Yodafar

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Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Yodafar

Yodafar is a medication primarily classified as a Thyroid Blocking Medicine and an Essential Mineral Supplement, whose function is centered on providing a highly concentrated form of stable iodide ion to the body. Its identity is defined by its single-active-ingredient composition, ensuring it can perform two distinct therapeutic roles related to iodine and respiratory health.


Property Description
Active ingredient Potassium Iodide (KI)
Form Oral Tablet or Oral Solution/Syrup
Pharmacological class Thyroid Blocking Agent, Expectorant
General purpose Thyroid protection; essential iodine supply
Origin Synthetic Inorganic Salt

What Type of Medicine is Yodafar?

Yodafar is an established medicinal product containing Potassium Iodide (INN), which positions it within the pharmacological class of a Thyroid Blocking Agent and an Essential Mineral Supplement. This classification reflects its dual function as both a public health countermeasure and a supplier of a necessary nutrient. Potassium Iodide is recognized as a means to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine. This therapeutic role is clinically recognized and supported by clinical protocols.

Composition and Pharmaceutical Form

The sole active ingredient in Yodafar is the chemical compound Potassium Iodide, a synthetic inorganic salt that readily dissociates in the body to supply the active iodide ion. The medication is typically available as an oral solution or syrup and also in solid form, which is a characteristic feature designed to allow for rapid administration. Its identity as a single, well-defined inorganic salt ensures predictable absorption. Iodine is an essential element required by the body for the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

General Purpose and Physiological Role

The general purpose of Yodafar is the protection of the thyroid gland and the supply of essential iodine. This protection is achieved through the physiological principle of thyroid saturation, where the stable iodide rapidly fills the thyroid gland's receptors, blocking the uptake of harmful radioactive isotopes. A secondary, long-standing purpose for the iodide ion is its role as an expectorant, which aids in the clearance of airways by thinning bronchial secretions—a property supported by extensive pharmacological history.

Regulatory References

  1. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
  2. Iodine Fact Sheet (NIH ODS)

What side effects are possible with Yodafar?

Adverse Reactions and Safety Profile

Yodafar (Potassium Iodide) carries a safety profile dominated by potential effects on the thyroid gland and systemic reactions from excess iodide exposure, known as iodism. The following summary is strictly based on official regulatory documentation.

Common Adverse Reactions (Iodism):

  • Gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
  • Symptoms resembling a head cold, such as coryza, sneezing, and irritation of the eyes.
  • Metallic taste in the mouth, burning sensations in the mouth or throat, and soreness of the gums and teeth.
  • Cutaneous reactions, most often manifesting as skin rashes.

Serious and Clinically Significant Adverse Reactions:

  • Thyroid Dysfunction: Excessive or prolonged exposure to iodide can induce or exacerbate thyroid problems, including the development of a goitre (enlarged thyroid gland), thyroid adenoma, or severe hypothyroidism.
  • Severe Cutaneous Reactions: Rare, but potentially serious skin eruptions, such as ioderma, have been documented.
  • Serious Hyperkalemia: The concomitant use of potassium iodide with potassium-sparing diuretics is a documented risk, which can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, particularly in individuals with reduced kidney function.

Contraindications and Safety Restrictions: This medicine is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to iodine, overt hyperthyroidism, acute bronchitis, renal failure, or thyroid adenoma. It is also contraindicated in latent hyperthyroidism if the dose exceeds 150 micrograms daily.

Population-Specific Considerations:

  • Pregnancy and Lactation: Since iodine readily crosses the placental barrier and is excreted in human milk, the administration and dose must be carefully determined by a physician. Doses in the milligram range are generally not recommended during pregnancy due to fetal sensitivity.
  • At-Risk Patients: Caution is advised when initiating treatment in individuals with specific pre-existing conditions, including kidney disease, active tuberculosis, hyperkalemia, goitre, hypocomplementemic vasculitis, or autoimmune thyroid disease.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The official regulatory profile for a potential Yodafar (Potassium Iodide) overdose addresses both chronic toxicity and immediate acute hazards.

Chronic toxicity is formally documented as Iodism, or iodine poisoning, and is characterized by a distinct cluster of manifestations. These include a metallic taste, soreness of the teeth and gums, swollen salivary glands, severe headache, and gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea. The appearance of these specific signs necessitates the withdrawal of the medication under medical supervision.

