ˈæmɪl nˈaɪtɹaɪt ɪz jˈuːzd mˈɛdɪkli æz ɐn ˈæntɪdˌoʊt tə sˈaɪɐnˌaɪd pˈɔɪzənɪŋ,  ðə lˈaɪt ˈælkaɪl nˈaɪtɹaɪts kˈɔːz ðə fɔːɹmˈeɪʃən ʌv mˌɛθiːməɡlˈoʊbɪn wˈɛɹɪn, æz ɐn ɪfˈɛktɪv ˈæntɪdˌoʊt tə sˈaɪɐnˌaɪd pˈɔɪzənɪŋ, ðə mˌɛθiːməɡlˈoʊbɪn kəmbˈaɪnz wɪððə sˈaɪɐnˌaɪd tə fˈɔːɹm nˌɑːntˈɑːksɪk sˌaɪɐnmˌɛθiːməɡlˈoʊbɪn.
Amyl nitrite is used medically as an antidote to cyanide poisoning,  The light alkyl nitrites cause the formation of methemoglobin wherein, as an effective antidote to cyanide poisoning, the methemoglobin combines with the cyanide to form nontoxic cyanmethemoglobin.