Radiation pills

After the nuclear accident in Japan, scores of people all over the world could be exposed to radiation. Depending of the level of radiation, this may lead to several symptoms, like hair loss, skin rash, even burns and, in case of extreme exposure, acute radiation syndrome. Cancer risk sharply increases.

As nuclear threat in spreading, people all over the world is mistakenly ingesting potassium iodine pills, widely considered “to protect against cancer”. What is true and what is myth in all this hysteria?

The truth is that potassium iodine protects you against one single type of cancer and incorrectly taken may have adverse side effects. In most instances of radiation exposure, the benefits of taking KI outweigh any known risks or side effects. Newborn infants taking a repeat dose of KI increase their risk of developing hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid.

As a general rule, never take potassium iodine without proper medical advice. You can freely buy it without a prescription as side effects may be very dangerous too. But if a doctor recommends you to take it, do not avoid taking it. In case of a nuclear accident, potassium iodine is extremely important for pregnant women, as their thyroids absorb radioactive iodine leaked by reactors much faster than other persons. Taking the recommended dose of potassium iodine, the pregnant woman also protects her baby, who automatically absorbs the needed quantity.

Radiation exposure sharply increases cancer risk, a danger that usually looms for decades after the exposure. Immune system is strongly affected by radiation, leading to cancer and other diseases.

Japan's nuclear crisis overwhelmed drugstores in the U.S. and other countries for a drug that can protect against one type of radiation damage. Though the risk of radiation remains only in Japan people in other places is worried that potassium iodine might disappear and want it in their homes.

Doctors warned that there's no reason for people outside Japan to stock up on potassium iodide but the stronger the warns, the greater the panic.

The myth about the use of potassium iodide is that this is a general radiation antidote. But the pill can help prevent radioactive iodine from causing thyroid cancer. Mostly children are known to be at risk in a nuclear disaster.

In the U.S., whether people fear fallout from Japan or a nuclear accident here, potassium iodide seems to have become something of a hot commodity.

Potassium iodide is a salt also known as KI that has only one use, to protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine. It blocks no other type of radiation, and protects no other body part.
The drug, either pill or liquid form, is sold over-the-counter and is considered safe, but doctors warn that it disturbs hormonal equilibrium of the body and may lead to allergic reactions.
Potassium iodide is most important for children and pregnant women, because a growing thyroid is much more active and more likely to absorb radioactive iodine. It should be given within a few hours of radiation exposure — but isn't considered that useful for people over age 40.
Only two U.S. companies are approved by the FDA to manufacture KI, so supply from friends and relatives abroad is usual these days.

Potassium iodine is a salt of stable iodine. This substance is used by our bodies to produce thyroid hormones. KI is sold as a tablet or as a liquid medicine to protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Saturating your body with potassium iodine prevents absorbtion of the radioactive one, which is released into the air by crippled nuclear plant. It is able to block radioactive iodine because the thyroid recognizes both KI and radioactive iodine as the same substance. KI “fills up” the thyroid with its daily iodine quota, thus blocking the radioactive version from being absorbed. That is why KI should be taken as soon as the possibility of radiation contamination is known, before the damage can occur. Without such protection, the thyroid gland would quickly absorb the radioactive iodine, that often results in thyroid cancer.

The problem is that KI protects only the thyroid. Radioactive iodine continues to enter the body through breathing, or by eating contaminated food. KI also does not protect other parts of the body besides the thyroid, and it cannot protect even the thyroid from other radioactive materials besides iodine. Nor can it reverse damage once the thyroid has been exposed to radioactive iodine. One dose of KI is effective for 24 hours.

Iodized table salt also contains iodine, but it doesn't contain enough to block radioactive iodine and should not be used as a substitute for KI.