Health Alert 96
In this letter, I’ll give you some facts about an over-the-counter medication that is quickly becoming a hot issue. It’s a pill that may one day protect you against sickness and death in a nuclear incident.
* Frenzy or Fact? *
You hear rumors of another terrorist attack everyday. You have no doubt asked yourself what can you do to stay safe? Many of my patients are interested in potassium iodide (KI). KI is an over-the-counter medication that we use to treat thyroid problems. But KI also protects against the typical radiation released by nuclear disasters.
Nuclear incidents, such as nuclear bomb explosions and power plant disasters, cause the release of radioactive iodine (radioiodine). Radioiodine is toxic. It concentrates in the thyroid glands of people exposed.
But another form of iodine, KI, can protect people exposed to radioiodine. KI fills the thyroid so that the radioiodine cannot collect and cause damage. KI works best when people take it within 4 hours of exposure.
Many nuclear power plants keep KI on hand to treat their employees. In addition, people living within a 10-mile radius of nuclear power plants keep some KI on-hand just in case of the worst. Health officials in areas near power plants even include KI in their disaster emergency planning.
The FDA realizes the importance of KI. The FDA approved KI for use against radioiodine in 1978. In its most recent guidelines the “FDA maintains that KI is a safe and effective means by which to prevent radioiodine uptake by the thyroid gland… in the event of a radiation emergency.” 1
The FDA has experimented with KI doses, and has found these to be the most effective.
FDA KI Dosage
(every 24 hours)
Adults (18+ years) 130 mg
Children (3-18 years) 65 mg
Toddlers (1-3 years) 32 mg
Newborns 16 mg
* What’s the Verdict? *
KI will stop radioiodine from collecting in your thyroid. But that is the only substance it will protect against. Nuclear incidents release other radioactive materials as well. And KI won’t protect against them.
A supply of KI is not as versatile as duct tape (as in the recent craze of duct-taping windows closed to protect from chemical weapons) but if there were a nuclear terrorist attack it could save your life.
If you live within 10 miles from a nuclear power plant, you should have a supply of KI. Keeping some KI on hand in case of a nuclear attack is reasonable. But remember, in a disaster, supplies of KI will rapidly dwindle, so people who are at a higher risk of radioiodine exposure should get KI first.
KI is widely available on the internet. It is inexpensive and can be stored up to 5 years. A few websites that offer KI are www.anbex.com, www.Ki4u.com, and www.nukerx.com.
Al Sears, MD
1 Guidance Potassium Iodide as a Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) December 2001 Procedural http://www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm