in the psychiatric field.
CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who developed nitrous oxide-induced peripheral neuropathy. The patient had a history of frequent nitrous oxide use. One year later, she presented with catatonia linked to nitrous oxide use, associated with vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia, with no apparent psychiatric causes. Nine months after the catatonic episode, she experienced a psychotic episode linked to long-term nitrous oxide use.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a cascade of neurologic and psychiatric complications of chronic use of nitrous oxide. Hyperhomocysteinemia caused by nitrous oxide consumption could explain the occurrence of such events. Homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, and active vitamin B12 are key biomarkers to determine the involvement of nitrous oxide in psychiatric symptoms. [Author's abstract]
CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who developed nitrous oxide-induced peripheral neuropathy. The patient had a history of frequent nitrous oxide use. One year later, she presented with catatonia linked to nitrous oxide use, associated with vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia, with no apparent psychiatric causes. Nine months after the catatonic episode, she experienced a psychotic episode linked to long-term nitrous oxide use.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a cascade of neurologic and psychiatric complications of chronic use of nitrous oxide. Hyperhomocysteinemia caused by nitrous oxide consumption could explain the occurrence of such events. Homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, and active vitamin B12 are key biomarkers to determine the involvement of nitrous oxide in psychiatric symptoms. [Author's abstract]
Affiliation :
Department of Pharmacy, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France