Why are poppers so appealing to gay men?

[marshlander]

Colin's right. Never use poppers with viagra, although at your age why would you want to?

[Dark Angel]

From Talk to Frank

The effects

• An initial head rush that lasts a couple of minutes.
  
• Sniffing poppers during sex can make orgasms feel like they last longer. And some people say it enhances their erections.
  
• May help relax anal sphincter muscles.
  

Chances of getting hooked

Poppers aren't physically or psychologically addictive.

The law

Amyl nitrite is very rarely used in medicine these days but is controlled under the Medicines Act. Possession is not illegal but supply can be an offence. There’ve been cases where the Medicines Act was used to fine shops for selling them, but they're still sold as Room Aromas or Deodorisers in sex shops and some clubs.


Appearance and use

Nitrites originally came as small glass capsules that were popped open, hence the name. Now, they’re likely to be in small bottles with brand names like Ram, Thrust and Rock Hard. One sniff and you can feel the effects. These fade after a couple of minutes.

Cost

Prices can vary from region to region. The prices given here are an average of street prices reported from 20 different parts of England.
£2 - £5 per bottle

Purity

Not really an issue with poppers.

The risks

• The effects don't last long and can leave people feeling sick, faint and weak. Especially if taken while dancing.
  
• Some men have trouble getting an erection after sniffing poppers.
  
• Poppers can give you an extreme headache.
  
• Some people get a rash around their mouth.
  
• Poppers are toxic and can kill you if you swallow them.
  
• Taking poppers is a dangerous idea for anyone with chest or heart problems, anaemia or glaucoma (an eye disease).
  
• It's not advisable to take poppers if you're on medication to reduce your blood pressure or taking Viagra, as it can cause your blood pressure to drop to a dangerous level.
  
• Poppers can burn your skin on contact.
  
• They're highly flammable – especially if you dip cigarettes into a bottle of poppers, which is another way of taking the drug. Lighting these cigarettes could take your eyebrows off.
  

[codis]

tried em once (they were actually literally shoved under my nose during sex once and i sniffed b4 i knew what was happening). they are AWFUL. get a hi and a bit harder for about a minute then u got to sniff it again or you get a mean headache. they smell like sharpee mixed with paint thinner and they are a scam (and health problem) in my opinion. throw em away is my advice or give em to some aver boys...

[Ultra]

I would never do poppers. What the hell?! Drugs are bad... mmmk?

No, seriously... I would not take them. I did pot for a while... that wasn't cool. What's gonna make me try poppers?

[SrChulo]

I've only used them during sex because it really loosens up your ass..... And i definitely needed some help in that department.

My bf said that his were old though. The feeling would last for under a minute. I don't know how long a "fresh" popper would last for me.

I remember doing some research, however, and finding some studies that said they were very low-risk and didn't damage your health.

[martinb88]

i love poppers and room odourisers! its a great way to relax and intensify orgasms.....its a proven fact the poppers dont bust brain cells or cause you any health problems unless you use them in the wrong manner. Thats why poppers still remain legal in the UK

[Cardiganwearer]

I have used poppers for a long time now. If they're used properly by people in reasonably good health they pose no health risks. Avoid them if you've got low blood pressure or cataracts.

Back in the day poppers were amyl nitrite, this formulation was made illegal in the mid nineties as a result of aids campaginers blaming them for making people have unprotected sex. There was also a campaign by aids denialists who claimed poppers caused Karposi's Sarcoma, a skin cancer prevalent among people with a compromised immune system. Some denialists still claim that poppers cause aids.

The response was the introduction of butyl nitrite, which has a longer carbon chain and is less volatile but nearly as effective. This was banned a couple of years back because it was found to cause cancer in rats exposed to preposterously high doses of the stuff.

Ever resourceful the manufacturers moved on to isobutyl nitrite in which the carbon chain is arranged differently. This stuff is frankly rubbish, all headache and no rush. It fails to do the trick entirely.

It isn't illegal to posess or manufacture butyl nitrate, only to sell it. So if you can get the ingredients you can make it (not recommended, strong acid involved). Amyl nitrite is illegal, both to manufacture and posess; though if you can fake a heart attack the paramedics may administer some.

You may have guessed from the fact that I've written an essay on it that I miss the old stuff.

[Sil]

Personally I've never seen what use they had, given their supposed properties...

the theory goes that they relax muscles (especially around old mr.butt) that make anal sex a lot easier, as you don't tense up as much as you might. From using them in that context and recreationally with friends when I was very young, it goes a little something like this...

After a long sniff you end up with an intense feeling of pressure inside your head, a rush of blood, flushed cheeks; it's akin to landing in a plane when your ears pop, that feeling almost as if your head is expanding... not entirely pleasent to me.

I never found it to make sex any easier or better, and I've always been skeptical of solvent drugs. But some people like 'em and they exist for a reason, so if they help you out be very careful...

*tip - if you have an oil burner for fragrancing your room, you can add the solution to water for a milder effect that fills the room, rather than constantly sniffing like a cokie.