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Ethyl nitrite is the main ingredient in a traditional ethanol-based South African remedy for colds and flu known as ''Witdulsies'', which is sold in pharmacies. It is known as a traditional Afrikaans remedy; the same remedy is apparently made by the
WebBook page for ethyl nitrite
{{Nitric oxide signaling Antianginals Antidotes Ethyl esters Alkyl nitrites Traditional medicine
chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...
ethyl nitrite is an alkyl nitrite with a chemical formula C2H5NO2. It may be prepared from ethanol
Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the ps ...
.
:
Uses
It is used as a reagent withbutanone
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or ethyl methyl ketone, is an organic compound with the formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3. This colorless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone. It is produced industrially on a large s ...
to yield the dimethylglyoxime end product.
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Ethyl nitrite is the main ingredient in a traditional ethanol-based South African remedy for colds and flu known as ''Witdulsies'', which is sold in pharmacies. It is known as a traditional Afrikaans remedy; the same remedy is apparently made by the Amish
The Amish (, also or ; ; ), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church fellowships with Swiss people, Swiss and Alsace, Alsatian origins. As they ...
in the US. However, FDA has blocked over-the-counter sales of this same remedy, known in the US as ''sweet nitrite'' or ''sweet spirit of nitre'', since 1980. Its use has been associated with fatal methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia, or methaemoglobinaemia, is a condition of elevated methemoglobin in the blood. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, poor muscle coordination, and blue-colored skin (cyanosis). Complications ma ...
.
Methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia, or methaemoglobinaemia, is a condition of elevated methemoglobin in the blood. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, poor muscle coordination, and blue-colored skin (cyanosis). Complications ma ...
is the primary toxic effect of ethyl nitrite. Due to ethyl nitrite's high volatility and faint smell, in the presence of ethyl nitrite vapors, it is easy to breathe a high dose of it without realizing, resulting in methemoglobinemia, which may or may not be severe, or even fatal.
References
External links
WebBook page for ethyl nitrite
{{Nitric oxide signaling Antianginals Antidotes Ethyl esters Alkyl nitrites Traditional medicine