MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cyanoacrylates

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Cyanoacrylates

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Treatment Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Alternative names

Glue; Super Glue; Crazy Glue

Definition Return to top

Poisoning caused by an overdose of cyanoacrylates.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

Cyanoacrylates

Where Found Return to top

Various glues

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms Return to top

Tissue-to-tissue bonding occurs

Home Treatment Return to top

Wash exposed areas with warm water immediately. If the glue is on eyelids, keep eyelids separated. If the eye becomes glued shut, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Do not try to peel off the glue -- sweat will accumulate under it and lift it off. If fingers or other skin surfaces are stuck together, use a gentle rolling motion to try to separate them.

If these procedures do not work, use some acetone on the area, as long as it is not the eye or tongue.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
The time of the incident
The part of the body affected

Poison Control, or a local emergency number Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room Return to top

Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

It should be possible to separate the affected parts, as long as the material was not swallowed. Most eyelids separate on their own in 1 to 4 days.

Update Date: 4/16/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.