After the high wears off, the user often falls asleep, appears lethargic and may experience headache. Chronic abusers experience continued weight loss, muscle weakness, general disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of ability to concentrate, distractibility and lack of coordination. Acute high level exposure to solvents will induce short term effects on brain function that appear to be reversible. Chronic high level exposure over a longer time slowly produces irreversible neurologic syndromes. Severe damage to the brain and nervous system can occur and use can cause death by starving the body of oxygen or forcing the heart to beat more rapidly and erratically.
Chronic use can produce kidney, heart, lung and liver damage.
In addition, inhalant use is linked with antisocial behavior, disruptive behavior, depression, and self-directed aggression in the user.