Inhaling commercially available nitrous oxide canisters, commonly known as laughing gas, could lead to serious harm or death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a warning issued Friday. Canisters are sold legally in major retail stores,

The FDA on Friday warned consumers that inhaling the gas for its euphoric effects can cause dangerously low blood pressure.

The agency is advising people to avoid misusing or inhaling the products that are marketed as whipped cream chargers but have been used as recreational drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on Friday, advising consumers against inhaling products containing nitrous oxide, commonly known as 'laughing gas,' due to potentially serious side effects,

Laughing gas or the nitrous gas has been traditionally used as a sedative for patients in dental offices and hospitals. It is also found in pressurized cans of whipped cream. However, teens and adults have long misused it to get high as the gas can briefly disrupt oxygen flow to the brain.