Poppers Side Effects – A Dangerous Party Drug

Arriving in the club scene during the 1970’s poppers became a major hit, pardon the pun, and remain to be a major hit right up until the present day. Unlike nearly all drugs in the club scene, poppers are usually legal as inhalants with an exception to a few countries including the US.

Poppers are essentially made up of chemicals called Alkyl Nitrites, in particular isopropyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite and are presented in the typical small brown glass bottle.

Poppers are inhaled through the nose and upon inhalation, they produce their desired effects of a quick high, dizziness, laughter, light headedness, tingling sensation and an intoxicated feel. Supposedly poppers may also enhance sexual pleasure and can help relax smooth muscle of the vagina and anus, which may be an aid during intercourse.

Although poppers seem to have some desired and useful uses, they also pose health risks, both direct and indirect health risks and should be avoided.

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Are extremely common in individuals post popper inhalation. The alkyl nitrites within the poppers cause blood vessels to dilate which can cause headaches. The headaches vary in intensity and differ in users.

The dilation of blood vessels from the alkyl nitrites can cause a moderate to sever drop in blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness and even fainting if a large amount of popper inhalation occurs.

The alkyl nitrate inhalant in poppers can cause a large displacement of oxygen from the lungs and a dramatic lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. This can cause asphyxiation and also Heart Failure, even more so in individuals with low blood pressure.

In studies with mice, it was shown that with in vivo acute and chronic isobutyl nitrite exposure (ingredients in poppers) caused a significantly increased amount of endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production. VEGF plays a major role in the development of blood vessels to growing Tumours (angiogenesis), thereby increasing the size of these tumours and increasing the risk of metastases and cancer.

Because of this link between poppers, the gay community and AIDs, is it hypothesised that inhalation of poppers could be linked with Kaposi’s sarcoma of AIDS victims.

On a different note, poppers contain the abrasive alkyl nitrite oxidising agents. Oxidising agents are known to cause cellular mutations possibly leading to cancer.

The blood vessel dilation during popper inhalation enables easier entry for sexually transmitted viruses and bacteria into the blood stream. This combined with the immunosuppressive actions of poppers increase the likelihood of HIV and other STD infections.

The systemic blood pressure drop due to blood vessel dilation can cause temporary erectile problems and lessen stiffness. This problem should not last for long after inhaling poppers.

Due to the dilation of blood vessels, drop in blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, poppers can cause temporary irregular heart beats / Arrhythmia, as the heart tries to adjust to these changes.

Chronic popper inhalation over vast periods of time can pose neurological dangers. Due to the dilation of blood vessels and reduced blood flow to the brain during popper inhalation, the low blood oxygen content in the brain could over time cause neurological damage, especially in border regions of the brain which are further away from the major artery that supplies oxygen.

Volatile nitrite inhalation, ingredient in poppers, is followed by a cycle of modest immunosuppression with Natural Killer, NK, Cells being the most effected and slowest to recover. This immunosupression increases your chances for periodic infection.

Alkyl nitrites in poppers are oxidising agents and can cause skin burns if spilt on skin or even mild burns around nostrils upon inhalation. Alkyl nitrites are present in video head cleaners and other cleaners so you can see why skin irritation may be an issue.

The lessened blood oxygen levels can cause the skin and mucosal membranes to temporarily become blue in colour due to the prevalence of deoxyhaemoglobin (blue deoxygenated blood) in blood vessels.

Poppers can interact with vasodilators, such as the sex drug Viagra, causing a seriousdrop in blood pressure, which could possibly lead to fainting, stroke, or a heart attack.