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Expanded toxicity and harm information and added two new sources (will reformat sources later).
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{{SummarySheet}}
{{SummarySheet}}
{{Template talk:SubstanceBox/Diethyl ether}}
{{Template talk:SubstanceBox/Diethyl ether}}
'''Diethyl Ether''' ((C2H5)2O) is a highly flammable solvent with anesthetic and dissociative effects when inhaled. It was synthesized first in the late 1200's and has been used recreationally among Polish peasants since the late 19th century. More
'''Diethyl ether''' ((C2H5)2O) is a highly flammable solvent with anaesthetic and dissociative effects when inhaled. It has a strong dry, sweet smell, said to be reminiscent of rum. It was synthesized first in the 16th century by Valerius Cordus and has been used recreationally beginning in the early 19th century.
recently, it gained popularity in the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" which depicted Hunter S. Thompson experiencing the strange fiendishness of Diethyl Ether's intoxicating properties, sometimes called "Ethermania". Liquid Diethyl Ether can be obtained in pure form which greatly reduces negative effects.
'''Most negative effects result from impure diethyl ether being extracted from lighter fluid or other sources. The harmfulness and experiences related to these other unknown chemicals cannot distinguished from brain damage occurring. Avoid these awful effects by only obtaining pure chemical grade 99%+ pure Diethyl Ether'''.
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.
More recently, it gained popularity in the movie 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' which depicted Hunter S. Thompson experiencing the strange fiendishness of ether's intoxicating properties, sometimes called "etheromania". The depiction of ether in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' is heavily fictionalized and bears little resemblance to the actual nature of the drug. However, it's negative depiction has nonetheless resulted in the drug being stigmatised.
The smell of ether is often compared to gasoline, however, this is a misconception. Pure ether has a pleasant, sweet, piercing aroma. The petrolic odour commonly attributed to the substance is a result of the use of impure ether, often in the form of starting fluid. Starting fluid is not pure ether and contains a significant amount of alkanes (such as hexane and heptane, which may constitute more than half of its weight) which are metabolised into neurotoxic compounds. The only way to separate the ether from the alkanes is by distillation, as the alkanes are also not miscible with water.
==Subjective effects==
==Subjective effects==
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|{{effects/physical|
|{{effects/physical|
*'''[[Effect::Euphoria]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Euphoria]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Pain relief]]''' - At moderate to heavy doses, the body becomes almost fully insensitive to pain.
*'''[[Effect::Increased heart rate]]''' or '''[[Effect::Decreased heart rate]]
*'''[[Effect::Increased heart rate]]''' or '''[[Effect::Decreased heart rate]]
*'''[[Effect::Increased perspiration]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Increased perspiration]]'''
*'''[[Dizziness]]'''
*'''[[Dizziness]]''' -
*'''[[Nausea]]'''
*'''[[Nausea]]'''
*'''[[Respiratory depression]]'''
*'''[[Respiratory depression]]'''
*'''Ether smelling''' - Users reported that during 1-3 days after consumption, bodily fluids, and more notably the user's breath, smells of ether. This is a result of ether's immiscibility and low vapour pressure, meaning it is difficult to expel by urine and very apt to evaporate from membranes.
}}
}}
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====Distortions====
====Distortions====
*'''[[Effect::Visual distortion]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Visual distortion]]''' - At heavy doses of ether, it becomes very difficult to focus one's eyes, leading to one's vision being blurred.
*'''[[Effect::Tunnel vision]]''' - A common effect of a moderate dose of ether is the development of pronounced tunnel vision.
====[[Effect::Geometry]]====
====[[Effect::Geometry]]====
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*'''[[Effect::Anxiety suppression]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Anxiety suppression]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Disinhibition]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Disinhibition]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Dissociation]]''' - One of the most pronounced effects of ether is the dissociation one feels at higher doses.
*'''[[Effect::Confusion]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Confusion]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Depersonalization]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Depersonalization]]'''
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*'''[[Effect::Thought acceleration]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Thought acceleration]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Thought disorganization]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Thought disorganization]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Compulsive redosing]]''' - Intense desire to binge once started
*'''[[Effect::Time dilation]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Compulsive redosing]]''' - Users will often develop an intense desire to binge once started.
}}
}}
{{effects/auditory|
{{effects/auditory|
*'''[[Effect::Auditory distortion]]'''
*'''[[Effect::Auditory distortion]]''' - Tinnitus is very common with ether and noises may also sound muffled or dampened.
}}
}}
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==Toxicity and harm potential==
==Toxicity and harm potential==
{{toxicity}}
{{toxicity}}
* Huff only PURE diethyl ether as all self extractions contain harmful other chemicals.
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.
* Diethyl Ether is incredibly flammable so keep it away from flames
* To avoid explosions store it in a dark colored bottle in a freezer/refrigerator.
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.
* The lethal dose is far beyond the dose that would cause one to vomit and lose consciousness, but huff slowly taking breaks frequently.
* Don't inhale ether if you don't want to smell like gas for the following 24 hours. It seeps out of your skin and mouth.
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.
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.
It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible use|harm reduction practices]] when using this substance.
===Lethal dosage===
===Lethal dosage===
===Tolerance and addiction potential===
===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===
===Dangerous interactions===
{{DangerousInteractions}}
{{DangerousInteractions}}
{{DangerousInteractions/Intro}}
{{DangerousInteractions/Intro}}
Diethyl ether is metabolised into ethanol by the liver and, as such, should not be consumed with any substance that cannot be consumed with alcohol.
==Legal status==
==Legal status==
{{LegalStub}}
{{LegalStub}}
Possession and use of diethyl ether holds no penalty in most countries, excepting Poland.
*[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:Psychoactive substance]]
[[Category:Inhalant]]
[[Category:Inhalant]]
Latest revision as of 23:59, 21 October 2024
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WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
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Diethyl ether ((C2H5)2O) is a highly flammable solvent with anaesthetic and dissociative effects when inhaled. It has a strong dry, sweet smell, said to be reminiscent of rum. It was synthesized first in the 16th century by Valerius Cordus and has been used recreationally beginning in the early 19th century.
More recently, it gained popularity in the movie 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' which depicted Hunter S. Thompson experiencing the strange fiendishness of ether's intoxicating properties, sometimes called "etheromania". The depiction of ether in 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' is heavily fictionalized and bears little resemblance to the actual nature of the drug. However, it's negative depiction has nonetheless resulted in the drug being stigmatised.
The smell of ether is often compared to gasoline, however, this is a misconception. Pure ether has a pleasant, sweet, piercing aroma. The petrolic odour commonly attributed to the substance is a result of the use of impure ether, often in the form of starting fluid. Starting fluid is not pure ether and contains a significant amount of alkanes (such as hexane and heptane, which may constitute more than half of its weight) which are metabolised into neurotoxic compounds. The only way to separate the ether from the alkanes is by distillation, as the alkanes are also not miscible with water.
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Ether smelling - Users reported that during 1-3 days after consumption, bodily fluids, and more notably the user's breath, smells of ether. This is a result of ether's immiscibility and low vapour pressure, meaning it is difficult to expel by urine and very apt to evaporate from membranes.
This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub.
As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Warning:Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
Diethyl ether is metabolised into ethanol by the liver and, as such, should not be consumed with any substance that cannot be consumed with alcohol.
