iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets)

by iOSAT

Product Features

• Please read all label information upon delivery
• Reduces chance of thyroid damage in a radiation emergency
• Safe for babies, children, pregnant and nursing women, those taking medicine for thyroid problem
• One dose every 24 hours for no more than 10 days
• Possible side effects include skin rash, swelling salivary glands, iodism

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

(Pronounced poe TASS-e-um EYE-oh-dyed)

iOSAT™ Tablets

• 130 mg. potassium iodide per tablet
• 14 tablets per package

How Potassium Iodide Works
Certain forms of iodine help your thyroid gland work right.  Most people get the iodine they need from foods like iodized salt or fish.  The thyroid can "store" or hold only a certain amount of iodine.

In a radiation emergency, radioactive iodine may be released in the air.  This material may be breathed or swallowed.  It may enter the thyroid gland and damage it.  The damage would probably not show itself for years.  Children are most likely to have thyroid damage.

If you take potassium iodide, it will fill up your thyroid gland.  This reduces the chance that harmful radioactive iodine will enter the thyroid gland.

Who Should Not Take Potassium Iodide
The only people who should not take potassium iodide are people who know they are allergic to iodide.  You may take potassium iodide even if you are taking medicines for a thyroid problem (for example, a thyroid hormone or antithyroid drug).  Pregnant and nursing women and babies and children may also take this drug.

How And When To Take Potassium Iodide
Potassium iodide should be taken as soon as possible after public health officials tell you.  You should take one dose every 24 hours.  More will not help you because the thyroid can "hold" only limited amounts of iodine.  Larger doses will increase the risk of side effects.  You will probably be told not to take the drug for more than 10 days.

Side Effects
Usually side effects of potassium iodide happen when people take higher doses for a long time.  You should be careful not to take more than the recommended dose or take it for longer than you are told.  Side effects are unlikely because of the low dose and the short time you will be taking the drug.

Possible 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).

A few people have an allergic reaction with more serious symptoms.  These could be fever and joint pains, or swelling of parts of the face or body and at times severe shortness of breath requiring immediate medical attention.

Taking iodide may rarely cause overactivity of the thyroid gland, underactivity of the thyroid gland, or enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter).

What To Do If Side Effects Occur
If the side effects are severe or if you have an allergic reaction, stop taking potassium iodide.  Then, if possible, call a doctor or public health authority for instructions.

How Supplied
IOSAT Tablets (Potassium Iodide Tablets, U.S.P.): packages of 14 tablets (NDC51803-001-01): Each white, round, scored tablet contains 130 mg. potassium iodide.

Product Description

How Potassium Iodide Works Certain forms of iodine help your thyroid gland work right. Most people get the iodine they need from foods like iodized salt or fish. The thyroid can "store" or hold only a certain amount of iodine. In a radiation emergency, radioactive iodine may be released in the air. This material may be breathed or swallowed. It may enter the thyroid gland and damage it. The damage would probably not show itself for years. Children are most likely to have thyroid damage. If you take potassium iodide, it will fill up your thyroid gland. This reduces the chance that harmful radioactive iodine will enter the thyroid gland.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 3.9 x 0.4 inches ; 0.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00006NT3A
• UPC: 351803218452
• Item model number: NDC 51803-001-01
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
  • #1 in Health & Personal Care > Diet & Nutrition > Vitamins & Supplements > Minerals > Potassium Iodide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars peace of mind, January 3, 2010

By 

Rob Bekker "Ideologically High Strung" (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets) (Health and Beauty)

These Potassium Iodide pills are the only ones FDA recommended, and the same pills distributed to people living near nuclear reactors in case of a radiation release. I recommend them over the cheeper (but less effective) Potassium IodATE because the absorptive nature of KiO3 (iodate) is less known, and they are packed in a simple plastic bottle. The Foil pack of the iOSAT pills is much better for long term storage and tracking dosage.

