Amyl Nitrate

Amyl nitrite, usually sold under the street name "poppers," is an inhaled chemical in the alkyl nitrite family. The name is often written as "amyl nitrate," but the correct compound is a nitrite. Once used medically for chest pain, it is now inhaled recreationally to produce a brief rush of warmth, euphoria, and muscle relaxation lasting from about 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. It has been used for decades within gay, bisexual, and queer communities, often to relax muscle and enhance sexual experience. Poppers cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and can be dangerous, especially when mixed with erectile dysfunction drugs. Reported harms include headaches, dizziness, and eye damage known as poppers maculopathy.