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Amyl Nitrite

Amyl nitrite, also known as 'poppers' is a short acting inhalant, causing vasodilation, accompanied by an intense rush, euphoria, and a sensation of heat and excitement. Amyl nitrite has maintained a prominent position among vasodilators used in medicine for over 100 years. In terms of recreational use, Amyl nitrite and other compounds of the alkyl nitrite -popper- family have been part of the club culture from the 1970's disco scene up till current times.

Introduction to Amyl Nitrite

Amyl nitrite is a chemical compound in the alkyl nitrite family with the formula C5H11ONO. A variety of isomers are known, but they all feature an amyl group attached to the nitrito functional group. The term "amyl nitrite" encompasses several isomers. For example, a common form of amyl nitrite with the formula (CH3)2CHCH2CH2ONO may be more specifically referred to as isoamyl nitrite. When the amyl group is a linear or normal alkyl group, the resulting amyl nitrite would have the structural formula CH3(CH2)4ONO. In a pharmaceutical context, amyl nitrite refers to a mixture of isomers containing not less then 97% isoamyl nitrite. The alkyl group is unreactive and the chemical and biological properties are mainly due to the nitrite group.
All alkyl nitrites -known as poppers- have bioactive and psychoactive effects, which have led to the recreational use of these substances. Other types of commercially available poppers include cyclohexyl, butyl, isobutyl, and isopropyl nitrites and share the same effects, however duration and side effects may vary slightly, depending on the nitrite. Amyl nitrite is a short acting inhalant, causing vasodilation, accompanied by an intense rush, euphoria, and a sensation of heat and excitement.
Amyl nitrite has maintained a prominent position among vasodilators used in medicine for over 100 years. In terms of recreational use, Amyl nitrite and other compounds of the alkyl nitrite -popper- family have been part of the club culture from the 1970's disco scene up till current times. Poppers have also earned a reputation for use as a sexual enhancer, especially in the homosexual community, due in part to causing the relaxation of smooth muscles throughout the body, including the sphincter muscles of the anus and the vagina.

Using Amyl Nitrite

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Ways of administration:

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Amyl nitrite is used by inhaling the vapors of the liquid compound through the nose. Pharmaceutical grade Amyl, first manufactured by Burroughs Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline) and Eli Lilly and Company, was originally sold in small glass ampoules that were crushed to release their vapors, and received the name "poppers" as a result of the popping sound made by crushing the ampoule. Commercially available brands of poppers come in glass vials of varying shapes, sizes and colours (although usually a dark brown bottle, to protect the light-sensitive compound inside). Commercial brands make doseage impossible to measure in a conventional sense, but intake is easily controlled by how much the user inhales.

Effects of Amyl Nitrite:

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Amyl nitrite is a potent vasodilator, acting on the body through release of the nitrite ion. The most prominent and important actions of nitrite are on vascular smooth muscle. The dilating effect on the systemic arterioles reduces peripheral vascular resistence, and this is usually associated with a decrease in systemic blood pressure. The resulting effects are:
  • Head rush
  • Euphoria
  • Flushing of the face
  • Increased heart rate
  • Warming sensations
  • Feelings of excitement
  • Relaxation of involuntary muscles, especially the anal and vaginal sphincters.

The onset takes only a few seconds and effects last only 1-2 minutes, before dissipating entirely. These effects are often felt to increase sexual arousal and desire; in males Amyl nitrite can help bring on or 'strengthen' an erection, via increased blood flow to the penis. It is widely reported that Amyl nitrite can enhance and prolong orgasms for both sexes.
Inhalation of Amyl Nitrite may cause negative side effects, including:
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausua
  • Emesis (vomiting)
  • Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
  • Syncope (fainting)
See 'The Dangers of Amyl Nitrite' for a full list of side effects, overdose symptoms, and health concerns.

Combinations with Amyl Nitrite:

Describe which combinations are possible or known.
Describe the effects, side effect, after effects.

Please find threads on combinations between the drug the article is about and other drugs and link to them from this section of the article. If there are topics about certain combinations missing in the forum, then please start these threads. If you find that there are sevaral threads on the same topic, then please request a merge, by clicking on the report button of any post in the thread and fill in that you suggest the thread be merged with one or more others. Please add the url to the report. Combinations threads belong in the combinations forum. If you find any thread in another forum, then please request a move, by clicking the report button.

Anecdotal evidences suggests that Amyl Nitrite, like Nitrous Oxide, has the ability to alter the nature of a psychedelic trip, even after the effects of the Amyl have worn off.

Different Uses for Amyl Nitrite:

i.e. medical, recreative, erotic, etc.
Amyl nitrite also induces the formation of methemoglobin, which sequesters cyanide as non-toxic cyanomethemoglobin, and for this reason it has been used as an antitode to cyanide poisoning.

The dangers of Amyl Nitrite

Addiction Potential of Amyl Nitrite:

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Amyl Nitrite has little-to-no potential for addiction. Beyond the risk of psychological dependancy carried by anything that makes anyone feel good, Amyl Nitrite is not physically addictive. As seen on the graph to the left -published in The Lancet in March 2007 as part of an article entitled "Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse" by Nutt D, King LA, Saulsbury W, and Blakemore C- Alkyl nitrites (including Amyl nitrite), pose much lower risk of dependence and physical harm then many of the drugs listed. Alcohol and tobacco were in the top 10 while marijuana was 11th and Alkyl nitrites were 19th out of 20. The researchers were from different groups and considered experts in their fields, including law enforcement, chemists, pharmacologists and addiction specialists in the Royal Society of Psychiatrists. The study and ranking of drugs for harmfulness devised by British-government advisers and based upon scientific evidence of harm to both individuals and society showed that Amyl Nitrite poses little potential harm to individuals or to society when compared to other recreational drugs.

