Amyl Nitrite

Amyl nitrite is an inhalant that has recognized medical uses, as well as a history of illicit recreational use. Street names for amyl nitrite include aimes, ames, amys, pearls, and poppers. Amyl nitrite is usually supplied in thin, glass-covered capsules or ampules that can be easily broken between the fingers. Although intended for medicinal use, these capsules are used as inhalants and are often called poppers because of the sound of crushing the capsule and for its rapid euphoric "rush." Amyl nitrite and related substances like isobutyl nitrite are used in several over-the-counter products, such as room deodorizers, polish removers, liquid incense, and video head cleaners. Brand names for some of these products include Locker Room, Rush, Liquid Gold, Bullet, Crypt, TNT, Stag, Ram, Thrust, Rock Hard, Rave, Kix, Hi-Tech, and Snappers. These products are generally sold in clubs, boutiques, gay bars, and sex shops. The recreational use of amyl nitrite and similar substances is largely due to their purported value as aphrodisiacs.

Amyl nitrite is a highly volatile fluid that evaporates at room temperature. It is also highly inflammable and explosive. Amyl nitrite is an organic nitrite, which is a clear, oily, yellowish liquid in appearance, with a fruity odor. It is produced by mixing nitric acid and amylic alcohol.

Amyl nitrite is an effective vasodilator and smooth muscle relaxant. Amyl nitrite is fast acting (5–30 seconds) and has a short duration of action (3–5 minutes). Amyl nitrite is used medically chiefly for the prophylaxis and treatment of angina pectoris. It has also been used to treat cyanide poisoning and renal and biliary colic. However, current Food and Drug Administration regulations prohibit labeling amyl nitrite for any use other than treating angina pectoris (21 CFR 250.102). Amyl nitrite has been used as an aphrodisiac, purported to intensify an orgasm, and is particularly popular by those interested in anal sexual activity, such as homosexual males.

In 1867, Thomas Lauder Brunton, a Scottish medical student, discovered that amyl nitrite relieved the pain of angina pectoris by increasing blood flow to the heart. There was an upsurge in recreational use of amyl nitrite beginning in the early 1960s when the Food and Drug Administration removed the need for a prescription. Amyl nitrite then became very popular in the gay community. It was also used by American soldiers fighting in Vietnam. The ban on the use of amyl nitrite without a prescription was reinstated by the Food and Drug Administration in 1969. To get around this regulatory ban, manufacturers began producing slightly altered formulas that produced similar effects. Butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite are examples of some of these slightly modified formulas. In 1988, when the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission placed a ban on the sale of butyl nitrite, manufacturers continued to produce slightly adjusted products, such as cyclohexyl nitrite. In street parlance, all of these analogues are typically referred to as amyl nitrite, as well as its other associated street names, such as poppers. These products are often used along with other so-called club or rave drugs, like ecstasy (MDMA), ket-amine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

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