I like the professional way these ioSAT brand Potassium Iodide tablets are packaged. Each packet has 14 tablets, which equals 14 adult daily doses. Each tablet is individually foil-wrapped in a packet. This is great for keeping track of how many you've taken. I have one packet for each member of the family, and if an emergency arises, it will be easy to keep track of who took his/her supplement.
I thought I'd post some basic information on Potassium Iodide as an emergency supplement:
The thyroid gland uptakes iodine from the bloodstream. Radioactive iodine is one of the most common of the radionuclides that may be released by nuclear fallout. If it is ingested or inhaled, the radioactive iodine will be taken up by the thyroid, greatly increasing the risk of thyroid cancer. To help avoid this, you want to saturate the body with a source of stable iodide. If the thyroid's iodine receptors are all "taken" by the non-radioactive iodide, the radioactive iodide will generally be excreted by the body.
The effectiveness of potassium iodide (KI) was proven after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. Some areas with heavy nuclear fallout after Chernobyl were NOT given potassium iodide supplements, and others were. Two decades later, studies show that the rate of thyroid cancer among populations given potassium iodide soon after the accident were the same as the rate among populations that were not affected by Chernobyl. However, populations that were affected by Chernobyl, but were not given the supplement, have shown epidemic experiences of thyroid cancer.
Note that potassium iodide cannot protect against any other causes of radiation poisoning. Dirty bombs, for example, produce radionuclides other than radioactive iodine.
WARNINGS:
1. There are risks if you take too large a dose of potassium iodide. Side effects include skin rashes, swelling of the salivary glands, and "iodism" (metallic taste, burning mouth and throat, sore teeth and gums, symptoms of a head cold, and sometimes stomach upset and diarrhea). In addition, it is of no use to take a larger dose. Your thyroid is able to hold only so much of the iodide, so to take more than your thyroid can "take" gives you the side-effects with no benefit.
It is not common, but people can have an allergic reaction to the supplement, and they'll have more serious symptoms, such as fever, joint pain, swelling of the face and/or body, and severe shortness of breath requiring immediate medical attention.
In even rarer circumstances, taking a potassium iodide supplement can cause overactivity of the thyroid gland, underactivity of the thyroid gland, or enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).
The probability of side-effects increases with age, particularly after age 40.
2. Time is of the essence. You DO start your potassium iodide supplement as soon as public health authorities advise. However, it is a waste to take the supplement if it is not needed and higher side-effect risk to take the supplement for longer than the recommended time, unless the public health authorities have actually said that you should continue. The side effects listed under number 1 may hold true for extended use as well as excess dosages. The standard treatment period, if you are in an area exposed to nuclear fallout, is 10 days.
3. The potassium iodide in iodized salt is the correct form of iodide. Trace amounts of it have been added to salt in the U.S. since 1924. The purpose is to reduce the incidence of the simple goiter (swelling of the thyroid gland). Worldwide, over 90% of treatable cases of goiter are caused by an iodine deficiency.
HOWEVER, the amount of potassium iodide in iodized salt is so small that you would have to consume 160 tablespoons of salt DAILY to secure the 130 mg/day adult dose for radioactive iodide protection.
FDA RECOMMENDED DOSAGE OF POTASSIUM IODIDE FOR RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES:
AGE and MG per day
Age less than 1 month old ...............16 MG per day
Age 1 month - 36 months old .............32 MG per day
Age 3 years - 12 years old ..............65 MG per day
Age 12 - 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds ..... 65 MG per day
Age 12 - 18 years who weigh more than 150 pounds .....130 MG per day
Adults over 18 years old ................ 130 MG per day
Pregnant or lactating women take the same adult MG dose as usual. However, it is recommended that they remove themselves from the radioactive risk area as quickly as possible so that they can stop the daily dose as soon as possible. (Well, I think that goes for everybody!) This is to lessen the risk of blocking fetal thyroid function with excess iodine.
The FDA does recommend that adults over 40 only take the potassium iodide supplement if the radioactive exposure is relatively high, but I know for myself (I'm over 40) that I would probably accept the risk of side-effects and take the supplement, if adults under 40 are told to take them.
The protective effect of a potassium iodide supplement lasts about 24 hours. The dose needs to be taken daily, and at about the same time of day each time.
Potassium iodide pills can be split, as needed.
The standard dosage period is 10 days. Please note that the 10 day period is based on an important assumption - that 10 days is enough time for evacuation. There are people who live and work in areas contaminated by Chernobyl who have been taking KI supplements for decades. It's not that they are safe from radioactivity, but they are protected from radioactive iodine.
SOME NOTES ON AVAILABLE SUPPLEMENTS:
Potassium iodide is a supplement, not a drug. It has not been tested or approved by the FDA the way a drug is tested before being sold to the public. Usually, the FDA does not allow supplements to make health claims on their bottles or in their advertising. However, in the public interest, the FDA allows Potassium Iodide to state on its packaging and advertising that it is a "thyroid block", which means it stops the thyroid from uptaking a radioactive iodide.
