Customer Reviews

iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets)

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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.

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.

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!

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.

There was a bit of hysteria fanned by some people after the Japanese reactor indcident, so 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 a larger dose than the FDA recommended 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 the prescribed dose 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.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE OF POTASSIUM IODIDE FOR RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES:

AGE and MG per day
Age less than 1 month old ...............16 MG per day
Age 1 month - 36 months old .............32 MG per day
Age 3 years - 12 years old ..............65 MG per day
Age 12 - 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds ..... 65 MG per day
Age 12 - 18 years who weigh more than 150 pounds .....130 MG per day
Adults over 18 years old ................ 130 MG per day

Pregnant 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.

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.

There are supplements, legally sold, with Potassium Iodate instead of iodide. As I understand it, they are not allowed to make the statement regarding thyroid block.

The World Health Organization, however, allows both potassium iodide and potassium iodate as effective thyroid blocks, but 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, and they are manufacturer stamped with a 2018 expiration date.

I recieved this item as stated, in a very quick ammount of time. I always keep IOSAT tablets in my emergency kit for my family, and travel with them whenever I travel internationally, or am going to be near a State with the possibility of a terrorist attack, or nuclear event. After the Japan quake, I threw out my outdated tablets and ordered new ones. About three days later, everyone tried to order these tablets, and I had already gotten mine! Keep these on hand, you never know these days, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

this is an item that is better to have and not need rather than need and not have. my order arrived quickly with an exp date of 2018. I dont think you will find a better purchase any where. individualy packagded tablets are better than buying by the bottle. buy some of these now.

The 2 packets of ioSAT I received from AJ Wholesale last week were in perfect condition and both packs had an expiration date of 2018. I consider that a reasonable date for a reasonable price. Wasn't the fastest shipper but definitely was in the range of acceptable. You need to have these in your possession before something bad happens so if you are waffling, order now and you'll be covered in a couple weeks.

As for the product -- I hope I never have to use them. But after the Fukushima meltdown and the run on IoSAT, I'm very glad to have these around. I have one pack at home and one at work so if something went down I could take it within the hour of exposure.

This is something people should have on hand for any future disasters. When disaster strikes, it will be sold out and over-priced.

These iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets were shipped fast and well packaged. The expiration date on my package is 04-2018. The package is small and easily stored. The price was fair. If you've been thinking about buying some of these potassium iodide tablets, don't wait. After any sort of radiological incident the prices of these tablets shoots through the roof. Maybe it's price gouging, maybe supply and demand, but you'll regret not buying earlier. After the incident in Japan, I considered buying iodine for salt water aquariums, but I didn't want to risk my health with some unknown product. I'm glad I purchased these tablets. It'll be one less thing to worry about.

well, there really isn't much to say about these. the only important info is that they arrived with a 2018 expiration date which make these a super great buy. Anyway, I think I hit the 20 word minimum.