Amyl nitrite

3-methylbutyl nitrite

Overview

Amyl nitrite belongs to Inhalants.

Key safety note: Amyl nitrite ('poppers') is an inhaled vasodilator and not a controlled drug, but it carries specific and sometimes serious dangers.[5][4]
Effects
Subjective effects vary. What a substance feels like depends on dose, individual physiology, mindset, and setting. The points below describe commonly reported effects, not guaranteed, uniform, or desirable outcomes.
  • A brief (seconds to ~2 minutes) intense head-rush: warmth, flushing, light-headedness, giddiness and lowered inhibitions.
  • Relaxation of smooth muscle, including the anal and vaginal sphincters, with heightened sensory and sexual experience: the main reason for recreational use.
  • Common immediate effects: a throbbing headache, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, facial flushing and faintness on standing.
  • Effects are very short-lived. Repeated dosing extends them only briefly and worsens headache and low blood pressure.
Dosing & duration
Harm-reduction note: These are commonly cited reference ranges, not a recommendation or a “safe” dose. Potency, purity, body chemistry, tolerance, and drug combinations vary widely. Start low, go slow, wait for full effects before redosing, and never assume an unknown product matches these figures. Missing data is not evidence of safety.

Inhaled. Not a recommendation. Poppers are inhaled as a brief sniff of the vapour from the bottle. They must NEVER be swallowed (ingestion causes severe, potentially fatal methaemoglobinaemia). Never use them with erectile-dysfunction drugs (PDE5 inhibitors) or other nitrates. Sit or lie down to avoid fainting, avoid skin/eye contact (the liquid is caustic), and keep well away from flames (highly flammable). There is no milligram 'dose'.

Dose ranges

Use

A brief inhalation of vapour from the bottle, never swallowed

Duration

onset

≈seconds

peak

≈seconds

total

≈1–2 min

Chemical & Physical Properties
FormulaC5H11NO2
Molar mass117.15 g/mol
StateLiquid
Melting pointNot reported
Boiling point99.2 °C
Density0.8528 g/cm³ at 20 °C (NTP, 1992)
Vapor pressure26.3 mmHg
pKaNot reported
LogP1.7 (predicted, XLogP3)
Solubilityless than 0.1 mg/mL at 18 °C (NTP, 1992), Miscible with ether, alcohol, chloroform, Very slightly soluble in water
Refractive index1.3918 at 20 °C
Identifiers & Synonyms
CAS110-46-3
CAS (enantiomer)
PubChem CID8053
InChIKeyOWFXIOWLTKNBAP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChIInChI=1S/C5H11NO2/c1-5(2)3-4-8-6-7/h5H,3-4H2,1-2H3
SMILESCC(C)CCON=O

Synonyms

  • Poppers
  • Isoamyl nitrite
  • Isopentyl nitrite
  • 3-Methylbutyl nitrite
  • Amyl nitrite
Pharmacodynamics & Biochemistry

Amyl nitrite is an alkyl (organic) nitrite: the class sold as 'poppers'. Inhaled, it rapidly releases nitric oxide (NO), which activates soluble guanylate cyclase and raises cyclic GMP in smooth muscle, producing rapid, short-lived vasodilation (a warm 'rush', flushing and a brief head-rush) and relaxation of smooth muscle including the anal and vaginal sphincters: the basis of its recreational and sexual use. It has no direct action on neurotransmitter receptors. The brief psychoactive 'high' is a consequence of the sudden fall in blood pressure and cerebral vasodilation rather than a specific CNS-receptor effect. Nitrites also oxidise the iron in haemoglobin from the ferrous (Fe²⁺) to the ferric (Fe³⁺) state, forming methaemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen: the basis of both a rare-but-serious acute toxicity and the historical medical use of nitrites as a cyanide antidote. ('Amyl nitrite' is used generically for the poppers family: isoamyl/isopentyl, isopropyl, isobutyl and pentyl nitrites, this record is isoamyl/3-methylbutyl nitrite.)

Biological targets

  • NO-cGMP pathway
Pharmacokinetics
BioavailabilityInhaled (rapid absorption across the lungs)
TmaxSeconds
Half-lifeVery short (minutes)
VdNot reported
Protein bindingNot reported
MetabolismRapid hydrolysis to nitrite and the parent alcohol
ExcretionPulmonary and renal
Toxicology & Safety
Harm-reduction note: Toxicity and risk depend on dose, route, purity, combinations, setting, and individual health factors. Missing harms should never be interpreted as evidence of safety.

Not reported

Amyl nitrite ('poppers') is an inhaled vasodilator and not a controlled drug, but it carries specific and sometimes serious dangers. It must never be swallowed: ingesting alkyl nitrites causes severe, sometimes fatal methaemoglobinaemia: the blood can no longer carry oxygen, the skin turns blue-grey, and treatment requires methylene blue. It must never be combined with erectile-dysfunction drugs (sildenafil/Viagra, tadalafil/Cialis, vardenafil) or other nitrates: the combination causes a catastrophic, potentially fatal drop in blood pressure, and alcohol adds to the hypotension. The sudden vasodilation causes fainting and falls, so users should sit or lie down. Regular use can cause 'poppers maculopathy', a lasting loss of central and colour vision (especially with isopropyl nitrite). The liquid is caustic (chemical burns to skin, lips and airway) and highly flammable: keep away from cigarettes and flames. It should be avoided in cardiovascular disease, recent heart attack, anaemia, glaucoma, G6PD deficiency and pregnancy. Because it lowers inhibitions and facilitates condomless sex, its use is associated with higher STI/HIV transmission risk.[5][4]

Legal Status
Legal note: Legal status can change over time and may vary by country, region, formulation, analogue status, prescription context, and enforcement practice. Always confirm with current official sources before relying on this section.
Interactions & Contraindications

Drug interactions

PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil), Nitrate medications (nitroglycerin) With sildenafil/tadalafil/vardenafil or other nitrates/nitroglycerin: a catastrophic, potentially fatal drop in blood pressure. An absolute contraindication.[4]
Alcohol, Antihypertensive drugs Additive hypotension and fainting with alcohol and other vasodilators or antihypertensives.[4]
Other methaemoglobinaemia-causing agents (dapsone, benzocaine) Additive methaemoglobinaemia risk with dapsone, benzocaine or other methaemoglobinaemia-causing agents.[5]

Contraindications

Concurrent PDE5 inhibitor (Viagra/Cialis) or nitrate medication concurrent PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra/Cialis/Levitra) or any nitrate medication.[4]
Cardiovascular disease, hypertension or arrhythmia cardiovascular disease, recent heart attack or severe hypotension.[4]
Anaemia or G6PD deficiency (methaemoglobinaemia risk)[5]
Closed-angle glaucoma glaucoma or raised intraocular pressure.[4]
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and it must never be swallowed.[5]
Usage & Context
  • Sold as 'poppers': small bottles labelled 'leather cleaner', 'room aroma' or 'video head cleaner' to sidestep sale restrictions.
  • Widely used recreationally, especially in club and sexual contexts (relaxes sphincter muscles and heightens sensation).
  • Historically a medicine for angina (a coronary vasodilator) and a component of cyanide-poisoning antidote kits.
Sources & Evidence

Further Information