What's the downside to taking prophylactic potassium iodide?

As a Californian who generally doesn't believe the media, and as one who has a stash of KI, would it be detrimental to take some of that, just in case the winds blow this way carrying something I don't want in my thyroid?

5. What are the side effects of KI?

The risks of stable iodine administration include sialadenitis (inflamation of the salivary gland), gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions and minor rashes. In addition, persons with known iodine sensitivity should avoid KI, as should individuals with dermatitis herpetiformis and hypocomplementemic vasculitis, extremely rare conditions associated with an increased risk of iodine hypersensitivity. Thyroidal side effects of stable iodine include iodineinduced thyrotoxicosis. This is more common in older people and in iodine deficient areas, and usually requires repeated doses of stable iodine. Iodide goiter and hypothyroidism are potential side effects more common in iodine sufficient areas, but they require chronic high doses of stable iodine. Therefore, individuals with multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, and autoimmune thyroiditis (most likely to be adults) should be treated with caution, especially if dosing extends beyond a few days. Transient biochemical hypothyroidism was observed in 0.37% (12 of 3214) of neonates treated with KI in Poland after the Chernobyl reactor accident in 1986, with no reported sequelae to date. FDA has determined that short-term administration of KI at thyroid blocking doses is safe and, in general, more so in children than adults.

6. How often should KI be administered?

The protective effect of KI lasts approximately 24 hours. For optimal prophylaxis, KI should therefore be dosed daily, until a risk of significant exposure to radioiodines by either inhalation or ingestion no longer exists. FDA indicates that across populations at risk for radioiodine exposure, the overall benefits of KI far exceed the risks of overdosing, especially in children, although it continues to emphasize particular attention to dose in infants. Pregnant women should be given KI for their own protection and for that of the fetus, as iodine (whether stable or radioactive) readily crosses the placenta. However, because of the risk of blocking fetal thyroid function with excess stable iodine, repeat dosing with KI of pregnant women should be avoided. Lactating females should be administered KI for their own protection. KI to the mother is not a means to deliver KI to infants, who should get their KI directly. As with direct administration of KI, stable iodine as a component of breast milk may also pose a risk of hypothyroidism in nursing neonates. Therefore, repeat dosing with KI should be avoided in the lactating mother, except during continuing severe contamination. If repeat dosing of the mother is necessary, the nursing neonate should be monitored as recommended above.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/radiological/potassium_iodide/information_for_physicians.htm

bother. I feel it's just palliative anyway and doesn't help that much, sort of like the duck and cover drills we got in school to avoid radiation if a nuclear bomb were dropped on us.

You have a certain amount of "room" for storing I in your thyroid tissues. You take the I from reserves for making thyroid hormone.

If you haven't been exposed yet, there's room for more I to be stored. If you're exposed to some RAI for a day there's still room for more. After 2-3 days there's room for more.

Thyroid damage is cumulative. It's not "a little bit is as bad as a lot."

The goal of the KI is to swamp your reserves, flood the thyroid with so much non-RAI that the RAI has stiff competition for being stored. If that happens before you're exposed, great. If it's after you're exposed for a day, better then than after 3 or 4 days' exposure.

Other ways to mitigate RAI exposure are methimazole, a drug that shut down thyroid hormone production (thus keeping room for more I from becoming available in your thyroid; this takes a few days and has nasty side effects) and drinking high concentrations of salt (because the Cl ions compete for uptake with I ions).

He takes methimazole every day for his overactive thyroid. I understand your point but it's really delaying the inevitable IMO.

Most Americans are probably iodine-deficient. I take iodine every day.

http://www.amazon.com/OPTIMOX-Iodoral-90-tabs/product-reviews/B000WG3FU4

(I'm not being sarcastic).

I know that kelp and seaweed are good sources, is that what you use?

I used to have this dried powdery stuff (dulse?) that I would use in place of salt. I should get some more.

We all used to take the Iodoral pills, half a tablet each day (6.25 mg). I switched to Lugol's 2% solution three drops a day - same amount of iodine, a little less convenient but a lot cheaper than the pills.

I'm only at 12.5 and planning to get to 50. I was quite low according to the loading test.

it's true!

Although it probably would be a problem for others

:spray:

Taking any medication or drug without consent from a doctor or an immediately expressed need is not a good idea.

You will be warned of any impending exposure by the United States.

No really, lol.

I wouldn't start taking KI pills quite yet, but never hurts to get a necessary daily intake from vitamins.

EOM.

You are so far downwind, all radioactive material would probably fall out before it gets to you.

And I'm not a pro-nuker either. But be reasonable.

it is contraindicated, such as during pregnancy.

For most drugs, you don't want to take them unless they are needed or prescribed.

Unless they are for entertainment, and that's a whole 'nother series of posts ;)

http://ljkboerner.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/why-give-iodide-for-radiation-poisoning/

Why take iodide for radiation poisoning?
By Leigh Krietsch Boerner


"The picture above is an aerial view of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. As we all know, it was knocked about in the huge earthquake that hit Japan yesterday morning. At the time of this writing, it seems like there was some radioactive material leakage at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, but it may have gone down. There’s a lot of confusion about what’s going on, not surprisingly. It does seem like authorities are handing out iodide tablets as a precaution against radiation poisoning, however.

........SNIP......

These pills contain about 100 milligrams of potassium iodide. You can overdose on iodine, although it takes several grams. But burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a weak pulse may be preferable to getting cancer later.

This treatment was used in the the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. There were fewer cases of childhood thyroid cancer in areas that had access to iodine tablets, compared to areas that didn’t, or got them too late (pdf link).

Hopefully, people near the Fukushima Daiichi power plant will have access to iodide pills, and be able to get the hell out of there. Radiation’s not something you want to mess around with, especially if you’re pregnant or a kid. "

http://ljkboerner.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/why-give-iodide-for-radiation-poisoning/