Talk:Diethyl ether: Difference between revisions

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The negative effects commonly attributed to ether result from consuming an impure formulation, such as starting fluid. All forms of starting fluid commonly sold contain neurotoxic alkanes, which, unlike ether, will cause permanent brain damage. Users should avoid these harmful effects by obtaining pure reagent grade, pure diethyl ether, or distilling the ether from the starting fluid.

~~Also note that most pure Diethyl~~ Ether ~~contains some amount~~ of ~~BHT~~ as a ~~stabilizer to prevent explosions and fires~~. ~~BHT's effects~~ when inhaled ~~are unclear~~ as it is a ~~FDA approved food additive but there~~ is ~~conflicting research on the substance~~.

Ether is highly flammable and, as such, should not be used near an open flame or near a lit cigarette. A mixture of ether and air may explode if it reaches a source of ignition.

* Diethyl ether is incredibly ~~flammable so keep~~ it ~~away from flames~~

* The lethal dose is ~~far beyond~~ the ~~dose that would~~ cause ~~one~~ to ~~vomit~~ and ~~lose consciousness~~, ~~but huff slowly taking breaks frequently~~.

Ether is very nontoxic and has a very wide therapeutic index. Ether inhalation leads to unconsciousness long before it leads to enough respiratory depression sufficient to cause death. Therefore, provided the ether is being inhaled from a cloth (not an inhalation apparatus) it is almost impossible to inhale a lethal dose. Ether has an oral LD50 of 3.56 ml/kg in rats when ingested as a bolus. More ether than this can be tolerated when inhaled and, as mentioned before, it is nearly impossible to inhale a lethal dose.

* Don't inhale ether ~~if you don't want~~ to ~~smell like gas for the following 24-~~48 hours. ~~It seeps out of your skin and mouth~~.

The ingestion of ether, however, is rather dangerous and requires extreme caution. Pure diethyl ether is incredibly difficult to drink, as it boils at 34.6 °C, well below the average human body temperature. Because of this issue, the traditional method to drink ether is to mix 3 parts high proof alcohol to 1 part ether, drink ice cold water to cool the esophagus, and the pour the mixture (called Hoffmann's drops or 'compound spirit of ether') down the throat. This should be done slowly and in small amounts as too much may cause the stomach to rupture from the pressure. The experience of drinking ether in this way bears little resemblance to that caused by inhalation and is closer to that of ethanol, with added potentiation from the inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase by the ether.

The piercingly sweet odour of ether stays on the breath of the user for up to 48 hours after heavy use. This may cause slight discomfort to others, although most people are unable to identify the scent as ether.

It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible use|harm reduction practices]] when using this substance.

===Lethal dosage===

===Tolerance and addiction potential===

A tolerance to ether can be developed as the liver becomes better at metabolising the drug. Ether does have

===Dangerous interactions===

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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethyl_ether Diethyl ether (Wikipedia)]

*[https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ether/ Ether (Erowid Vault)]

*[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00439.x (Ether: a forgotten addiction)]

*[https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11462 (NEG and NIOSH basis for an occupational health standard; ethyl ether)]

[[Category:Psychoactive substance]]

[[Category:Inhalant]]

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 The negative effects commonly attributed to ether result from consuming an impure formulation, such as starting fluid. All forms of starting fluid commonly sold contain neurotoxic alkanes, which, unlike ether, will cause permanent brain damage. Users should avoid these harmful effects by obtaining pure reagent grade, pure diethyl ether, or distilling the ether from the starting fluid.
-Also note that most pure Diethyl Ether contains some amount of BHT as a stabilizer to prevent explosions and fires. BHT's effects when inhaled are unclear as it is a FDA approved food additive but there is conflicting research on the substance.
+Ether is highly flammable and, as such, should not be used near an open flame or near a lit cigarette.  A mixture of ether and air may explode if it reaches a source of ignition.
-* Diethyl ether is incredibly flammable so keep it away from flames
-* The lethal dose is far beyond the dose that would cause one to vomit and lose consciousness, but huff slowly taking breaks frequently.
+Ether is very nontoxic and has a very wide therapeutic index.  Ether inhalation leads to unconsciousness long before it leads to enough respiratory depression sufficient to cause death.  Therefore, provided the ether is being inhaled from a cloth (not an inhalation apparatus) it is almost impossible to inhale a lethal dose.  Ether has an oral LD50 of 3.56 ml/kg in rats when ingested as a bolus.  More ether than this can be tolerated when inhaled and, as mentioned before, it is nearly impossible to inhale a lethal dose.
-* Don't inhale ether if you don't want to smell like gas for the following 24-48 hours. It seeps out of your skin and mouth.
+The ingestion of ether, however, is rather dangerous and requires extreme caution.  Pure diethyl ether is incredibly difficult to drink, as it boils at 34.6 °C, well below the average human body temperature.  Because of this issue, the traditional method to drink ether is to mix 3 parts high proof alcohol to 1 part ether, drink ice cold water to cool the esophagus, and the pour the mixture (called Hoffmann's drops or 'compound spirit of ether') down the throat.  This should be done slowly and in small amounts as too much may cause the stomach to rupture from the pressure.  The experience of drinking ether in this way bears little resemblance to that caused by inhalation and is closer to that of ethanol, with added potentiation from the inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase by the ether.
+The piercingly sweet odour of ether stays on the breath of the user for up to 48 hours after heavy use.  This may cause slight discomfort to others, although most people are unable to identify the scent as ether.
 It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible use|harm reduction practices]] when using this substance.
 ===Lethal dosage===
 ===Tolerance and addiction potential===
+A tolerance to ether can be developed as the liver becomes better at metabolising the drug.  Ether does have
 ===Dangerous interactions===
 {{DangerousInteractions}}
@@ Line 94: / Line 99: @@
 *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethyl_ether Diethyl ether (Wikipedia)]
 *[https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ether/ Ether (Erowid Vault)]
+*[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00439.x (Ether: a forgotten addiction)]
+*[https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11462 (NEG and NIOSH basis for an occupational health standard; ethyl ether)]
 [[Category:Psychoactive substance]]
 [[Category:Inhalant]]