Amyl Nitrite - Effects on the Body

Effects on the Body

British writer Georgie Dales admits to having manufactured illegal drugs with her classmates many years ago when they were young chemistry students. She described poppers in the London Independent Sunday as "a heady brew which when sniffed makes the heart race and the head spin as it kills a couple of million brain cells." She and her cohorts had plans to manufacture more illicit drugs, but, as she put it, "Luckily, we got busted first."

Amyl nitrite is absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly and reaches the brain quickly, with effects usually beginning ten to fifteen seconds after inhaling. The initial effects include an almost immediate sense of happiness and pleasure called a "head rush," or simply a "rush." The rushA feeling of euphoria or extreme happiness and well-being. is caused by a temporary cut in the amount of oxygen to the brain and the faster pumping of the heart. These feelings last just two to five minutes and are usually followed by a headache.

Amyl nitrite and other poppers tend to impair the judgment of the user, increasing the likelihood that he or she will make bad decisions—especially when it comes to sexual behavior. Virtually every available reference source on nitrites states that these drugs cause a decrease in the user's inhibitionsInner thoughts that keep people from engaging in certain activities., providing a sense of wellbeing, intensified emotions, and enhanced sexual desire. People with lowered inhibitions tend to take more chances and engage in riskier behavior than they would if they were not high.

Do You Know What Nitrites Do?

The effects of amyl nitrite go far beyond bad breath, a headache, and a case of the giggles. Remember what it does to some muscles? It relaxes them. Two of the muscles it works on are those associated with bowel and bladder control. Put plainly, nitrites can cause users to have accidents before they can reach a toilet.

Poppers cause confusion, dizziness, giddiness, drowsiness, facial flushing, skin irritations around the mouth and nose, and a slowed perception of time, not to mention bad breath. They also cause certain muscles in the body to relax involuntarily. Despite these side effects, users claim that nitrites heighten their sense of sexual arousal.

Amyl nitrite (center) and Liquid Gold are nicknamed poppers. They are stimulant drugs that are often abused at all-night dance parties called raves. Science Photo Library.
Amyl nitrite (center) and Liquid Gold are nicknamed "poppers." They are stimulant drugs that are often abused at all-night dance parties called raves. Science Photo Library.

Dangers

Sniffing amyl nitrite can be dangerous to anyone because nitrites reduce blood pressure. The inhalation of nitrites by pregnant women or by people with the blood condition anemiaA blood condition that results in the decreased ability of the blood to transport enough oxygen throughout the body., the eye disease glaucoma, high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory (or breathing) problems, or a recent injury to the head sets the stage for extremely severe health risks, and possibly death, according to the NIDA. Poppers can also trigger a short-term deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body, a condition called hypoxiaA dangerous condition brought on by an inadequate amount of oxygen circulating throughout the body..

Overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dangerously low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, cold skin, blue lips or fingernails, a rapid heartbeat, an unbearable headache and/or a strong feeling of pressure in the head, and eventual unconsciousness. The inhalation of nitrites can damage red blood cells and affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Swallowing nitrites can be fatal.

Other long-term effects of popper use are unclear. Mood swings and personality changes have been reported but have not been studied. Tolerance to nitrites develops with repeated use.

Recent data from the NIDA indicate that the inhalation of nitrites can damage the cells of the immune system and make it more difficult for users to fight off certain infections. Among HIV-positive individuals (people who test positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, which can lead to AIDS), amyl nitrite usage can increase the rate at which the virus multiplies. The higher the number of viral cells in a person's body, the greater the risk for developing AIDS. In a 2004 article for AIDS Treatment News, John S. James reported on a United States-based study of infections among men who have sex with men. Nearly half the men in the study used poppers, "suggesting a potentially large impact on the spread of HIV." James also noted that animals exposed to poppers have shown an increased risk of "cancer growth and bacterial growth, probably by suppressing the animals' natural immunity."