Acute, severe overdose is associated with a significant risk of corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract and potentially fatal systemic outcomes. These severe outcomes may include pulmonary oedema, cardiovascular effects, and, in extreme cases, cardiopulmonary collapse.

Immediate medical help is required for any severe manifestation. Regulators explicitly mandate urgent care if the patient experiences severe shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, irregular heartbeat, or acute swelling of the throat. The officially described treatment approach is symptomatic and supportive, focusing on maintaining the airway and stabilizing circulation. Notably, gastric lavage should not be considered due to the risk of aggravating corrosive damage. Special monitoring is required for neonates due to the risk of transient hypothyroidism following iodide overload.

Therapeutic Uses of Yodafar

Yodafar (Potassium Iodide) is generally relevant for easing symptoms related to systemic imbalance and symptoms that interfere with daily functioning across two distinct therapeutic domains. Its primary uses involve thyroid protection and symptomatic respiratory management.


Key Therapeutic Contexts

The medication is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, primarily addressing acute radiological exposure, chronic obstructive lung conditions like bronchitis and asthma, and preoperative stabilization for thyroid surgery. The medication is applied to address symptom clusters that create noticeable physiological strain and heightened activity.

In radiological events, the medication is commonly used to provide a supportive therapeutic benefit, contributes to easing the overall symptom load associated with acute exposure and is applied to help shield the thyroid from radioactive material.

For respiratory issues, Yodafar helps address symptom clusters that interfere with daily comfort by supporting the clearance of secretions, which contributes to improved comfort by easing the symptom load of chronic cough and impaired airway clearance.


Quick Fact: Conditions and Symptoms Targeted
Yodafar is relevant for easing symptoms like thick, tenacious mucus, supporting general well-being during symptomatic phases of chronic lung conditions. It is applied in addressing symptoms related to heightened physiological activity in thyroid conditions.

Regulatory References

  1. NIH MedlinePlus overview

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Populations Who Must Not Use Yodafar (Contraindications)

Use of Yodafar is strictly prohibited (contraindicated) in individuals with a known sensitivity to iodides or a documented allergy to iodine. Specific medical conditions that prohibit use include dermatitis herpetiformis and hypocomplementemic vasculitis, as stated in regulatory labeling.

Age and Conditional Use Restrictions

The medicine is generally approved for all ages, including children from birth, for its primary therapeutic role. However, use is not generally recommended for thyroid protection in adults over 40 unless in a high-risk exposure scenario. Infants (birth to one month) are eligible but require specific thyroid function monitoring, and repeat dosing is not recommended. Safety and effectiveness are not established for the medicine’s secondary role as an expectorant in children.

Cautionary Use and Comorbidities

Specific populations must use Yodafar with caution:

  • Patients with impaired renal function or certain pre-existing conditions like Addison’s disease or cardiac disease.
  • Individuals with pre-existing thyroid disorders such as Graves' disease or multinodular goiter.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are considered eligible priority subgroups for thyroid protection, but use is conditional, as the medicine carries a risk of fetal harm or abnormal thyroid function.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Yodafar (Potassium Iodide) has officially documented interaction patterns structured around its potassium and iodide components, as detailed in regulatory documents.

Documented Pharmacodynamic and Exposure Interactions

Co-administration with several classes of medications may result in hyperkalemia, an elevated plasma potassium concentration, due to the drug's potassium content. This clinically significant interaction is documented with ACE Inhibitors, Potassium-Sparing Diuretics, and other Potassium-Containing Medications. Furthermore, combining Yodafar with Lithium or Antithyroid Drugs may potentiate the hypothyroid and goitrogenic effects of these medicines, reflecting an additive pharmacodynamic effect on thyroid function.


Functional Contraindication and Restrictions

There is a critical functional prohibition against co-administering Yodafar with Radioactive Iodine (^131I) when the radioactive compound is used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The stable iodide in Yodafar actively blocks the thyroid's intended uptake of the radioactive isotope. The regulatory label also notes that iodide administration may alter the results of thyroid function tests.

