# Suicide by Cyanide Pill (Don't Need Answer Fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468 "2012-10-02T13:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/1 "2012-10-02T13:00:44Z")
I’m aware that there have been (and may still be) cases where certain soldiers, spies, etc. carry in their mouths a cyanide pill that they are to swallow in the event of capture. The purpose being, so that they die instantly rather than face torture. A scene in a movie I saw recently involved a captured spy doing this. He swallowed the pill and, within seconds, was foaming at the mouth. He appeared to be in pain for a matter of seconds, and then he was gone. Is this how it works IRL? Is the process quick? Painful? Does it produce foaming at the mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/2 "2012-10-02T13:22:32Z")
It does appear to be quick. Recently [Michael Marin was pronounced guilty of arson;](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57481400-504083/michael-marin-former-wall-street-trader-took-cyanide-after-arson-conviction-says-autopsy/) the video shows him, immediately after the verdict is read, sneaking a cyanide pill into his mouth. [This article says](http://www.newsmax.com/US/Marin-cyanide-arson-suicide/2012/06/30/id/444086) he collapsed minutes later, and died on the way to the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/3 "2012-10-02T13:31:47Z")
It didn’t work so well for the [assassins of Archduke Ferdinan.](http://shrineodreams.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/the-assassins-the-lovers-the-monuments/) Their cyanide was old, and just made them sick. It must have been sooooooo embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/4 "2012-10-02T14:25:53Z")
[Here’s Wiki’s explanation.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide_poisoning) Essentially it causes all your individual cells to almost instantaneously suffocate (i.e. chemically block their ability to process Oxygen). Also, for best results agents are told to bite down on the capsule and rupture its contents into their mouths, not swallow it and wait for it to be dissolved by the stomach… ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/5 "2012-10-02T14:29:06Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > It didn’t work so well for the [assassins of Archduke Ferdinan.](http://shrineodreams.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/the-assassins-the-lovers-the-monuments/) > Their cyanide was old, and just made them sick. It must have been sooooooo embarrassing. From the article: “Franz Ferdinand was a man of short temper and was very angry about having bombs thrown at him.” LOL! I’d pretty pissed off too. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/6 "2012-10-02T14:31:21Z")
How does one get a hold of a cyanide pill, anyway? They surely can’t give them out at the pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/7 "2012-10-02T15:00:24Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > “Franz Ferdinand was a man of short temper and was very angry about having bombs thrown at him.” He didn’t stay mad for long, though. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/8 "2012-10-02T15:00:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > How does one get a hold of a cyanide pill, anyway? They surely can’t give them out at the pharmacy. [Potassium cyanide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_cyanide#Toxicity) is available from chemical supply companies; lethal dose is about 1/3 of a gram. [Sodium cyanide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_cyanide#Toxicity) has similar toxicity. 1/3 of a gram could easily fit into a couple of [empty gel capsules.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_cyanide#Toxicity) [Fisher Scientific](http://www.fishersci.com/ecomm/servlet/fsproductdetail?storeId=10652&aid=32949&store=Scientific&segment=researchAnalytical) sells both chemicals, but not over the internet. Presumably they keep your name and address on file in case there are shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/9 "2012-10-02T15:10:28Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > carry in their mouths a cyanide pill that they are to swallow in the event of capture. How does the pill dissolve in the stomach but not the mouth? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/10 "2012-10-02T15:15:50Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > How does the pill dissolve in the stomach but not the mouth? In the movie the spy bit… something. I’m assuming the pill proper was encased in plastic or something. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/11 "2012-10-02T15:20:00Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > How does the pill dissolve in the stomach but not the mouth? In that case it’s generally not a pill as such, but a glass capsule of liquid hydrogen cyanide. This is method used by Himmler. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/12 "2012-10-02T16:55:14Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It does appear to be quick. Recently [Michael Marin was pronounced guilty of arson;](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57481400-504083/michael-marin-former-wall-street-trader-took-cyanide-after-arson-conviction-says-autopsy/) the video shows him, immediately after the verdict is read, sneaking a cyanide pill into his mouth. [This article says](http://www.newsmax.com/US/Marin-cyanide-arson-suicide/2012/06/30/id/444086) he collapsed minutes later, and died on the way to the hospital. From the second article cited: > [@](#): > > The 53-year-old placed something in his mouth, video footage of the trial showed. He then took a swig from a water bottle and within minutes began to convulse. He died en route to the hospital. That doesn’t sound so quick and painless to me. If you’re gonna do it, you gotta be sure you know what it takes to do it right! ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/13 "2012-10-02T17:19:50Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > It didn’t work so well for the [assassins of Archduke Ferdinan.](http://shrineodreams.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/the-assassins-the-lovers-the-monuments/) > Their cyanide was old, and just made them sick. It must have been sooooooo embarrassing. HOW did their cyanide degrade? Not arguing that it did or did not happen, I’m just puzzled HOW cyanide would degrade such that it was no longer lethal? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/14 "2012-10-02T17:34:33Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > From the second article cited: > That doesn’t sound so quick and painless to me. “Minutes” is pretty quick. Not as quick as a gun to the temple, but faster than a lot of other poisons. Convulsions may or may not be painless, depending on whether one is conscious while they are occurring. That said, it may not be pleasant. the CDC lists abdominal pain and irritation/corrosion of the lining of the esophagus and stomach as symptoms for ingestion of [KCN](http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750037.html) and [NaCN](http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750036.html). Presumably swallowing a capsule would protect the esophagus, but the stomach would likely still suffer. Foaming at the mouth is not listed as a symptom; I’m guessing this is a bit of artistic license by Hollywood to provide a visual indicator that the character has indeed ingested a poison of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/15 "2012-10-02T18:21:06Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > From the article: > > “Franz Ferdinand was a man of short temper and was very angry about having bombs thrown at him.” > > LOL! I’d pretty pissed off too. Well, if bombs were being chucked at him, it’s not his short temper that mattered, but his short fuse. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/17 "2014-09-01T16:28:41Z")
reported ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/19 "2016-05-19T14:32:30Z")
> [@Elena12](#): > > … > > He sold us a good product, delivery was very fast and discreet. > > I hope you will be satisfied. It sure is a good thing that the OP didn’t need the answer fast! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/20 "2016-05-19T14:32:48Z")
Reported a spammer. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/21 "2016-05-19T14:36:51Z")
Best spammer ever though! ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468/22 "2016-05-19T14:36:56Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > How does the pill dissolve in the stomach but not the mouth? They are talking about sublingual administration. A medication that dissolves under the tongue will enter the bloodstream more rapidly than one that dissolves in the stomach. The stomach is, of course, more convenient so most of our common drugs are swallowed whole. Sublingual medication is usually used when a person needs the drug in their body as fast as possible (for example, when you have been captured and want to commit suicide). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cyanide-pill-dont-need-answer-fast/636468.md?page=2)