What exactly are poppers? (revisited)
January 21, 2008
Could you write a little something about Poppers? Are they harmful? Side effects? I have tried them on a few occasions and have, at times, found they burn the skin around the nose (I imagine not a good substance to spill on oneself). Thanks.
You're quite right, poppers do burn! They also have the bad effect of being potentially lethal when taken in combination with the wrong drugs and medications. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Poppers are amyl or butyl nitrate. They are sold in many gay clubs and sex shops in small brown bottles, often marketed as "video head cleaner" for your VCR. You sniff the open bottle during sex or while dancing, and can feel the results within seconds. Poppers cause your heart rate to increase while dilating your blood vessels, meaning your blood pressure immediately drops. If you have heart trouble, glaucoma, or are anemic, avoid using the drug. Similarly, avoid poppers if you are or are on blood pressure medication, ecstasy, Viagra, or antidepressants. Drug reactions with poppers are extremely bad, and often lead to death. There have been numerous men who have died from the Poppers-Viagra mix in the past several years.
A few other notes on Poppers. They're extremely flammable, and can easily ignite if you are smoking during sex. The effects from sniffing poppers typically lasts only a minute, and rarely as long as two. They often leave people with a headache, which can ruin the sexual encounter. Poppers are not physically addictive, but they do promote a psychological addiction in many men ("I just can't have sex without them."). Finally, poppers lower your immune system several hours after use. If you are exposed to HIV or STDs during sex, this increases your chance of your body contracting the disease.
Poppers are amyl or butyl nitrate. They are sold in many gay clubs and sex shops in small brown bottles, often marketed as "video head cleaner" for your VCR. You sniff the open bottle during sex or while dancing, and can feel the results within seconds. Poppers cause your heart rate to increase while dilating your blood vessels, meaning your blood pressure immediately drops. If you have heart trouble, glaucoma, or are anemic, avoid using the drug. Similarly, avoid poppers if you are or are on blood pressure medication, ecstasy, Viagra, or antidepressants. Drug reactions with poppers are extremely bad, and often lead to death. There have been numerous men who have died from the Poppers-Viagra mix in the past several years.
A few other notes on Poppers. They're extremely flammable, and can easily ignite if you are smoking during sex. The effects from sniffing poppers typically lasts only a minute, and rarely as long as two. They often leave people with a headache, which can ruin the sexual encounter. Poppers are not physically addictive, but they do promote a psychological addiction in many men ("I just can't have sex without them."). Finally, poppers lower your immune system several hours after use. If you are exposed to HIV or STDs during sex, this increases your chance of your body contracting the disease.
