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Medically reviewed by Militian Inessa Mesropovna, PharmD. Last updated on 09.04.2022
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SSKI (Potassium iodide)™ (Potassium Iodide tablets, USP, 130 mg) is a thyroid blocking medicine that is used in a nuclear radiation emergency only.
Directions For Use
Use only as directed by public officials if a nuclear radiation emergency happens.
| Age | Dose |
| Adults over 18 years | 1 tablet (whole or crushed) every day (130 mg) |
| Children over 12 years to 18 years who weigh at least 150 pounds | 1 tablet (whole or crushed) every day (130 mg) |
| Children over 12 years to 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds | ½ tablet (whole or crushed) every day (65 mg) |
| Children over 3 years to 12 years | ½ tablet (whole or crushed) or 4 teaspoonfuls every day (65 mg) |
| Children over 1 month to 3 years | 2 teaspoonfuls every day (32.5 mg) |
| Birth to 1 month | 1 teaspoonful every day (16.25 mg) |
Tablets can be crushed and mixed in many liquids. To take the tablet in liquid solution, use dosing directions under Making a Potassium Iodide Liquid Mixture.
Take KI every day (every 24 hours) as directed by public officials. Do not take more than 1 dose in 24 hours. More will not help you. Too much medicine may increase the chances of side effects.
Making a Potassium Iodide Liquid Mixture
- Put one 130 mg KI tablet into a small bowl and grind it into a fine powder using the back of a metal teaspoon against the inside of the bowl. The powder should not have any large pieces.
- Add 4 teaspoonfuls of water to the crushed KI powder in the bowl and mix until the KI powder is dissolved in the water.
- Take the KI water mixture solution made in step 2 and mix it with 4 teaspoonfuls of low fat white or chocolate milk, orange juice, flat soda, raspberry syrup, or infant formula.
- The KI liquid mixture will keep for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. It is recommended that the KI liquid mixture be prepared weekly. Throw away unused portions.
The amount of KI (130 mg tablet) in the drink when mixed as described above is 16.25 mg per teaspoonful. The number of teaspoonfuls of the drink to give your child depends on your child's age as described in the following table:
| Child's Age | Give your child this amount in teaspoonfuls |
| Over 12 years to 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds | 4 teaspoonfuls will give you a 65 mg dose |
| Over 3 years to 12 years old | 4 teaspoonfuls will give you a 65 mg dose |
| Over 1 month to 3 years old | 2 teaspoonfuls will give you a 32.5 mg dose |
| Birth to 1 month | 1 teaspoonful will give you a 16.25 mg dose |
Note: This is the amount to give your child for one single dose in teas poonfuls (not tablespoonfuls). You should give your child one dose each day as recommended by the public officials.
Pregnant or breast feeding women, or babies under 1 month of age: Take as directed above and call a doctor as soon as possible. Repeat dosing should be avoided. It is recommended that thyroid function be checked in babies less than 1 month of age that take KI. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also be checked by a doctor if repeat dosing is necessary. Although these precautions should be taken, the benefits of short-term use of KI to block uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland far exceed its chances of side effects.
Patients with thyroid disease: If you have both a nodular thyroid condition such as multinodular goiter with heart disease, you should not take KI. Patients with other thyroid conditions may take KI as directed above, but call a doctor if you need to take KI for more than a few days.
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WARNINGS
People who are allergic to iodine, have dermatitis herpetiformis or hypocomplementemic vasculitis, or have nodular thyroid disease with heart disease should not take KI. Keep out of the reach of children. In case of an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing; wheezing; shortness of breath or swelling of the mouth or throat), call 911 or get medical care right away. In case of overdose, get medical help or call a Poison Control Center right away.
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 nuclear 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 KI, it will block or reduce the chances that radioactive iodine will enter your thyroid gland.
Who Should Not Take Potassium Iodide
People should avoid KI if they are allergic to iodine, have dermatitis herpetiformis or hypocomplementemic vasculitis, or have nodular thyroid disease with heart disease, because these conditions may increase the chances of side effects to iodine.
How And When To Take Potassium Iodide
KI should be taken as soon as possible after public officials tell you. If you are told to repeat the dose, you should take the second dose 24 hours after the first dose. Do not take it sooner. More KI will not help you because the thyroid can “hold” only certain amounts of iodine. Taking more than 1 dose per day will increase the chances of side effects. The public officials will tell you how many days to take KI. You should take KI until the chances of major exposure to radioactive iodine by breathing or swallowing stops.
PRECAUTIONS
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Short-term use of KI at the recommended dose is safe. You should not take this drug for longer than you are told.
Possible side effects include: swelling of the salivary glands, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, fever, headache, metallic taste, and allergic reactions. Allergic reaction can include
- skin rashes such as hives
- swelling of various parts of the body such as the face, lips, tongue, throat, hands or feet
- fever with joint pain
- trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
- wheezing or shortness of breath
Get medical attention right away if you have trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing; wheezing; shortness of breath; or swelling of the mouth, tongue or throat.
Taking iodide, in rare cases, may cause overactivity of the thyroid gland, underactivity of the thyroid gland, or enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter). Symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland may include an irregular heartbeat and chest pain. Patients with thyroid disease are more likely to get these side effects. Babies under 1 month of age are more likely to get an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
What To Do If Side Effects Occur
Stop taking KI and call a doctor if you have one of the following symptoms:
- swelling of the face, hands or feet
- fever and joint pain
- skin rash
Stop taking KI and get medical help right away if you have one or more of the following symptoms :
- trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
- shortness of breath or wheezing
- swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
- irregular heart beat or chest pain
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