In general, most people can take potassium iodide without any problems. But it’s always important to talk to your doctor before you use it. If you have certain medical conditions, it might not be a good idea to take the medication. Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via:

For optimal protection against inhaled radioiodines, Potassium Iodide should be administered before the passage of the radioactive iodine plume, though Potassium Iodide may still have a substantial protective effect even if taken 3 or 4 hours after exposure. Take one dose as soon as possible and then every 24 hours at the same time each day. Take potassium iodide only when exposed to radioactive iodine as notified by state or local public health officials. Furthermore, if the release of radioiodines into the atmosphere is protracted, then, of course, even delayed administration may reap benefits by reducing, if incompletely, the total radiation dose to the thyroid. As time is of the essence in optimal prophylaxis with Potassium Iodide, timely administration to the public is a critical consideration in planning the emergency response to a radiation accident and requires a ready supply of Potassium Iodide. Potassium Iodide has no impact on the uptake by the body of other radioactive materials and provides no protection against external irradiation of any kind. FDA emphasizes that the use of Potassium Iodide should be as an adjunct to evacuation (itself not always feasible), sheltering, and control of food stuffs. There have been no studies concerning animals and the administration of Potassium Iodide for radiation emergencies. Like humans, animals do not normally have any allergic reaction to limited doses of Potassium Iodide. For animals with no known iodine allergies (ask your vet) it is a relatively safe drug. If you wish to administer potassium iodide to an animal that has a thyroid (cats, dogs, cattle, horses) follow the dosing chart amounts listed above in the “What is the dosage?” info and give the appropriate dosage based upon weight. For instance, the Iosat dosage for a 2-year-old child would be 32mg (1/4 Iosat tablet). If an average 2-year-old weighs 25 -30 lbs., a dog weighing the same would take the same dosage, 32mg (1/4 Iosat tablet). If a 2-week-old infant weighs on average 9 pounds, then you would give a 9 pound cat/dog 16mg (1/8 Iosat tablet). Crush it up and put it in their food. Please consult with a vet in advance to make sure your pet can safely take Potassium Iodide. Please know that some vets have no idea about whether an animal can develop thyroid cancer from nuclear radiation (they can) and don’t know that the correct dose of FDA approved potassium iodide can help prevent thyroid cancer from exposure to radioactive iodine (it can). That being said, we are only offering this information as a service to pets owners and recommend speaking with a veterinarian who is properly educated in the matter.Iodine is actively transported into breast milk, however those breast feeding should continue to do so (see section 5.2). Lactating women should avoid repeat doses (see section 4.2). Potassium iodide is extremely safe in the dosage provided by IOSAT and ThyroSafe Because it is widely used in other treatments, its effects are well known. Calculations by the National Council on Radiation Protection suggest that the incidence of adverse reactions to Potassium Iodide can be as low as 1 in 10 million, and often no more than a mild skin rash. In the 1930s the government required salt manufacturers to add Potassium Iodide to its table salt (like Morton salt) because people in the great lakes region had iodine-deficient diets and had a high rate of goiters and other thyroid problems. Potassium Iodide is also added to children’s Flintstone vitamins because it is an essential mineral. It has also been used as a children’s expectorant for years. An overactive thyroid gland, thyroiditis, and an enlarged thyroid gland with or without development or myxoedema have also been reported. The seminal event that opened the world’s eyes to the importance of KI distribution was the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident, releasing a fallout cloud that spread radioactive iodine and other radionuclides throughout eastern and central Europe. Starting a few years later, infants and children who had been exposed to the fallout were diagnosed with an unusual and aggressive form of thyroid cancer, except in Poland where the government had distributed KI pills”. From an ATA news summary titled, Experts Discuss Potassium Iodide Distribution in Case of Nuclear Incident (PDF document) Yes, especially if you live within 200 miles of a nuclear reactor. See the American Thyroid Association distribution guidelines above.

Slightly deliquescent in dry air, and after long exposure to air it can turn to yellow due to oxidation Hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rashes, swollen salivary glands, headache, and bronchospasm can be mild or severe and may be dose dependent. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/bioterrorism-and-drug-preparedness/frequently-asked-questions-potassium-iodide-ki

In the early 19th century, Potassium iodide was credited with saving the lives of those who otherwise would have died from common infectious diseases, such as cholera or typhoid. [2] With the advent of “miracle drugs” practitioners began to overlook the vital role that iodine plays in just about every part of the human body – not just the thyroid gland. Adults over 40 years old have a much lower risk of developing thyroid cancer and are more likely to have health conditions, like problems with their thyroids, that increase their risks for harmful health effects from KI. However, officials or healthcare providers may instruct adults over 40 to consume KI if the predicted exposure is high enough to cause hypothyroidism. The U.S.FDA provides instructions on how to make oral potassium iodide solution at home using KI tablets. Young adults. This group is less sensitive to the potential damage from radioactive iodine. But it’s still important for them to take the medication. At last count, some 1,800 children in the former Soviet Union have developed thyroid cancer as a result of the [Chernobyl] accident. Almost all were very young-in the womb or under 2 years old-at the time of exposure. In adults, thyroid cancer is usually slow-growing, but in the Chernobyl children, it has proved to be aggressive. In more than two-thirds of cases, the malignancy has spread beyond the thyroid by the time of surgery. The disease has a long latency period, so thousands more cases are expected in coming decades”.– in a letter from Peter G. Crane, former attorney for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Q & A: Information about Public Health Issues Related to Polonium-210 Contamination in the United Kingdom Older readers may remember mother putting iodine on cuts and scrapes. It kept infection away as well as any “modern” antibiotic ointment, without inducing bacterial resistance. But what is the difference between the dark orange liquid (iodine) and the small white tablet (Potassium iodide)?

Potassium iodide is commonly indicated after accidental exposure to radiation to avoid excessive accumulation of radioactive iodine, particularly to protect the thyroid gland. Also to treat the thyroid gland, potassium iodide is also often prescribed to treat hyperthyroidism and general iodine deficiency. A newborn (a baby less than 1 month old) could develop hypothyroidism if they take more than the suggested amount of potassium iodide. Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid hormone levels are too low. If doctors don’t treat this, it can cause brain damage. To keep your infant safe: Tablets in two strengths, 130 milligram (mg) and 65 mg (The tablets may be cut into smaller pieces for lower doses.) Potassium salts should be given cautiously to patients with renal or adrenal insufficiency, acute dehydration or heat cramp. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released guidance in December 2001 on how to safely use potassium iodide. In pill or liquid form, it can help protect you during a nuclear radiation emergency. How Does Potassium Iodide Work?