# Movie drugs...basis in reality??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 24, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091 "2000-03-24T06:01:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091/1 "2000-03-24T06:01:00Z")

</div>

My friend crackwise and I were talking about one of our fav actors: Gary Oldman.  
The question came up  
“What was that stuff he was taking in _The Professional_?”  
Is it an actual drug? IMDB turns up a big zero, and I was hoping that the teeming millions could help me out.  
Thoughts?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091/2 "2000-03-24T08:07:00Z")

</div>

Great flic, been awhile since I have seen it. Care to elaborate any ? Did the drug have a name ? What were the effects ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mojo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@Mojo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Rising)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091/3 "2000-03-24T17:35:00Z")

</div>

GREAT movie. The director’s extended edit (“Leon - Integral”) is finally about to be released in the US.

I have pondered that question as well. My WAG is amyl nitrate.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mojo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@Mojo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Rising)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-drugs-basis-in-reality/15091/4 "2000-03-24T17:38:00Z")

</div>

To wit:

> [@](#):
>
> Amyl Nitrate, butyl nitrate, cyclohexyl nitrate (aka “Poppers”)
> 
> The drug is known for its effect on the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). The volatile liquid is inhaled and absorbed through the lungs resulting in…  
> Muscular relaxation (the attraction of the drug)  
> Throbbing temples and scalp, headache (due to fluctuation in cranial blood pressure)  
> Flushing of the face and neck  
> Decreased blood pressure,  
> Sharply increased pulse rate and  
> Dizziness, relaxation of involuntary muscles especially the blood vessel walls.  
> Distortion in the perception of time  
> Amyl nitrate is used extensively in the alleviation of angina pectoris, a painful heart condition which causes sharp chest pains.