All About
Poppers

Drug Class

Nitrites (not nitrates), Amyl, Butyl/Isolbutyl Nitrite (older, harder-to-get formulas), Isopropyl Nitrite (newer, easier to find formula)

Common Terms

Brand names, like: Bolt, Climax, Rush, Zbest, Jungle Juice and others; room deodorizer, leather cleaner

Consumption and Standard Dose
  • Poppers are a fuming liquid, sold in small glass bottles from sex shops or online. They used to come in sealed glass ampules, which would make a popping sound when opened.
  • Fumes are sniffed or hugged in the nostrils, creating a near-instant high, lasting 30 seconds to 2 minutes. They are often sniffed repeatedly during a session to enhance sex or dancing.
The Buzz
  • The high usually lasts no longer than two minutes
  • Head rush, light-headedness and dizziness
  • Increased excitement and giddiness
  • Rectal muscles relax, making anal penetration more pleasurable, and rougher sex more fun
  • Can make fisting, and BDSM ass play more pleasurable
  • Enhances sensation and stimulation in the ass and and genital region, making fucking more pleasurable and intense
  • Increased heart rate, relaxation, reddening and warming of the face and chest
  • Enhances intensity of light and music, which can be fun when dancing
Overdose and other negative effects
  • Increases likelihood of unplanned, condomless sex
  • Difficulty gauging rectal damage, if being fisted and fucked with larger toys. Learn about safer fisting and BDSM anal play before dosing with poppers.
  • Headaches, unpleasant dizziness, and nausea
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Highly flammable liquid, can catch fire and cause burns from cigarettes, cigars, candles, lighters etc.
  • Poisonous and potentially fatal if swallowed
  • Chemical burns if splashed on skin.
  • Temporary difficulty in maintaining erection
  • Drops blood pressure, possibly to dangerous levels if you have low blood pressure already
  • Nitrites reduce immune functioning when used regularly overtime
  • Can make it hard to get sexual aroused without poppers, if regularly paired with sexual activity over a period of time.
  • Can contribute to compulsive masturbation, as poppers can increase pleasure and intensity of masturbation.
  • Amyl and Butyl/Isobutyl Nitrites are harder to find: they are illegal, as they can be cancer-causing with long-term, regular use.
  • Isopropyl Nitrite can damage eye cells. Short-term, blurry vision can clear up by ceasing poppers use. Longer-term vision problems can result from prolonged, long-term use. Check out a related study here.
Dangerous Drug Combinations
  • Erectile Drugs, when taken with Poppers, can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure
  • Heart/Blood Pressure Medications mixed with Poppers can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure
  • Mixed with stimulants like cocaine, crystal meth and MDMA puts strain on your heart
Sex on Poppers
  • Relaxes body and loosens muscles, which make penetration easier and more pleasurable
  • Facilitates more vigorous, rougher sex
  • Increase sense of importance, urgency, intensity and focus of sexual activity
  • Increases orgasm and sexual sensations
  • Poppers are flammable and are not good to get on the skin. Be careful during the movements of sex to not spill any
HIV Medications & Poppers
  • There are no known reactions between Poppers and HIV medications. Sniffing poppers does not decrease CD4 counts or increase viral load.
  • Protease Inhibitors (PIs) increase the concentration of all erectile drugs, and will exacerbate the interaction between erectile drugs and poppers