18

March
2011

Potassium Iodide Tablets “Radiation Pills” & Possible Side Effects

category: Dafé’s Café - Daily Dose of Medical News,MyDocHub
by Dafé,

Potassium Iodide Tablets

While many people are grabbing potassium iodide tablets off the pharmacy shelves following the Japan earthquake tsunami nuclear crisis , according to most state health officials, this is not necessary in the United States.

Although a United Nations forecast obtained by The New York Times showed the plume would reach Southern California on Friday, the level of radiation is not expected to be hazardous, and there’s no reason to take potassium iodine tablets.

Dr. Eric McDonald, San Diego deputy public health officer, said: “Potassium iodide is used to protect the body from one specific type of radioactive material known as radioiodine. Potassium iodide should only be used in cases of exposure to significant amounts of radioiodine.”

What is Potassium Iodide?

Potassium iodide (also called KI) is a salt of stable (not radioactive) iodine. Stable iodine is an important chemical needed by the body to make thyroid hormones. Most of the stable iodine in our bodies comes from the food we eat. KI is stable iodine in a medicine form.

What Does Potassium Iodide Do?

Following a radiological or nuclear event, radioactive iodine may be released into the air and then be breathed into the lungs. Radioactive iodine may also contaminate the local food supply and get into the body through food or through drink. When radioactive materials get into the body through breathing, eating, or drinking, we say that “internal contamination” has occurred. In the case of internal contamination with radioactive iodine, the thyroid gland quickly absorbs this chemical.

Radioactive iodine absorbed by the thyroid can then injure the gland. Because non-radioactive potassium iodide acts to block radioactive iodine from being taken into the thyroid gland, it can help protect this gland from injury.

What Potassium Iodide Cannot Do

Knowing what potassium iodide cannot do is also important. Potassium iodide cannot prevent radioactive iodine from entering the body. Potassium iodide can protect only the thyroid from radioactive iodine, not other parts of the body. Potassium iodide cannot reverse the health effects caused by radioactive iodine once damage to the thyroid has occurred. Potassium iodide cannot protect the body from radioactive elements other than radioactive iodine—if radioactive iodine is not present, taking potassium iodide is not protective.

How Does Potassium Iodide work?

The thyroid gland cannot tell the difference between stable and radioactive iodine and will absorb both. Potassium iodide works by blocking radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid. When a person takes potassium iodide, the stable iodine in the medicine gets absorbed by the thyroid. Because potassium iodide contains so much stable iodine, the thyroid gland becomes “full” and cannot absorb any more iodine—either stable or radioactive—for the next 24 hours.

Iodized table salt also contains iodine; iodized table salt contains enough iodine to keep most people healthy under normal conditions. However, table salt does not contain enough iodine to block radioactive iodine from getting into your thyroid gland. You should not use table salt as a substitute for potassium iodide.

When Should I Take Potassium Iodide?

After a radiologic or nuclear event, local public health or emergency management officials will tell the public if potassium iodide or other protective actions are needed.

For example, public health officials may advise you to remain in your home, school, or place of work (this is known as “shelter-in-place”) or to evacuate. You may also be told not to eat some foods and not to drink some beverages until a safe supply can be brought in from outside the affected area.

Following the instructions given to you by these authorities can lower the amount of radioactive iodine that enters your body and lower the risk of serious injury to your thyroid gland.

How Much Potassium Iodide Should I Take?

The FDA has approved two different forms of potassium iodide —tablets and liquid—that people can take by mouth after a nuclear radiation emergency. Tablets come in two strengths, 130 milligram (mg) and 65 mg. The tablets are scored so they may be cut into smaller pieces for lower doses. Each milliliter (mL) of the oral liquid solution contains 65 mg of potassium iodide.

According to the FDA, the following doses are appropriate to take after internal contamination with (or likely internal contamination with) radioactive iodine:

• Adults should take 130 mg (one 130 mg tablet OR two 65 mg tablets OR two mL of solution).

• Women who are breastfeeding should take the adult dose of 130 mg.

• Children between 3 and 18 years of age should take 65 mg (one 65 mg tablet OR 1 mL of solution). Children who are adult size (greater than or equal to 150 pounds) should take the full adult dose, regardless of their age.

• Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 mg (½ of a 65 mg tablet OR ½ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing infants and children.

• Newborns from birth to 1 month of age should be given 16 mg (¼ of a 65 mg tablet or ¼ mL of solution). This dose is for both nursing and non-nursing newborn infants.

What are the Possible Health Risks and Side Effects of Potassium Iodide?

When public health or emergency management officials tell the public to take potassium iodide following a radiologic or nuclear event, the benefits of taking this drug outweigh the risks. This is true for all age groups. Some general side effects caused by potassium iodide may include intestinal upset, allergic reactions (possibly severe), rashes, and inflammation of the salivary glands.

When taken as recommended, potassium iodide causes only rare adverse health effects that specifically involve the thyroid gland. In general, you are more likely to have an adverse health effect involving the thyroid gland if you

• Take a higher than recommended dose of potassium iodide,

• Take the drug for several days, or

• Have pre-existing thyroid disease.

Newborn infants (less than 1 month old) who receive more than one dose of potassium iodide are at particular risk for developing a condition known as hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone levels that are too low). If not treated, hypothyroidism can cause brain damage. Infants who receive potassium iodide should have their thyroid hormone levels checked and monitored by a doctor. Avoid repeat dosing of potassium iodide to newborns.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

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