How Long Do Poppers Stay In Your System
There are so many substances on the streets today, and you have done your due diligence to try to stay up to date on them. Your son is a good kid, but you are always aware of what he is doing and who he hangs out with. As a parent, you want to keep him safe from harm, but you worry about all the stories you hear about teens overdosing and some not making it. But still, your son gets straight A’s, has a plan to become a chemical engineer, and even has had a steady girlfriend since he was a sophomore. So, you have nothing to worry about as he goes off to college.
Even though you are not “well off”, you still do everything you can to get him into his dream school. He calls weekly and everything seems to be going well for him. But after he visits for fall break, you can tell something is off with him. He is in a rush to leave and barely says two words as he heads back to school. Later, you find that your heart medication is missing from the cabinet. You call your son and question him, and he admits he stole your medicine. He says school is expensive and he is having a hard time managing work and schoolwork. Your medication can pass for something he calls “poppers,” and he can sell the bottle to help out with money. You are floored, and confused. What the heck is a popper anyway? Why wouldn’t he just ask for help?
In a recent article, the United States Food and Drug Administration warns about the dangers of poppers. Clean Recovery Centers understands that new substances are emerging on the market every day, and it can be difficult to keep up with what is trending. This is why we offer a family program, so that parents, siblings, and trusted family members can be a part of the recovery process. Educating them on substance use disorder and what their loved one is experiencing can help bridge the gap and make for a more successful recovery for their loved one. Today, we are discussing how long poppers stay in your system, and what effects they may have.
How Long Do Poppers Stay in Your System?
Poppers are a depressant and are commonly inhaled. Typically, they are made up of amyl nitrite, which is part of the alkyl nitrites drug class. This also covers butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, and isopropyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite is the most common popper variety, and can be used to help relaxation and improve sexual function and quality. Poppers get their name from how they are packaged – in glass bottles that are crushed in cloth. The vapor is then inhaled from the cloth. The timeframe the effects last can vary, but typically, poppers stay in your system for around 12 hours after using them.
What Are the Immediate Effects of Popper Dependence?
Poppers are used in medicinal settings to treat angina, a condition causing chest pain due to low blood flow to the heart. Amyl nitrite is used to treat this pain because it is a vasodilator. It opens the blood vessels and restores blood flow while also relaxing involuntary muscles, lowering the person’s blood pressure. These effects can be felt within 2 to 5 minutes.
In a healthy person, the effects of using poppers recreationally still begin in the 2 to 5-minute range. However, they cause more side effects than just on the heart. These can include:
- Low blood pressure
- Euphoric relaxation
- Nose bleeds
- Breathing difficulties
- Headaches
- Muscle relaxation
- Blurred vision
As popper use continues, the skin around the nose and mouth will become irritated and can cause rashes. If the fluid comes in contact with the skin, burns can also ensue.
How Are Poppers Detected on Drug Tests?
Typically, because poppers are inhaled, they will not show up on standard 5-panel drug screens. However, they can still be detectable in urine for 72 hours after the last use, depending on the person. In blood, poppers are usually undetectable after 12-24 hours. There are tests in other countries being developed to test for inhalant use, but for an employment screening, amyl nitrites will most likely not show a presence.
What Factors Can Affect How Long Poppers Remain in Your System?
Many factors can affect how long poppers’ effects last and how long they stay in your system. These include:
- Body weight
- Amount inhaled
- If you have used poppers before
- Environment where the poppers were taken – how much fresh air was around
- Dose of medication
- If taken with other substances such as alcohol or methamphetamines
Does Method of Use Affect How Long Poppers Stay in Your System?
In the case of poppers, there is really only one standard way of use – inhalation. This is because amyl nitrite is toxic if swallowed and can be fatal. Poppers will stay in your system as you keep using them. The more times you inhale poppers, the longer they will stay in your system.
How Poppers Are Metabolized in the Body
Poppers enter the body through the mucus linings in the nose. The effects are felt almost immediately as they enter the bloodstream and reach the brain. After the initial effects, the amyl nitrite begins the process of leaving the body. The liver works to detoxify the substance and over 1/3rd is excreted through urine. Poppers can also be excreted through sweat and breathing.
Are There Any Ways to Get Poppers Out of My System Faster?
Once a substance enters the body, there is no true way to get it out of your system faster. Poppers’ effects are short-lived, and even after the initial rush, the headache and dizziness only last a few hours. Drinking water, using poppers in a fresh air environment, and not mixing with other substances can help reduce the after-effects, but the amyl nitrite is still in your system. This is important to note as it is possible to experience life-threatening effects from inhaling too many doses of poppers at once. Methemoglobinemia is a condition that occurs from extensive popper use and causes issues with oxygen reaching the muscles within the body. It can cause serious damage and even death.
Do Poppers Stay in Your System Longer When Mixed with Alcohol or Other Substances?
Poppers do not stay in your system longer when mixed with other substances. However, they can interact with other medications and substances to create longer and more dangerous effects. If you are taking erectile dysfunction medication – such as Viagra – and mix it with poppers, loss of consciousness due to extreme drops in blood pressure can occur. Amyl nitrite mixed with amphetamines or methamphetamines can increase the amount of strain on the heart, making it difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Can Other Substances Cause You to Test Positive for Popper Dependence?
Poppers will not show up on a drug screen, and other substances will not affect this. If you are taking other substances with poppers, those substances can still show up as a positive result. If you are worried about certain substances giving a positive result, ask about the type of test you will be taking and be honest about current use.
Getting Help for Popper Use in Tampa, Florida
Even though poppers are readily available in certain adult stores, they are illegal to possess in Florida. While it may not seem like a big deal now, popper use can eventually cause physical harm and permanent damage. Seeking help to stop using poppers and gain skills to handle stress is a great first step in the right direction. If you are embarrassed or worried about people knowing about your use, consider finding a treatment facility away from home. Your health and well-being should be your number one priority, and finding help today can make all of the difference.
If you or someone you love is looking for help leaving poppers behind, you are not alone. Clean Recovery Centers has helped hundreds to get clean, live clean, and stay clean. With multiple facilities along the Gulf Coast, and certified housing options at each location, there is nothing stopping you from confronting your addiction today. Call us at (888) 330-2532 to learn more about our program offerings.
FAQs
How long do the effects of poppers last?
The effects of poppers last 2 to 5 minutes.
What is the half-life of amyl nitrite?
The half-life of amyl nitrite is unclear, but is said to be after 5 minutes.
What is the strongest Popper?
Amyl nitrite is considered the strongest popper.
Do you drink or inhale poppers?
Poppers are inhaled, usually straight from the bottle or from a material such as a cloth.
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