Drug reference
helium
Therapeutic gas
Therapeutic gas
CDSCO approved
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
—
none in our sources
PREGNANCY
—
not curated
Mechanism
An inert gas with low density, low solubility, and high thermal conductivity. Mixtures with O2 reduce the work of breathing by reducing turbulence due to airway obstruction.
Indications
pulmonary function testingtreatment of respiratory obstructionlaser airway surgeryas a label in imaging studiesdiving at depthcytoprotective agent (potential)
Related guidelines
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
ICMR · Infectious Diseases · 2022
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
ICS · Pulmonology · 2022
Coronary angiography with renal dysfunction
CSI · Cardiology · 2020
Preoperative cardiac evaluation for non-cardiac surgery
AHA · Cardiology · 2025
Functional (psychogenic non-epileptic) seizures
AAN · Neurology · 2026
Other Therapeutic gas drugs
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Textbook-sourced·Sources: Goodman & Gilman 14e·Updated: 2026-05-10