101 of 128 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product, September 22, 2009

By 

JimmyB (New York NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets) (Health and Beauty)

This brand, Iosat, is the only full strength, FDA approved tablet available. FDA approval is key when purchasing potassium iodide. Ask yourself - If you had cancer and could take a drug that would cure it, would you take an FDA regulated and approved drug, or a non-approved drug? Then ask - If you could take a pill to possibly prevent cancer would you take an FDA Approved drug or a non-approved drug? Life-Extension (LEF), Pro-KI and Potassium IodATE (different spelling, different drug) are not FDA Approved for radiation emergencies. Don't take the chance with cancer. Stay with FDA approved drugs like Iosat.

I got my potassium iodide from Nukepills on Amazon (plus a few other products they sell) such as ThyroShield Potassium Iodide and RADTriage Personal Radiation Detector Even had them on the phone for about 15 minutes peppering them with all kinds of questions. Very happy with my purchase from them. They also had the freshest stock around.

What is potassium iodide: One of the most feared consequences of a nuclear reactor accident or nuclear bomb is the release of a radioactive iodine plume into the environment. Radioactive Iodine (I-131) is a by-product of nuclear fission which occurs only within a nuclear reactor or during detonation of a nuclear bomb. What makes radioactive iodine so dangerous is that the body cannot distinguish it from ordinary iodine. As a result, if swallowed (in contaminated food or water), or inhaled (it can remain in the atmosphere for days), it will be absorbed into the thyroid gland (only the thyroid absorbs iodine) and may lead to thyroid cancer, especially in children. The value of Potassium Iodide (KI) tablets were demonstrated following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, where authorities began mass distribution of Potassium Iodide just hours after the explosion. In the years following the accident in areas where people received the drug, the incidence of thyroid cancer has not increased. But where Potassium Iodide was not distributed, previously rare forms of juvenile thyroid cancer have begun appearing at epidemic rates, with over 11,000 known cases. This number continues to rise and is not expected to peak until 2010.

How much should I buy?

The FDA recommendeds one Iosat pack per person for storing at home. Each Iosat pack has 14 130mg tablets. A two week supply for an adult and a 28+ day supply for a child. One ThyroShield bottle has 30ml, a 15 day supply for an adult or month+ supply for a child. However, you should consider stocking Potassium Iodide outside the home as well. You wouldn't want to get caught without Potassium Iodide if something should happen. Can you imagine the traffic jam as everyone leaves town at the same time?


You can administer it to a child easily.

A whole Iosat pill is the size of a baby aspirin and is scored for easy and exact separation for half and quarter dosages if desired. For children who won't swallow pills, follow this FDA link on administering potassium iodide to children. Black raspberry flavored liquid ThyroShield is easy to administer to children with the use of the enclosed dropper.

52 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is not something you need to stock. Think Big Picture!, March 29, 2011

By 

A. Thomas (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets) (Health and Beauty)

Reality Check:

Ya, sure, this is a very good choice for Iodide (KI) at an ok price, but...

There are far more important things for you to do and stock than KI for emergencies (really now, did anyone eat their KI when that "deadly cloud" came over from Japan last week? ;-). (FYI, I'm an emergency manager and do this stuff as a profession) Our counties and states commonly have all the KI we need for our citizens (in the actual risk areas) to cover problems at our radiological sites, including military bases. We also have pallet loads of KI available, deliverable via C130's about 8 hours away (which is plenty of time to get it out via PODS (point of dispensing sites)... usually drive-thru's at major intersections throughout cities... just like tax-night drop-off's at the Post Office!). The only reason you would ever need KI at home is God forbid a nuclear bomb goes off unsuspectingly at least 6 miles away from your location, you survive, and you are downwind (under 6 miles... you don't need to worry about KI!)

Please oh please use the current hype on radiation to insure you are also prepared for far more likely risks and scenarios:
- Do you have a first aid kit in your car? Maybe a change of clothes, some walking shoes, some water, a knife or multi-tool?
- Do you carry a tool for self defense? Pepper Spray, a Taser, or perhaps even a deadly weapon if you are truly willing to learn how to use it?
- Do you have AT LEAST a "three day kit" for you and everyone in your family, ready to go (including water... the water heater and toilets don't count!)?
Quakehold! 70280 Grab-'n-Go Emergency Kit, 2-Person, 3-Day Backpack

Oh, if you really want to increase your chances of longterm survival: Don't smoke, don't drink, keep your BMI under 25 and get annual health checkups!

Semper Paratus!