OpenClaim

Helium Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of helium include completed suicide, asphyxia, and overdose, based on 64 FDA adverse event reports from 2005 to 2024. 4.7% of reports found the drug to be ineffective.

Helium side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for helium.

1
Completed Suicide37.5%24
2
Asphyxia10.9%7
3
Overdose9.4%6
4
Toxicity To Various Agents7.8%5
5
Off Label Use6.3%4
6
Generalised Tonic-clonic Seizure6.3%4
7
Sedation6.3%4
8
Cough4.7%3
9
Myalgia4.7%3
10
Drug Level Increased4.7%3
11
Drug Ineffective4.7%3
12
Death3.1%2
13
Exposure Via Ingestion3.1%2
14
Dyspnoea3.1%2
15
Gas Poisoning3.1%2

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that helium caused these reactions.

Report severity

81.3%Serious52 reports
9.4%Hospitalizations6 reports
54.7%Fatal35 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Helium drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside helium. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Zolpidem-tartrate15.6%10
2
Doxylamine-succinate12.5%8
3
Sertraline-hydrochloride9.4%6
4
Fluoxetine-hydrochloride9.4%6
5
Temazepam7.8%5
6
Diazepam7.8%5
7
Oxygen6.3%4
8
Prednicarbate6.3%4
9
Albuterol4.7%3
10
Carbamazepine4.7%3
11
Alprazolam3.1%2
12
Atorvastatin-calcium3.1%2
13
Lidocaine3.1%2
14
Cannabidiol3.1%2
15
Sodium-oxybate3.1%2

Taken alongside

1
Fluticasone12.5%8
2
Oxygen7.8%5
3
Ipratropium-bromide6.3%4
4
Acetaminophen6.3%4
5
Budesonide6.3%4
6
Formoterol6.3%4
7
Ergocalciferol6.3%4
8
Prednisone4.7%3
9
Fexofenadine-hydrochloride4.7%3
10
Albuterol4.7%3
11
Montelukast-sodium4.7%3
12
Calcium4.7%3
13
Diazepam4.7%3
14
Ibuprofen4.7%3
15
Epinephrine3.1%2

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports helium side effects

35.9% of helium adverse event reports involve female patients and 46.9% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 47%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female35.9%
Male46.9%
Unknown17.2%

Age group

< 20.0%
2–1118.2%
12–175.5%
18–6447.3%
65+29.1%

What is helium used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking helium when the adverse event was reported.

Cardiac FailureCompleted SuicideGas PoisoningHeadacheHomicideHypersensitivityLaparoscopyMetastases To LiverObliterative BronchiolitisProduct Used For Unknown IndicationProduct Used For Unknown IndicationRhinitis AllergicStatus AsthmaticusSuicide Attempt

Helium brand names and reporting trend

Helium is sold under the brand name Helium, Usp.

Brand names

Helium, Usp73

Quarterly reports (20052024)

200520152024

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking helium with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.