Potassium iodide tablets, protect the thyroid from radiation

Iodine is an important element that is needed for producing thyroid hormones. If there is a lack of iodine in the body, thyroid gland actively absorbs it from food and air. This situation can be harmful in case of nuclear disaster when radioactive iodine (I-131) is released. Thyroid is unable to differ radioactive isotopes from stable iodine and may accumulate it that leads to numerous thyroid diseases, gland dysfunction, tumours and cancer. The natural blockade for absorbing radioactive iodine by thyroid is potassium iodide tablets that contain stable iodine. Taking it protects thyroid from radioactive iodine even if it got into the body through food, water or air. It is not the complete protection, but effective lessening of potential risks.

Potassium Iodide 32.5mg

It is important to know that potassium iodide cannot protect the whole body from the effect of I-131. It just protects thyroid but is useless for other organs that accumulate iodine. Potassium iodide is unable to reverse the disorders in thyroid caused by I-131 if they already happened. But it is an effective preventive medication to minimize influence of I-131 on thyroid when nuclear pollution just was started or is foreseen.

It is important to know that potassium iodide is not a remedy for all kinds of radiation. It is effective only for I-131, but not for all possible radioactive agents that are released during nuclear accidents. If I-131 is not released, taking potassium iodide tablets is not effective.

The medication protects thyroid during 24 hours after the intake. The effectiveness of protection depends on individual conditions. The less time has passed between the contamination of I-131 and the intake of potassium iodide, the more effective medication will be. Also the effectiveness depends of how well potassium iodide is absorbed into the blood and how much radiation the body got.

The decision of potassium iodide therapy is usually made by emergency management officials if the nuclear event took place and radioactive iodine was released.

There are two forms of potassium iodide tablets – 130 mg and 65 mg per tablet.

They are easy to divide into lower doses. Usually the tablets are taken after the internal contamination. The dose for adults including breastfeeding women is 130 mg (daily). Children 3 – 18 years old should take 65 mg, children 1 month – 3 years old – 32 mg, the newborns above 1 month of age – 16 mg.