Toxicity of Amyl Nitrite:

Researchers are unable to find any data to suggest direct neurotoxicity associated with the abuse of Amyl Nitrite.

Side Effects/Overdose Symptoms of Amyl Nitrite:

Possible negative side effects and overdose symptoms associated with acute intake of Amyl Nitrite include:
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausua
  • Emesis (vomiting)
  • Hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure)
  • Hypoventilation (respiratory depression)
  • Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
  • Syncope (fainting)
  • Asphyxia (suffocation)
  • Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)
  • Cardiovascular depression
  • Hepatorenal toxicity
  • Methemoglobinemia (higher than normal level of methemoglobin)
  • Hemolysis

Long Term Effects of Amyl Nitrite:

Long term use of Amyl Nitrate can lead to permanent damage to the brain, bones, heart, kidneys and liver, as explained by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine.

It may cause permanent hearing loss, as well as chronic tremors and slurred speech. Continued use can also result in chronic memory loss, emotional instability, mental disturbance and ongoing hallucinations.

Other Risks of Amyl Nitrite:

  • Taking Viagra with Amyl(and other) Nitrite(s) can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or even heart attack.
  • Swallowing Amyl(and other) Nitrite(s) can cause serious acute medical complications and may result in death.
  • Accidental aspiration of Amyl(and other) Nitrite(s) may lead to the development of lipoid pneumonia.
  • Amyl(and other) Nitrite(s) can cause burns if spilled on skin.
  • Amyl(and other) Nitrite(s) can cause redness or itching rashes around the mouth and nose.
A worth-while note in re: Amyl Nitrite and AIDS/HIV:
The use of Amyl Nitrite (and all poppers) to facilitate sexual enjoyment is commonly acknowledged in gay subpopulations, and HIV infection is prevalent among homosexual men. As such Amyl nitrite and other poppers have been accused of helping to spread AIDS/HIV, however existing scientific studies on this topic do not justify the widespread belief that Amyl nitrite has been shown to help cause AIDS, or cause anything else for that matter. Physicians like prominent cardiologist John 0. Parker, M.D., and James Mosley, M.D., -the University of Southern California Medical School professor who heads the federal government's largest, multi-million dollar program studying the AIDS virus and the nation's blood supply-, have provided public testimony at governmental hearings considering the banning of “poppers". Each had reviewed the evidence and stated under oath that he regards the claims of danger to be ill founded. When mediocre or even plain bad scientific research is politically exploited by AIDS institutions eager to appear to be earning their keep, or by the media -- ever keen to fan any spark of controversy, or zealots riding their favorite hypothesis saddled up as fact, the public is in danger. -Bruce Voeller, Ph. D.

Dangers of Combining Other Drugs with Amyl Nitrite:

Please check relating studies for information. Reviewing the available studies on the topic is essential. Please see medline & the file archive. If you do not have access to medline, please request the articles you need, from a member who does have access. See the file request thread here:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/threads/10329

Pharmacology of Amyl Nitrite

Chemistry of Amyl Nitrite

Column 1 Column 2
Systematic (IUPAC) name: Nitrous acid 3-methylbutyl ester
Synonyms: Isoamyl nitrite, Isopentyl nitrite
Molecular Formula: C5H11NO2
Molar mass: 117.15 g/mol
CAS Registry Number: 110-46-3
Melting Point: no data
Boiling Point: 97-99°C
Flash Point: 21°C
Solubility: Very slightly soluble in water; miscible with alcohol, chloroform ether
Additionnal data: density (25°C) 0.875
Notes: Yellow, transparent, flammable liquid. Penetrating fragrant, somewhat fruity odor. Unstable, decomposition on exposure to air and light. Forms explosive mixture with air and oxygen
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Keep in tightly closed container protected from light in a cool place

Producing Amyl Nitrite

Amyl nitrite is generally produced by condensation of amyl alcohol with nitrous acid. Nitrous acid being formed in situ by dropwise addition of dilute sulfuric acid on a sodium nitrite solution.

Forms of Amyl Nitrite

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United Nations:

USA:

Amyl Nitrite is only available by prescription only, but is not a controlled substance.

EU:

Canada:

Describe the legal situation in Canada.

History of Amyl Nitrite

[​IMG]Amyl Nitrite has been used for therapeutic purposes for over a century and was reported by Sir Lauder Brunton in 1867, inspired by earlier work with the same reagent by Arthur Gamgee and Benjamin Ward Richardson.
Amyl Nitrite, in general, is a little-known-of drug, and its use has never been as infamous as drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, which have appeared in so many movies, books and television shows (not to mention the media)that it would be impossible to list them all. These substances are well-known-of by people of all walks of life, and are easily recognised in film (ie: smoked, insufflated, injected). However, someone unfamiliar with Amyl Nitrite might not even recognise it being used, by say, a character in a movie, or by someone in their own life. Here is a short list of films in which Amyl Nitrite is either used, or referenced.
  • [​IMG] In the 1991 film The Doors, Jim Morrison, played by Val Kilmer, sniffs Amyl Nitrite from a glass ampule in an elevator immediately before receiving oral sex.
  • The screen adaptation of Hunter. S. Thompson's novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, depicts the characters Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo using Amyl Nitrite in multiple scenes through out the film.
  • In the film Fight Club, released in 1999, the character Chloe announces that she has Amyl Nitrite in her apartment during a group meeting.

References

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