Excellent Packaging! Here's Some Info on How Potassium Iodide Works

H.R. · July 12, 2011

I like the professional way these 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. The packets are easy to store, and will be in better shape for a longer time than pills in a bottle.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 dayAge less than 1 month old ...............16 MG per dayAge 1 month - 36 months old .............32 MG per dayAge 3 years - 12 years old ..............65 MG per dayAge 12 - 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds ..... 65 MG per dayAge 12 - 18 years who weigh more than 150 pounds .....130 MG per dayAdults over 18 years old ................ 130 MG per dayPregnant 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 (or for other thyroid conditions).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 just purchased these ioSAT tablets from this Bolo page, shipped and sold by A J Wholesale, and the tablet packets are manufacturer stamped with a 2018 expiration date.This is a review of iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets)Happy Reader

Best Price/Reviews I've Found Online: iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 Mg/14 tablets (14 days supply)

G. · October 8, 2014

Here's a product I hope I never have to use. For others concerned about Preparedness for a possible radiation event, here is my review:130mg is the current recommended dose. 10 days is the usual recommended duration. So with 14 tablets, this gives you a few extra days' worth for a margin. The tablets arrived quickly and their expiration date is 2020 (it's now October 2014). The packaging is good and appears airtight. The format makes it easy to keep track of how many tablets you've taken--even under adverse circumstances.Other reviewers have explained the science behind these very well. In a nutshell, you take these Potassium Iodide tablets to saturate the body with "safe" Pot.Iod. so the body is "full" and cannot absorb any further harmful and radioactive Pot.Iod. after a radiation event.It's important to remember that these are not intended to be taken daily as a long term solution. These are intended either to keep you safe until you can evacuate the danger zone, or until the half-life of the radiation fades away and you are no longer in danger.At $7 for 14 tablets and a 7 year shelf life, this is ridiculously cheap insurance againt a nuclear plant leak, a radioactive waste spill event, another Fukushima type event, and so on. I comparison shopped as always before selecting these, and I'm satisfied that I got a good deal. No complaints.At $7 for two weeks worth I also recommend you buy a couple extra 'just in case'-- for neighbors, guests, or to afford yourself a longer time on these tablets if unforeseen events should warrant it.A glance at a map of all the nuke plants in the USA is pretty interesting--and surprising. Having these around can't hurt.And if you ever need these, it's going to be late to start shopping...and these aren't likely to be available on FEMA trucks, even if the trucks ever arrive.If you're in a high-risk zone for some kind of dirty-bomb terrorism action, say Washington or New York, having a couple weeks' worth of these is just common sense. Easy to toss in your bag if you have to relocate, as well.So that's my opinion. Let's all hope no one ever needs these. But it's nice they exist, last so long, and are so affordable.Prices on this vary wildly online, and some sellers may not be reliable as to expiration dates. I found this seller very satisfactory, and all the other reviewers have been positive as well. So as of today, this seller seems to be a reliable source. Be sure to check your expiration dates when they arrive.I hope this review was helpful to you as you research and shop around. Stay safe and happy trails, everybody.

Cheap precaution....

L.M. · August 11, 2015

Why? Just WHY would anyone buy these?!?! Well, for anyone who is a bit paranoid (come one you, admit it, you ARE! Otherwise you would not be even reading this review) this is a cheap way to ensure that your body has the ability to survive a bit of nuclear fallout. Is this predicted? Not since the end of the cold war. Are we nuclear free? Just look at Iran and answer that for me, not to mention the USA and Russia. So I ask again, why? Because for seven dollars you can help increase your survival chances just in case something goes terribly, terribly wrong. This can help you escape a danger zone when FEMA fails...again...and you cannot get this provided from the government. Besides, we do not want to depend on an organization that has a history of being slow to respond do we?So, best case you point at it and tell your grandkids that this package was to help you and their father or mother escape an event that never happened. But at worst case you will swallow a pill per day as you hike out of hell, praying that this works but glad you had something that was better than nothing.FYI, do not take for more than 10 days, you need your thyroid and this blocks it's use. This is not to help you live in an irradiated area, but to escape it. Lets just pray that we can only laugh at it. But at least it is a cheap precaution......

Good price

p.c. · December 21, 2025

Fair price speedy delivery