Back

The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

XI.o

XI - Miscellaneous

Sniffing death - Death from inhalation of compound

Last update 25/09/2026

Typically sudden. See also under XIr. Death is from poisoning or asphyxia. Typically, collapse and death quickly follow inhalation of the gas or substance

Causative drugs

15

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Evidence level/grade

Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic

Beta2 agonist (inhaled) abuse
XI.o
Butane
II.a
XI.o
XV.w
Chemicals
I.a
I.b
I.d
I.j
I.af
II.a
II.b
III.a
III.b
IV.c
IV.n
IV.q
V.a
VIII.c
VIII.h
X.m
X.u
X.ac
XI.o
XII.m
XIV.a
XIV.b
XV.x
XVI.ab
XVII.p
Difluoroethane
XI.o
Drugs purchased on e-shops or on the Internet
I.a
I.e
II.b
XI.n
XI.o
Gases
I.v
I.af
II.a
II.b
IV.c
IV.e
IV.p
IV.q
VII.h
VIII.c
IX.t
XI.o
XII.a
XIV.a
XIV.c
Hydrocarbon oil - Inhaled-Aspirated
I.j
XI.o
Hydrocarbons (petrochemicals: petroleum, petrolatum, paraffin, vaseline, naphta, jet fuel (kerosene), Diesel, gasoil), ointments, salad oil, variegated oils, butter). Aspirated
I.b
I.g
I.j
I.z
I.ae
I.af
I.ag
II.b
III.a
III.c
IV.k
V.a
VIII.d
XI.b
XI.o
XIV.a
XV.as
XVI.b
XVI.f
XVI.k
XVI.ab
XVI.ah
XVI.cb
XVII.p
XIX.a
XIX.h
Inhalants (volatile substances)
I.ao
II.a
III.a
V.f
VII.h
VIII.a
VIII.d
XI.a
XI.d
XI.o
XII.l
XII.m
XII.bx
XIV.a
XV.w
XXIV.a
Marijuana, cannabis (haschish, hash, bang, dab)
I.a
I.c
I.e
I.j
I.n
I.t
I.an
I.ao
II.b
III.a
III.c
IV.a
IV.d
V.a
V.f
V.ab
VII.h
VIII.w
VIII.ax
IX.d
X.f
X.ac
XI.b
XI.j
XI.o
XI.ar
XII.c
XII.d
XII.g
XII.l
XII.s
XII.w
XII.af
XII.ap
XIII.a
XV.k
XV.n
XV.p
XV.q
XV.s
XV.v
XVI.m
XVI.ai
XVII.a
XVII.c
XVII.g
Pepper spray
IV.a
XI.o
Phosphine (H3P)
II.a
XI.o
XII.a
XIV.a
Propane
VIII.d
XI.n
XI.o
Riot control agents (RCA)
II.a
III.a
IV.n
XI.o
XII.g
XV.g
XV.w
Tetrachloroethylene - Perchlorethylene (C2Cl4)
I.b
I.d
I.an
XI.n
XI.o