- Inhale from the bottle, cap near your nose, with one long breath. Never swallow poppers or put them on your skin.
- The effects last only 3 to 5 minutes, so never take a second hit straight away.
- Never mix poppers with sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil or alcohol, as together they can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
- Call 999 if someone collapses, passes out, stops breathing or has a seizure.
Contents
- How to use poppers: inhaling the vapour from the bottle
- Effects begin within 30 seconds and usually last 3 to 5 minutes
- Blood pressure, heart and eyesight: the risks to know
- Dangerous mixtures to avoid, starting with erectile dysfunction medicines
- Do poppers show up on a drug test?
- Poppers in the UK: not controlled under the 1971 Act
- FAQ
Poppers are small bottles of liquid that people inhale for a quick rush. Used the wrong way, they can cause serious harm.
So how do you use them without putting your health at risk? This guide covers how to inhale them, what effects to expect, the health risks, the mixtures to avoid, and the UK rules.
How to use poppers: inhaling the vapour from the bottle
Inhale straight from the bottle, with the cap near your nose. One long breath is usually enough. Never swallow the liquid or put it on your skin.
Cloths and cigarettes are riskier because the liquid catches fire easily. For a bottle that suits your budget, see best poppers for every budget. Stick to the bottle and leave the cloth in the drawer.
Success: the bottle is closed and out of sight.
Success: your hands are dry. Liquid on hands can burn before a flame.
Success: help is on its way. Call if someone passes out, stops breathing or has a seizure. Don’t drive them to A&E.
Effects begin within 30 seconds and usually last 3 to 5 minutes
Effects start within 30 seconds of inhaling and usually last 3 to 5 minutes. That short window pushes people to take another hit straight away, before the high has really registered.
Muscles relax too, so the rush feels stronger than it is. For safer use, see effects of poppers and safer use advice. Let the first one wear off, and skip the second.
Some side effects are common, and it helps to recognise them early:
- Nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating or chills.
- Throat irritation, tiredness or changes in how time feels.
- Dizziness or a fast heartbeat: stop, sit or lie down, and get medical advice.
- Fainting, severe breathing difficulty or a seizure: call 999 straight away.
Blood pressure, heart and eyesight: the risks to know
Blood pressure and the heart
Poppers widen your blood vessels, which lowers your blood pressure. The result can be a headache, dizziness or fainting.
The risk is higher if you have heart disease or take a medicine that also widens blood vessels. Keep that in mind, because the drop in pressure can catch you off guard.
If you have glaucoma, have had a recent head injury, or have bleeding in the head, do not use poppers until a doctor has confirmed it is safe for you. The same goes if you take blood pressure medicines, migraine medicines, high doses of aspirin or illegal drugs.
Methaemoglobinaemia
Watch for these warning signs of methaemoglobinaemia, and get help straight away if you notice them:
- Breathlessness, a fast heartbeat, or blue or grey lips, fingers or toes.
- Breathing failure, fits, coma or collapse. These mean the condition is severe, and it can be fatal without treatment.
- Swallowing or injecting poppers carries a much higher risk than inhaling the vapour, so never do either.
- Poppers can break down red blood cells, causing anaemia and jaundice (yellowing of the skin). This risk is greater if you have G6PD deficiency.
Eyesight
Vision changes can start within hours of one use, or after repeated use. Blurred or reduced sight often comes with a blind spot in the centre.
Vision often improves over several weeks after you stop, but it does not always recover fully. For strong poppers, read effects, risks and UK buying advice before you buy. Stop at the first blur, not after.
Dangerous mixtures to avoid, starting with erectile dysfunction medicines
Erectile dysfunction medicines
Never use poppers with sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil. These are the erectile dysfunction medicines, and both they and poppers widen blood vessels. Taken together, they can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure.
Many people don’t realise their pills belong to this group, so check the name on the box before you use poppers.
Leaving a gap between poppers and your erectile dysfunction medicine does not make the combination safe. Timing does not remove the risk of a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Before you use poppers, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about your medicines.
Alcohol and other drugs
Poppers are often taken with MDMA, cocaine, methamphetamine, mephedrone or GHB. Mixing them can hide early warnings like dizziness, so a dangerous drop in blood pressure may go unnoticed.
Alcohol is on the same list, and drinking more than 14 units a week regularly can raise blood pressure. For the risks specific to propyl poppers, see our page on propyl poppers. On a night out, skip the mix altogether.
Do poppers show up on a drug test?
Poppers are broken down quickly by the body. The alcohols they leave behind can be detected in blood for less than 30 minutes after use.
Standard drug tests rarely look for poppers at all. Still, don’t count on that: if a test is coming up, the sensible choice is to stop using them well before it.
Alkyl nitrites are rarely included in clinical or forensic toxicology screening. That does not guarantee what any specific test will detect, so don’t count on one to miss them.
A blood nitrite level tells doctors little about whether poppers caused a poisoning. If you feel unwell after use, call 999 or go to A&E rather than waiting for a result.
Poppers in the UK: not controlled under the 1971 Act
Alkyl nitrites, the chemicals in poppers, have never been controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 can still apply to importing, exporting or supplying them for their psychoactive effects.
Buying, possessing or using them outside prison is not an offence under it. Check your supplier first: that is where the law applies.
The law is clear on making and selling alkyl nitrites for human use, but several points remain untested. For UK prices and sizes, see Iron Fist poppers in the UK.
| Criterion | Isopropyl nitrite | Isobutyl nitrite | Isopentyl nitrite | Amyl nitrite | Amyl nitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detections, 2018 to June 2023 | 91 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 4th |
| Chemical family | Nitrite | Nitrite | Nitrite | Nitrite | Nitrate |
Keep to the basics: inhale from the bottle, and never swallow poppers, put them on your skin, or mix them with alcohol or erectile dysfunction medicines. If you feel unwell after use, call 999 without waiting.
Before your next use, check the name on each medicine box. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist first.
FAQ
How long are poppers good for once opened?
Follow the product label, and stop using poppers once they change in appearance or smell. Check the liquid and the scent each time you use them.
A change in colour or a new odour means it’s time to throw the bottle away.
Do poppers cause dependence or addiction?
Alkyl nitrites, the chemicals in poppers, are not known to cause dependence. Reliance is the point to watch, though: some people come to need them to have satisfactory sex.
If that worries you, talk to a GP or call FRANK on 0300 123 6600.
Where can I get help if my use of poppers worries me?
Talk to your GP first, or contact a local drug service. FRANK can also help you find support. Tell them how often you use poppers and whether you feel you need them to enjoy sex.
What are poppers made of?
Poppers are volatile liquids that contain alkyl nitrites, meaning they turn to vapour quickly at room temperature.
Products can contain different nitrites, such as isopropyl, isobutyl or amyl nitrite, so check the label to see which one is in your bottle.
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