Nitrous Oxide Injury Lawsuit Filed Over B12 Deficiency, Long-Term Side Effects

Lawsuit states woman was hospitalized for more than half a year and has lost the ability to walk without assistance.

A California woman has filed a lawsuit alleging she suffered severe neurological injuries and lost control of basic bodily functions after becoming addicted to nitrous oxide products allegedly marketed and illegally sold for recreational use at smoke shops and vape stores.

Kimberly Green filed the complaint (PDF) in the Superior Court of California for Alameda County on September 29, naming United Brands Products Design Development and Marketing Inc., Ramdon Corporation and Cavedwellers Inc., doing business as The Cave Smoke Shop, as defendants.

Green alleges that nitrous oxide canisters sold at smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores are unreasonably dangerous and marketed to encourage recreational inhalation, despite the risks of addiction and serious neurological damage. She claims the companies knew or should have known about these dangers but continued to distribute and sell the products without adequate warnings, ultimately contributing to her injuries.

Nitrous Oxide Injury Risks

Nitrous oxide gas is used as an anesthetic in dental and medical procedures and for culinary purposes. It can also be inhaled for a temporary high, a practice known as doing “whippets,” which deprives the brain of oxygen.

Inhaling the gas can lead to addiction as well as physical, neurological and cognitive injuries such as paralysis, brain damage, vitamin B12 deficiency, frostbite injuries and death. Selling nitrous oxide for recreational use is a violation of the Federal Analog Act, and many states and cities have even more explicit laws regarding its use, marketing and sale.

However, that has not stopped companies like Galaxy Gas, Baking Bad and Miami Magic from selling excessively large canisters, often with accessories designed to help with inhalation in vape shops nationwide, as well as through online dealers, particularly on Amazon.com.

This has led to concerns over nitrous oxide recreational use, as well as the resulting injuries. Former users often suffering severe adverse health effects are now filing nitrous oxide injury lawsuits in courts nationwide.

Nitrous Oxide Side Effect Allegations

According to the complaint, Green began buying nitrous oxide canisters in 2023 and quickly became addicted. For the first year or so, her lawsuit states she bought smaller, 8-gram whipped cream charging canisters and inhaled them on a daily basis.

Over time the size of the canisters she purchased increased, until she was inhaling one or two 4.5-liter tanks of nitrous oxide every day. Green states that she has likely spent more than $50,000 on nitrous oxide canisters over the past three years.

Along with the addiction came an increasing number of side effects and health problems. Green was hospitalized for six to eight months in September 2025, due to increasingly debilitating health problems caused by her nitrous oxide addiction, the lawsuit alleges.

“Immediately after inhaling Defendants’ products, Ms. Green experienced the following symptoms: short, fleeting feelings of euphoria, sometimes followed by unconsciousness, burns, and more. Approximately six months into inhaling such products, Ms. Green began experiencing alarming, long-term effects such as loss of feeling in her extremities, losing her ability to walk and talk, loss of the ability to conduct basic bodily functions, and severe vitamin B-12 depletion.”

– Kimberly Green v. United Brands Products Design Development and Marketing Inc. et al.

The lawsuit indicates Green has been diagnosed with severe nitrous oxide use disorder and vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as neurological complications affecting her mobility, coordination and mental state, including peripheral polyneuropathy, neurotoxicity concerns and symptoms consistent with psychosis. She also claims she has lost the ability to walk and speak normally and developed severe mental health problems.

On top of the physical and mental injuries, Green’s lawsuit states she also has suffered mounting costs for medical problems, physical and mental therapy, and other expenses caused by her nitrous oxide addiction. She raises allegations of negligence, design defect and failure to warn, and seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

Nitrous Oxide Injury Lawsuits

Green and many other individuals pursuing nitrous oxide injury lawsuits claim retailers and manufacturers know exactly what they are doing by marketing large nitrous oxide canisters in bright colors and fruity flavors and then selling them out of vape shops.

In addition, the retailers are accused of ignoring the risk of nitrous oxide injuries and addiction in order to increase profits. The complaints allege the retailers never warn users of the true risks of injuries and addiction.

Nitrous oxide injury lawyers are reviewing potential lawsuits for individuals who suffered addiction, neurological damage or other serious side effects from recreational nitrous oxide use. Those affected, as well as their families, may be eligible to pursue financial compensation through a nitrous oxide lawsuit.

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