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Chloroethane: Difference between revisions
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| link_psychonautwiki = https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Inhalants#Chloroethane | | link_psychonautwiki = https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Inhalants#Chloroethane | ||
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=== Mechanism of action === | === Mechanism of action === | ||
Chloroethane is thought to produce intoxication primarily through GABA receptor agonism, similar to other volatile anesthetics. | Chloroethane is thought to produce intoxication primarily through GABA receptor agonism, similar to other volatile anesthetics. | ||
=== Physical properties === | |||
Chloroethane is a volatile organic compound which boils at room temperature. When sprayed from a pressurized bottle in liquid form, it rapidly converts to a gas producing a very high concentration chloroethane near where it was sprayed. | |||
== Appeal <!-- Describe the reasons why people use this drug with kink. --> == | == Appeal <!-- Describe the reasons why people use this drug with kink. --> == | ||
Chloroethane is capable of producing a sensation similar to alcohol intoxication which can become extremely powerful and rapidly result in loss of consciousness. | |||
== Dosing <!-- Describe the routes of administration and dosing for this drug. --> == | == Dosing <!-- Describe the routes of administration and dosing for this drug. --> == | ||
The effects of chloroethane primarily depend on the concentration of gas being inhaled and the duration of exposure.<ref>{{Citation |title=Chloroethane |date=2023-12-01 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chloroethane&oldid=1187804342 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2024-02-06 |language=en}}</ref> If used repeatedly, chloroethane will accumulate in the body until the concentration being inhaled reaches equilibrium with the concentration in the body. The concentration in the body represents the "dose" of the drug, and produces the following effects: | |||
* <1%: Usually no symptoms | |||
* 3-5%: Symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication | |||
* 6-8%: Amnesia, partial or complete loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, myocardial depression | |||
* 9-12%: Apnea (cessation of breathing), complete unresponsiveness, involuntary activation of reflexes (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, gagging), vomiting (which can cause aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs) | |||
* >12%: Cardiac arrest and rapid death | |||
== Risks <!-- Describe the risks of this drug. --> == | == Risks <!-- Describe the risks of this drug. --> == | ||
Chloroethane is a | Chloroethane, along with other [[volatile anesthetics]], is '''<u>extremely dangerous</u>''' to use recreationally and presents an example of essentially '''<u>unmitigable risk</u>''' due to the inability to reliably monitor or control the concentration of gas that is being inhaled. When chloroethane is sprayed into the environment, it immediately boils into a gas. This causes extremely high concentrations of gaseous chloroethane far beyond potentially fatal levels, especially if the liquid is sprayed into a material which will capture the gas and slow the boiling process (e.g. into a rag). | ||
=== Airway reflexes === | |||
One major risk of chloroethane is the involuntary activation of airway reflexes, including [[laryngospasm]] (closure of the vocal cords), or [[bronchospasm]] (closure of the lower airways), resulting in partial or complete blockage of airflow to and from the lungs. Normally, these reflexes are protective and are triggered to prevent liquids or solids from entering the lungs. However, when unconsciousness is caused by an anesthetic agent, these reflexes can activate inappropriately even when no triggering stimulation was present, and may not relax once activated. | |||
If laryngospasm occurs, it can sometimes be treated with [[Larson's maneuver]] (using fingers to apply firm inward pressure to the soft tissue directly underneath the ear lobe on both sides of the head). If a bag-valve-mask is present, positive pressure with a high inspiratory pressure may also resolve the episode. However, some cases of laryngospasm will not resolve until death would occur and can only be managed by trained experts with access to specialized medications and equipment. | |||
=== Cardiac arrest === | |||
The difference in dose of chloroethane between the desired recreational effects and cardiac arrest is very small (<10% difference in the concentration of gas). Because chloroethane boils into a gas at room temperature, it is possible to produce extremely high concentrations of gas (>50%) if it is inhaled from a confined space such as a rag. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to accurately monitor and control the concentration of chloroethane being inhaled. '''<u>These characteristics mean that cardiac arrest can rapidly occur without warning during any use.</u>''' | |||
=== Interactions <!-- Describe the interactions of this drug. --> === | === Interactions <!-- Describe the interactions of this drug. --> === | ||
Chloroethane will synergistically interact with other depressants and reduce the dose required to produce each of the listed effects above. | |||
=== Addiction <!-- Describe the addiction risk for this drug. --> === | === Addiction <!-- Describe the addiction risk for this drug. --> === | ||
Users of chloroethane have reported experiencing [[compulsive redosing]] during use, leading to the inability to stop using | |||
== Risk mitigation <!-- Describe the risk mitigation for this drug. --> == | == Risk mitigation <!-- Describe the risk mitigation for this drug. --> == | ||
The use of any amount of chloroethane carries risk of sudden death which is '''<u>unmitigable</u>''' in nearly any circumstance. | |||
== Known incidents <!-- Provide a list of links to articles describing incidents involving this drug. --> == | == Known incidents <!-- Provide a list of links to articles describing incidents involving this drug. --> == | ||