Poppers

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Different poppers bottles

Poppers (plural, from English to pop “pop”) is a collective slang term for a group of liquid and short-term drugs . The name comes from the sound of the opening (popping) of the glass ampoules (for inhalation in angina pectoris ), in which the substances were previously available. In the MSM scene, poppers are often abbreviated to PP in written conversation and in profiles on sex and dating portals .

Poppers consisting of amyl nitrite , isopropyl nitrite , Cyclohexylnitrit (and earlier isobutyl ) or mixtures thereof. They have a strong vasodilating effect ( vasodilation ). Poppers have a characteristic chemical odor that is vaguely reminiscent of chloroform . Poppers decompose relatively quickly when they come into contact with atmospheric oxygen, which can be identified by an intense, pungent odor.

use

Alkyl nitrites such as amyl nitrite were originally used as drugs against angina pectoris , but were soon replaced by other drugs because of their short-term effects. Due to the spontaneous, short-lasting intoxicating effect in higher doses, alkyl nitrites are used as intoxicants. These are also ascribed aphrodisiac and pain-relieving effects, which is why they are sometimes used by the passive partner before anal intercourse in order to relax the sphincter muscle and to prevent pain caused by cramps.

The vapors of the volatile liquid are inhaled directly from their vessel. The psychological effect, consisting of an intensification of sensations, sets in after 5 to 15 seconds and lasts between one and a maximum of ten minutes, depending on the amount inhaled. It is often described as " Flash " or "Rush". The effect is based on a temporary vasodilatation in the brain, in which the chemical substance actually only has a vasodilating effect and thus stimulates blood flow, but does not itself have any hallucinogenic properties. In an English study, 5% of all respondents stated that they had used poppers at least once in the last year, making poppers 8th place out of all drugs listed.

In an Australian study that examined drug use in a cohort of homosexual and bisexual men, amyl nitrites were used by the highest number (32.1%) in the “party drugs” category. Also in China, a high number of men who have sex with men were found (28.3% of 576 respondents) who had used poppers in the past three months.

Legal situation in the German-speaking area

The property is not subject to the German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) narcotics law making it legal; However, buying , selling or trading amyl nitrite without permission is against the pharmaceutical laws of the relevant countries, and poppers are not legally available in most other European countries. Occasionally poppers are seized in sex shops that were offered illegally there. They can also be obtained from online shops: there, poppers are offered as “ legal highs ” stating incorrect uses, such as “cleaning agents”, “room fragrances” or “leather cleaning agents”.

unwanted effects

The consumption of poppers can lead to reddening of the skin (due to vasodilation), dizziness and occasionally nitrite-induced headache . Other, short-lasting side effects can include palpitations , nausea , vomiting , visual disturbances and sweating . Ingestion or introduction into the nose or nasal sinuses can cause burns and poisoning; fatalities are documented if swallowed. Especially in connection with the simultaneous use of other antihypertensive agents, a sudden and life-threatening drop in blood pressure with shock states can occur. Blood pressure lowering potency drugs such as the PDE-5 inhibitors sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil , avanafil or vardenafil increase the effect, which is why the simultaneous administration of PDE-5 inhibitors with NO donors (such as amyl nitrite) or any other nitrates is contraindicated.

The formation of methemoglobinemia , or hemolytic anemia (anemia) is possible.

In hypotonic shock, a saline solution, in methaemoglobinemia the antidote toluidine blue or methylene blue , is administered intravenously.

Inhalable, organic nitrites alter blood vessel-forming genes in lung and liver tumors of mice. According to the EU Hazardous Substances Directive, isobutyl nitrite is classified as carcinogenic and is usually no longer available as poppers.

A study on mice concludes that poppers weaken the immune system .

In connection with the consumption of poppers, damage to the retina ( macular degeneration ) is considered possible and examined. Several cases are now known in which the chronic use of poppers (3–4 times a week) led to macular degeneration.

