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What is Amyl Nitrite
Amyl nitrite is a volatile liquid that is administered via inhalation. Its vasodilatory activity makes it useful for the pharmacologic management of angina pectoris and as a diagnostic aid for cardiovascular function.
Amyl nitrite is also useful in the initial treatment of cyanide poisoning until intravenous sodium nitrite is available. Amyl nitrite is a component of the cyanide antidote kit.
Amyl nitrite was first used for its vasodepressor effects in 1857 to treat symptoms of severe angina.
When the FDA was instituted in 1938 amyl nitrite received approval. Today, because amyl nitrite is expensive; inconvenient; and often causes headaches, tachycardia, and orthostatic hypotension, it is rarely used to relieve angina.
Amyl nitrite inhalants are sometimes used illicitly to enhance sexual pleasure and produce euphoria, and abuse of the drug has been associated with severe toxicity. Street names for amyl nitrite inhalants include ‘Amy’ and ‘poppers.’
Indications
- angina
- cyanide toxicity
For the treatment of angina pectoris
Side Effects
- cyanosis
- diaphoresis
- dizziness
- fecal incontinence
- flushing
- headache
- hemolytic anemia
- methemoglobinemia
- nausea
- orthostatic hypotension
- palpitations
- peripheral vasodilation
- rash
- sinus tachycardia
- syncope
- urinary incontinence
- vomiting
- weakness
Monitoring Parameters
- blood pressure
- heart rate
- methemoglobin
Contraindications
- anemia
- breast-feeding
- cardiomyopathy
- children
- dehydration
- geriatric
- glaucoma
- head trauma
- hypotension
- hypovolemia
- increased intracranial pressure
- infants
- intracranial bleeding
- methemoglobinemia
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- orthostatic hypotension
- pregnancy
- syncope
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen; Dichloralphenazone; Isometheptene
- Acetaminophen; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetazolamide
- Acrivastine; Pseudoephedrine
- Alfuzosin
- Alpha-blockers
- Amphetamine
- Amphetamine; Dextroamphetamine
- Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- Apomorphine
- Articaine; Epinephrine
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Benzocaine
- Benzocaine; Butamben; Tetracaine
- Benzphetamine
- Beta-adrenergic blockers
- Bosentan
- Brompheniramine; Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Brompheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Brompheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
- Bupivacaine
- Bupivacaine Liposomal
- Bupivacaine; Lidocaine
- Cabergoline
- Caffeine; Ergotamine
- Calcium-channel blockers
- Carbetapentane; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine; Pyrilamine
- Carbetapentane; Pseudoephedrine
- Carbinoxamine; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Carbinoxamine; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Pseudoephedrine
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
- Central-acting adrenergic agents
- Cetirizine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlophedianol; Dexchlorpheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlophedianol; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Chloroprocaine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
- Cocaine
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Dapsone
- Desloratadine; Pseudoephedrine
- Dexchlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Dexmethylphenidate
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dextromethorphan; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Pseudoephedrine
- Diazoxide
- Diethylpropion
- Dihydrocodeine; Guaifenesin; Pseudoephedrine
- Dihydroergotamine
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Dobutamine
- Dopamine
- Ephedrine
- Epinephrine
- Eplerenone
- Epoprostenol
- Ergoloid Mesylates
- Ergonovine
- Ergot alkaloids
- Ergotamine
- Ethanol
- Fenoldopam
- Fexofenadine; Pseudoephedrine
- Gallium Ga 68 Dotatate
- Glimepiride; Rosiglitazone
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Guaifenesin; Pseudoephedrine
- Halothane
- Hydralazine
- Hydralazine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Hydralazine; Isosorbide Dinitrate, ISDN
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Ibuprofen; Pseudoephedrine
- Iloprost
- Isoproterenol
- Lidocaine
- Lidocaine; Prilocaine
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Loop diuretics
- Loratadine; Pseudoephedrine
- Mannitol
- Mecamylamine
- Mepenzolate
- Mepivacaine
- Mepivacaine; Levonordefrin
- Metformin; Rosiglitazone
- Methamphetamine
- Methazolamide
- Methylergonovine
- Methylphenidate
- Methysergide
- Midodrine
- Minoxidil
- Naproxen; Pseudoephedrine
- Nesiritide, BNP
- Nitroprusside
- Norepinephrine
- Paliperidone
- Pemoline
- Penicillin G Benzathine; Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Pergolide
- Phendimetrazine
- Phentermine
- Phentermine; Topiramate
- Phenylephrine
- Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Prilocaine
- Prilocaine; Epinephrine
- Procaine
- Pseudoephedrine
- Racepinephrine
- Reserpine
- Riociguat
- Ritodrine
- Ropivacaine
- Rosiglitazone
- Sincalide
- Sympathomimetics
- Tetracaine
- Thiazide diuretics
- Treprostinil
