The latest on ... POPPERS

[Steven_Draker]

Researchers in the United Kingdom say inhaling the 70s club drug "poppers," or isopropyl nitrate, can seriously damage your eyes, thanks to its new formula.

 

Reuters reports of a case study of a 30-year-old white man who lost vision in both eyes after inhaling poppers. Although researchers are unclear how this is happening, they did notice yellow spots on the macula deep inside the man’s eye.

 

"Over the past 18 months or so I have come across almost 10 patients with poppers maculopathy, whilst several years ago I had not even heard of the condition, same with a lot of my colleagues," said Dr. Anna Gruener, a physician at Guy’s and St Mary’s Foundation Trust in London. "I felt it was important to raise the issue and increase awareness."

 

For the uninitiated -- i.e., those who can still read this article -- poppers are a liquid drug sold in small vials and inhaled on the dance floor or before sex for a short rush of euphoria. The drug dilates blood vessels and relaxes muscles for a short amount of time. Gruener said that the name ’poppers’ came from people popping the lids off the glass vials to inhale them.

 

The short study was posted in The Lancet, and quite candidly notes, "poppers (slang for various alkyl nitrite compounds) are commonly used in the gay community, for their ability to relax the anal sphincter and known psychoactive effects."

 

Researchers then note that following changes to legislation in 2006, poppers’ main ingredient, isopropyl nitrite, was substituted for isopropyl nitrite. Since then, there have been several reports of a new form of visual loss termed "poppers maculopathy." Exactly how poppers cause damage to central photoreceptors is unknown, but there is a clear cause/effect relationship.

 

"Despite online warnings outlining the risks of poppers, the number of individuals presenting with associated visual loss is increasing," reads The Lancet study. "Fundoscopy findings can be very subtle, with more striking changes seen on optical coherence tomography. The relatively easy availability and widespread use of poppers is underestimated and concerning, given the propensity for permanent damage to the eyes. We would encourage both end-users and healthcare professionals to be aware of the potentially serious and irreversible damage poppers can have on vision."

 

In 2010 through 2011, French ophthalmologists began seeing multiple patients with vision loss after using poppers. Gruener believes that the new formula may be more toxic to the retina than the ones previously used.

 

The vision loss does not affect every user, but it can be permanent in some, and can happen after only one use. Gruener said that the easy availability of what is thought to be a relatively safe drug worries her.

 

"I would like people to realize that poppers can potentially be very damaging, that there is no cure for poppers maculopathy and that prevention -- avoidance of poppers -- is therefore key," she told Reuters.

 

 

source: http://www.edgeboston.com/health_fitness/health/news//162085/doctors:_sniff_poppers_and_you_could_go_blind

[+ Charlie]

 

Researchers then note that following changes to legislation in 2006, poppers’ main ingredient, isopropyl nitrite, was substituted for isopropyl nitrite.

 

source: http://www.edgeboston.com/health_fitness/health/news//162085/doctors:_sniff_poppers_and_you_could_go_blind

 

Huh?

[rvwnsd]

I think the article intended to say "Researchers then note that following changes to legislation in 2006, poppers’ main ingredient, isopropyl nitrite, was substituted for isobutyl nitrite."

 

A better way of phrasing the sentence is "Researchers then note that following a 2006 legislation change, isopropyl nitrite replaced isobutyl nitrite as poppers' main ingredient. "

 

Isobutyl nitrite was banned in the EU in 2007.

[+ Charlie]

I think the article intended to say "Researchers then note that following changes to legislation in 2006, poppers’ main ingredient, isopropyl nitrite, was substituted for isobutyl nitrite."

 

A better way of phrasing the sentence is "Researchers then note that following a 2006 legislation change, isopropyl nitrite replaced isobutyl nitrite as poppers' main ingredient. "

 

Isobutyl nitrite was banned in the EU in 2007.[/quote

 

Aha! Isobutyl vs. isopropyl.

[whipped guy]

I posted the following in the Folsom East Thread in the Fetish Forum:

Incidentally one booth was selling a variety of poppers... My buddy sampled one variety... and DAMN!!! I thought he was going to explode right there on the spot... I don't remember the brand, but as I recall it was from the UK.

I swear the stuff was beyond lethal judging from his response. Talk about vasodilation!!! SHOOT!!!! Off the freaking charts... and definitely scary for a few moments!

[bostonman]

I'm mot much of a drug person by nature. I've done pot, that's about it. I remember when I was coming out and first starting to go to clubs, etc, in the early 80's, that poppers were around a lot, but I just never wanted to go there - plus, the smell of them in the room was a huge turnoff to me (and still is). The few times I've gone against my own nature and had sex with a guy who really felt the urge to use them - most of those were not good sexual experiences (either the guy couldn't get it up, or he was more into the poppers than the sex, or again, that smell just got in the way for me). So I guess I'm lucky in that I wouldn't have the urge to do them anyway. I'm not going to preach to any of you who find poppers an enhancement to sex (if you like them, I'm glad they do something for you), but now I feel I have even more reason to be thankful I never liked them.

 

And of course, I feel terrible for the unsuspecting guys who are now suffering from that eye damage. Horrible.

[+ Gar1eth]

I've been with multiple escorts who have used them to bottom. Often I had been on Viagra, and the combination of poppers and erectile dysfunction drugs is a big NO-NO because of the risk of extreme lows in blood pressure. The one time I remember trying them when I wasn't on an ED drug, I didn't enjoy that 'head rush' feeling. It gives me a headache.

 

Gman

[whipped guy]

As implied from my posting above, I have never used poppers. They have been offered to me as many subs use poppers in S&M situations to help them better enjoy and tolerate the "pleasures". Only once when I was playing the Dom did a sub use them. It was in a club situation and like any obedient sub he did ask permission. It was granted as we were not alone and there would be others around if anything went wrong.

 

Now... I almost hate to post this about the additional scenario as a good and normally very responsible friend who monitors this forum hired a well known escort duo for BDSM... he took poppers and then was suspended. He passed out and when he came to found himself on the floor and literally did not know which end was up. At that point he had no clue what had happened and the escorts in question were scared out of their freaking minds as well. So much so that they they were almost ready for early retirement!!!! Needless to say my friend was ready to give up his "hobby" as well!!!

 

In any event, a lesson regarding safety and steps taken regarding the minimization of hazards if a sub passes out during such a scene were learned by all. Now my friend had told me he had set up the appointment with this dynamic escort duo and I was anxiously awaiting a post session report. The one I got was needless to say not what I had expected. I lashed out a bit at him for acting irresponsibly. Still all survived the situation and lived to play another day... but hopefully in a much more safe and sane manner.

[Steven_Draker]

http://demotivationalpost.com/motivators/11630929190/safety-first.jpg

[Guest ChrisW]

Poppers can be great but don't get the shitty ones, you can still get amyl nitrate not the new formula a few places in the country. The smell is kind of gross but it can be whats needed to make a scene run smoothly as well as comfortably.

[manTOman]

Ok call me stupid, but how do I know which ones are shitty?

And how do I know which brands are isopropyl nitrite vs. isobutyl nitrite?

Is there such a thing as "safe" poppers - meaning least likely to cause any damage, or are they all pretty much the same?

[Guest ChrisW]

The new formula is pretty terrible and there aren't any poppers that are "safe" just don't mix them with viagra or something similar. There is a place in the castro called Chaps that sells a brand called Brown Bag thats is real Amyl Nitrate. I don't know if you can order them online but they pretty darn good, I pick up a new bottle every time I am in SF