Specific timing rules exist in hyperthyroidism treatment protocols, requiring the administration of Yodafar to be separated by at least one hour from the initial dose of an Antithyroid Medicine. Patients with impaired renal function are noted to have an increased risk of hyperkalemia when taking this drug, due to reduced potassium clearance.

Mechanism of Action

️ Competitive Saturation of the Thyroid Iodide Transporter

The pharmacological action of Yodafar is mediated by the high concentration of the stable iodide ion (I^-), which rapidly and competitively saturates the Sodium-Iodide Symporter (NIS) on thyroid follicular cells. This interaction imposes a functional blockade on the transporter, physically preventing the uptake of any other iodide species into the gland. The resulting physiological consequence is the exclusion of iodide analogs from the thyroid.


Modulation of Bronchial Secretory Dynamics

The iodide ion is also systemically distributed and secreted into the respiratory tract secretory glands. Acting as a local osmotic and irritative modulator, I^- stimulates the glands to increase the volume and hydration of bronchial fluid. This action lowers the viscosity of mucus, promoting a modification of the physical properties of secretions, which facilitates the mechanics of mucociliary transport.


Transient Regulation of Thyroid Hormone Synthesis

High iodide concentration also acutely inhibits the key enzymatic steps required for thyroid hormone (T4/T3) synthesis and release (the Wolff-Chaikoff effect). This transient suppression alters the functional status of the gland by reducing hormone release while the NIS saturation is in effect.

Dosage and Administration Information

Yodafar is administered exclusively by the oral route, available as a tablet or a liquid solution/syrup. The official use of the medicine follows two distinct administration protocols, which mandate separate dosing and frequency schedules based on the intended purpose.

The protocol for thyroid protection during a radiological event requires a standardized adult dose of 130 mg, which is taken once every 24 hours. This time-critical use must be initiated only when specifically directed by public health or emergency response officials. Administration should occur as soon as possible after the official instruction, and the use is sustained only as long as directed until the risk of significant exposure has passed.

Conversely, the administration pattern for its role as an expectorant utilizes a dose range of 300 mg to 600 mg, which is typically administered 3 to 4 times daily. The duration of use for this purpose is officially label-restricted to be no longer than necessary to achieve the desired effect.

In all administration contexts, the solution or crushed tablets must be diluted in a full glass of water, juice, or milk before ingestion to promote tolerance. Doses are generally taken with food or milk to further minimize irritation. Pediatric dosing for thyroid blocking is strictly standardized by age and weight using specific, lower milligram amounts, and certain populations are advised to avoid repeated doses without explicit direction from health authorities.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Yodafar


Evidence for Use in Thyroid Protection

Studies exploring Yodafar's role in thyroid protection are based on pharmacodynamic research, regulatory modeling, and long-term epidemiological studies, rather than standard randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Researchers have primarily relied on animal studies to measure how the stable iodide interacts with the thyroid gland. This research explores the thyroid saturation concept.

Findings derived from this research report measurements showing that the presence of stable iodide in the thyroid gland was studied for its association with patterns of change in the measured uptake of radioactive iodine in animal models. Furthermore, long-term epidemiological studies have been used to track human populations following historical accidental exposures. These studies describe patterns associated with the long-term incidence of thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases in these populations, particularly when focusing on children.

Evidence for Use as an Expectorant

The research exploring Yodafar's function as an expectorant is primarily rooted in historical clinical practice and older pharmacological studies. These studies monitored measurements such as changes in mucus viscosity and sputum volume, alongside patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort. Older pharmacological data describes patterns suggesting an association with changes in bronchial secretions.

However, the certainty remains low for this indication based on modern standards. There is a lack of large-scale, contemporary RCTs that confirm its value compared to newer, specialized mucolytic agents. Much of the evidence relies on subjective patient reporting, and follow-up durations were limited in many of the older studies, meaning long-term effects are not fully established.


Research in Specific Patient Groups

Research related to thyroid protection includes evaluation of special populations because the risk of exposure differs significantly by age. Studies explored the use of the medicine in infants, children, and pregnant and breastfeeding patients. The evidence base for these groups largely relies on pharmacokinetic modeling to inform research approaches, as direct clinical efficacy studies are not available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Yodafar (FAQ)

Q: How quickly should someone expect Yodafar to start working?

Official documentation describes therapeutic changes being generally observable within 24 hours after administration. However, the maximal or full effect of the medicine may not be fully apparent until 10 to 15 days later, according to official information.

