- If someone is unwell after using poppers, call 999 or go to A&E, and don’t drive them yourself.
- The rush lasts 3 to 5 minutes, so sit or lie down before you inhale.
- Never swallow poppers or let the liquid touch your skin.
- Alkyl nitrites are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 can apply to making or supplying them.
Contents
- When you need help straight away
- What poppers are, how they are sold and where the law stands
- What the rush feels like and how long it lasts
- The risks to your body and how to lower them
- Can poppers damage your eyes?
- Effects on sex, erections and sexual health
- Mixing poppers with medicines and other drugs
- Frequently asked questions
Poppers are often sold as a room deodoriser, but what they do to the body can be dangerous.
If you use them, or someone you know does, you need to know what to watch for. This article starts with safety, then covers the effects, the risks and the law in the UK.
When you need help straight away
If the person has swallowed, touched or breathed in a harmful substance, call 999 or go to A&E straight away. Do not wait to see whether they get better.
Do not drive them to A&E yourself. Call 999 for an ambulance, or ask someone else to drive while you stay with them.
If you notice any of these, act straight away:
- Unconscious but breathing normally: use the recovery position and keep checking breathing.
- If they become unconscious: check breathing and follow the call handler’s instructions.
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes: go to A&E or call 999.
- New blurred vision or other changes: get urgent advice from NHS 111 or a GP.
What poppers are, how they are sold and where the law stands
What is in the bottle
Poppers are volatile liquids that contain alkyl nitrites. Since 2018, UK products analysed have most often contained isopropyl nitrite, with isobutyl and amyl nitrite found less often.
Breathing in the vapour acts quickly. It relaxes smooth muscle, the kind you cannot control, found in blood vessels and sphincters, so the vessels widen. This is why the effect comes on fast.
Bottles can describe the liquid as a room deodoriser, a leather or boot cleaner, or nail-polish remover. What is inside is not always clear. Different nitrites do not always have the same effects or risks, so two bottles can feel very different.
Never swallow the liquid or let it touch your skin.
Legal status in the UK
In the UK, alkyl nitrites are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, so keeping a bottle is not covered by that law.
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 can apply to making or supplying alkyl nitrites for human use. The advisory committee has recommended adding them to the list of exempt substances, but that recommendation does not make them exempt.
What the rush feels like and how long it lasts
The rush starts within 30 seconds of inhaling and lasts about 3 to 5 minutes. The effects are short, but they can still catch you off guard, so know what to expect before you inhale.
Most people feel a head rush, warmth, euphoria or sexual arousal. Some also feel sick, faint or less coordinated. If that happens, sit or lie down and stay still until it passes.
Nitrites widen your blood vessels. Your blood pressure falls, and your heart rate goes up. That drop is what brings on headaches and dizziness.
Your body can build up tolerance, so repeated or larger use may be needed to get the same effect. Some people come to rely on poppers for sex, but they do not cause dependence in the usual sense.
The risks to your body and how to lower them
If you have heart disease, glaucoma or anaemia, don’t use poppers at all. With heart disease, the drop in blood pressure can be stronger.
If you do use them, sit or lie down before inhaling, and stay there until you feel normal again. Getting up too quickly can bring on a faint, and a fall can cause injury.
Three dangers matter most:
- Never swallow it. It can cause methaemoglobinaemia, which makes the blood less able to carry oxygen, and the risk is higher than with inhaling vapour.
- Keep it away from flames and other ignition sources, because it evaporates easily and can catch fire.
- If liquid gets on your skin, wash the area promptly with plenty of water. Never use it on broken skin.
Can poppers damage your eyes?
Poppers maculopathy damages the macula, the central part of the retina that gives you sharp vision. It can cause a central blind spot, glare or flashes of light.
Vision changes can start within hours of one use or after repeated use, usually in both eyes. Most cases with a known product involved isopropyl nitrite, but amyl and isobutyl nitrite have also been involved.
Vision often improves over several weeks after you stop using poppers, but it may not return fully. Don’t wait to see whether blurred vision clears up on its own. For blurred vision or any sudden change, call NHS 111 or book an urgent GP appointment straight away. If you suddenly cannot see, call 999 or go to A&E.
Effects on sex, erections and sexual health
Some people use poppers during receptive anal sex because they relax the sphincter muscles, including the ring of muscle around the anus.
Clinical trials have not established that poppers reduce pain or injury during anal sex. If you are thinking of using them for this, talk to a sexual health clinic first.
Mixing poppers with medicines and other drugs
Never use poppers with sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra). Together, they can widen your blood vessels so much that your blood pressure drops severely.
If you take medicines for high blood pressure, avoid poppers altogether. Some migraine medicines are also a concern with poppers, so check with a pharmacist or doctor before using them at all.
Little is known about how poppers interact with drugs other than erection medicines, so never assume a mix is safe. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before combining anything. Be especially careful with:
- Alcohol, which can lower your blood pressure on its own.
- Other recreational drugs, especially stimulants and sedatives.
- Any other medicine that affects your heart rate or blood pressure.
Keep one rule in mind: if someone swallows poppers, has a serious reaction or suddenly loses their sight, call 999 or go to A&E straight away.
Before you use poppers again, speak to a pharmacist or doctor, especially if you take medicines for your heart or blood pressure. That short conversation is the best next step you can take. Take care.
Frequently asked questions
Do poppers show up on a drug test?
No, not usually. Routine drug tests rarely include alkyl nitrites. Their breakdown products can be found in blood for less than 30 minutes after use, so a test taken later is very unlikely to pick them up.
How long do poppers stay usable once the bottle has been opened?
Follow the label on the bottle, since that is your best guide to how long the liquid stays usable once opened. Close the cap tightly after each use, and keep the liquid away from heat, sunlight and flames.
Are poppers safe for someone with a heart condition?
No, poppers are not safe if you have a heart condition. They lower your blood pressure, and this effect is stronger in people with heart disease.
Ask your GP or a pharmacist about your heart and your medicines before you use them.
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