A study in Vancouver found a connection between the use of poppers and the risk of HIV infection, as the willingness to engage in riskier sexual practices increases with use. The authors therefore came to the conclusion that reducing poppers use, under MSM , should be a priority.

Addiction

There is no known physical addiction. Psychological addiction is said to be expressed in reluctance to have sex without poppers.

Claims of carcinogenic effects

The assertion that poppers are the cause of the development of Kaposi's sarcoma , a type of cancer that occurs almost exclusively in AIDS patients, belongs to the field of AIDS deniers . This is justified by the fact that the main consumers of poppers, like many AIDS sufferers, are homosexuals . However, since 1995 it has been proven that Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by an infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), which usually does no harm in healthy people, but it does in immunocompromised patients with advanced AIDS.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Doug Bolton: Global Drugs Survey finds that nitrous oxide is the second most popular drug in the UK . June 8, 2015. independent.co.uk
  2. ↑ MA Hammoud, F. Jin, L. Degenhardt: Following Lives Undergoing Change (Flux) study: Implementation and baseline prevalence of drug use in an online cohort study of gay and bisexual men in Australia. January 9, 2017. PMID 28081482
  3. ^ Z. Wang, D. Li, JT Lau: Prevalence and associated factors of inhaled nitrites use among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China. January 28, 2015. PMID 25680516
  4. ↑ Sex drug poppers: Sniffed to ecstasy. news.de
  5. ↑ "Poppers" ensured. Police discovered 400 bottles of the drug in a sex shop . In: The world . December 8, 2005.
  6. ↑ Poppers swallowed instead of inhaled. A 21-year-old woman from Geneva dies because she swallowed poppers instead of inhaled during a party ( memento from July 14, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) at: 20 minutes online. 17th January 2012.
  7. ↑ KM Smith et al: Recreational use and misuse of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. In: J Am Pharm Assoc . 45 (1), Jan-Feb 2005, pp. 63-72. PMID 15730119
  8. ↑ In the endothelial cells of blood vessels, nitric oxide NO has a muscle-relaxing and thus vasodilating effect through second messenger mechanisms . Since the venous blood vessels react more strongly to NO donors due to better enzymatic equipment, there is initially increased blood flow and improved oxygen supply in the normal dose range ( reddening of the face, medical " flush ").
  9. ↑ Abuse of Poppers: Four Cases of Methemoglobinemia Observed in an Emergency Room . ( Memento from June 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  10. ↑ DC Tran et al .: Effects of repeated in vivo inhalant nitrite exposure on gene expression in mouse liver and lungs. In: Nitric Oxide. 14 (4), Jun 2006, pp. 279-289. PMID 16288974 .
  11. ↑ International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC) for isobutyl nitrite from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), accessed December 26, 2017.
  12. ↑ Inhalant Abuse: What are the unique risks associated with nitrite abuse? National Institute on Drug Abuse
  13. ↑ JS James: Poppers: more evidence of suppressed immunity. In: AIDS Treat News. August 20, 1999. PMID 11366577
  14. ↑ Adverse Ophthalmic Reaction in Poppers Users: Case Series of 'Poppers Maculopathy'
  15. ^ J. García-Bella, J. Donate, R. Gallego-Pinazo: "Poppers maculopathy?" in Spain. A new ophthalmological disease. In: Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 91 (8), August 2016, pp. 397-379. PMID 26944208 .
  16. ↑ M. Pahlitzsch, S. Draghici, BM Mehrinfar: Poppers-associated maculopathy. In: Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 230 (7), July 2013, pp. 727-732. PMID 23877825
  17. ^ TM Lampinen, K. Mattheis, K. Chan: Nitrite inhalant use among young gay and bisexual men in Vancouver during a period of increasing HIV incidence. In: BMC Public Health. 7, March 15, 2007, p. 35. PMID 17362516
  18. ↑ Sniffed to ecstasy . news.de
  19. ^ M. Schalling et al.: A role for a new herpes virus (KSHV) in different forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. In: Nat Med. 1 (7), Jul 1995, pp. 707-708. PMID 7585156 .