There are many brands of potassium iodide (KI) available, and the FDA does not favor one brand above the other.
There are supplements, legally sold, with Potassium Iodate instead of iodide. The World Health Organization, allows both potassium iodide and potassium iodate as effective thyroid blocks. However, WHO recommends using iodide if possible because it is easier on the digestive track. That's a good enough recommendation of potassium iodide for me. I think the stress of being affected by nuclear fallout is quite enough; I don't need stomach upset on top of it!
The usual shelf life for a potassium iodide supplement is seven years. I purchased my first set of ioSAT tablets in July 2011 and they were manufacturer stamped with a 2018 expiration date. This is a review for
Potassium Iodide Tablets, USP, 130mg
Happy Reader
These Potassium Iodide Tablets are like any type of insurance; provides peace of mind that you have done something to prepare for an event that you hope never happens. We have fairly well stocked "grab bags" that we maintain since we are close to a military base that hosts VIPs when they need to go to an "undisclosed" location and will likely be asked to leave the area if things get really bad. Besides the obvious risks of our location, we are also down wind of at least one nuclear power plant so wanted to be able to take precautions to protect my family from potential thyroid contamination if there is ever a problem at the plant.
I like that they are individually sealed, which will make it easier to track dosage.
Highly Recommended!
CFH
Considering my geographic location in the Mid-Atlantic region where there are several nuclear reactors and what is happening in Japan with the Fuchushima reactor, I thought that these tablets should have a place in our disaster plan. They shipped to us fast and glad to have them on hand. You may want to consider the same, more especially those of you on the west coast.
Living in Hawaii after the false alert that a missile was headed to either vaporize or radiate us we all took the first tab in our previously bought sets so I got these so we have new complete sets and now have extra in case other family is visiting at the time of crisis
Haven't had to use it, but I am happy with the product regardless due to the following: apparent quality (from the research I've done, and I've done a lot), expiration dates (5+ years), apparent safety (again, I've done my research, google it, the data on safety is readily available if you're concerned), useful/safe for the whole family (my family = 2 adults + 3 kids ages 5, 3, 9 months old), necessity (just watch the news), quick shipping (used to be that this product wasn't available for Prime but the shipping was quick regardless, and last but not least, this product makes a good gift for the prepper who has everything. I've ordered this product twice and will be back for more.
Feature Product
- IOSAT (Potassium iodide tablet, USP) is a thyroid blocking medicine that is used in a nuclear radiation emergency only.
- Tablets can be crushed and mixed in many liquids.
- 14 Tablets
Description
One pack of 14 tablet is enough to protect one person for 2 weeks. iOSAT delivers 130 milligram potassium iodide per tablet to fill your thyroid uptake of iodine so that you don't absorb dangerous radiation. 14 tablets per package- enough for 1 person for 14 days. Product description: Iosat Potassium Iodide has been FDA approved since 1982. Stockpiling of potassium iodide (KI) is highly recommended by health officials worldwide for those exposed to radioactive iodine following a nuclear reactor accident or detonation of a nuclear weapon. Radioactive iodine can travel hundreds of miles downwind, such as it did after the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters. The thyroid is the only part of the body that absorbs and stores iodine. By taking FDA approved potassium iodide prior to exposure of radioactive iodine, your thyroid will become saturated with safe, stable iodine. This will prevent your thyroid's absorption of any additional iodine (radioactive or not) long enough for the radioactive iodine inhaled or ingested to be safely dispersed through the kidneys.
Have you ever looked at a map of your area and marked off where the nuclear power plants are? ya me neither till after the accidents have occurred. I found out I live in close proximity to 3 plants!! and if the accident don't kill me out right these Iodine pills will help save my thyroid, and maybe my life. It's and inexpensive purchased compared to the alternative. The company I purchased from was polite, quick and sold fresh tablets. Everything you would want from your purchase. It's a 7 day supply at 2 tablets a day, or 3 1/2 day supply if split between emergency packs. Worth the money, not a doomsday person just practical.
With Fukishima and all, I wanted to have these in the prepper stash for in case we start getting high radiation levels here in Sunny Southern California. These tablets saturate the user's thyroid gland with Iodine. This is important if there is radioactive iodine about, as is usually the case with fallout, because if not already saturated your thyroid will absorb the radioactive iodine which can lead to cancer. If saturated, i.e. by use of these tablets, your body will pass the radioactive iodine in a short time. There are side effects and cautions, which are included in the directions here. These are a good thing to have on hand in these times. RJB.
Hopefully never have to use these, but never know with Soros running the world. They are reasonably priced and give me peace of mind. They don't take up much room in my emergency bag. I will post an update if I have to use them, and Amazon still exists.
This is one of those products you hope you'll never have to use, but good to have in your emergency kit. If you're wondering about the expiration date, my product came in sealed with an expiration of 12/2020. I'm pretty happy with that, and glad to have it on hand.
Could save your life if Kim Young Un pushes that button on his desk. Or not. Will update this review 5 years after the Mushroom clouds dissipate.
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