Q: What happens if a dose of Yodafar is forgotten?

Official dosing guidance states that if a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as it is remembered. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, the missed dose is typically skipped entirely. Regulatory instructions advise against doubling doses.

Q: Is it normal to feel tired when first starting Yodafar?

Regulatory documentation for this product lists unusual tiredness or general weakness as a less common or infrequent adverse event. Regulatory guidance suggests consultation with a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or cause concern.

Q: Do any common foods or drinks interact with Yodafar?

Official interaction summaries do not document any known interactions with common foods or drinks. For the tablet form, the administration instructions often suggest taking it with food or milk to help minimize stomach irritation.

Q: Can Yodafar be used long-term?

Regulatory documentation states that side effects are described as being associated with an increase in the duration of therapy and dose. Prolonged use in certain conditions may be limited or require additional medical oversight, as its long-term application is conditional based on the specific purpose.

Q: Is Yodafar safe for people over 65?

Official public health guidance notes that adults over 40 years, including those over 65, generally have a lower risk of radiation-induced thyroid cancer. However, this age group may also have an increased likelihood of pre-existing health conditions that could increase the risk of adverse effects from the drug. The use may be considered by officials for this population if the predicted radiation exposure is high.

Q: Can Yodafar be crushed or split?

Official administration instructions often direct that the tablet form must be dissolved in a liquid, such as water, juice, or milk, before ingestion. The regulatory instructions describe the preparation of crushed tablets to facilitate dissolution before the medicine is taken.

Q: Can Yodafar affect blood pressure?

The medication carries a documented risk of hyperkalemia (elevated potassium in the blood), especially in people with reduced kidney function. Hyperkalemia is cited in official warnings as a serious documented adverse event that may require medical attention.

Q: Is Yodafar commonly used in children?

The medicine is officially approved for all ages, including infants from birth, for its primary role in thyroid protection during a radiation event. However, official information states that safety and effectiveness are not established for its secondary role as an expectorant in the pediatric population.

Q: What does it mean if Yodafar has a 'Black Box Warning' (if applicable)?

Regulatory labeling for this product does not currently contain a Black Box Warning, which is formally called a Boxed Warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Q: Does Yodafar cause weight gain or loss?

Loss of weight has been noted in association with prolonged ingestion of iodides, a condition known as iodism. Weight loss is not frequently listed as an adverse event but is associated with chronic exposure as documented in authoritative safety data.

Q: What should be done if a potential side effect is noticed?

Regulatory instructions advise that a doctor be consulted if the symptom continues or becomes bothersome. However, symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, should prompt seeking immediate medical attention.

Q: Do the side effects of Yodafar usually go away after a while?

Some side effects are described as being temporary as the body adjusts to the medicine. Regulatory guidance suggests consulting a healthcare professional if any side effects continue or cause concern.

Q: Is Yodafar used for pain relief?

The official regulatory approved uses for this medicine are for thyroid protection during a radiation emergency and as an expectorant. Pain relief is not listed as an approved purpose in the authoritative uses and indications.

Q: Are there different strengths of Yodafar available?

Yes, the product is available in different marketed strengths as listed in the regulatory documents. These include various milligram amounts of tablets and different concentrations of oral solutions or syrups.

Q: What is the shelf life of Yodafar?

The shelf life is specific to the product and batch. Regulatory guidance requires that the expiration date be clearly listed on the packaging and accompanying documentation for the medicine.

Q: Does alcohol make the side effects of Yodafar worse?

Official information and interaction summaries do not document any known interactions with alcohol. Consultation with a healthcare professional regarding alcohol consumption while taking any medication is generally recommended.

Q: Is Yodafar a controlled substance?

This medicine is not classified as a controlled substance under federal regulation.

Q: What is the likelihood of having a serious side effect from Yodafar?

The occurrence of serious side effects from a single dose of the medicine is described in official safety documents as very low. The incidence of serious thyroid-related adverse effects is documented as less than 2% even with longer-duration therapy.

Q: Is Yodafar available as a generic medicine?

The active ingredient, Potassium Iodide, is the established generic name for the compound. The medicine is available as the generic chemical name and is also marketed under various branded products.

How should Yodafar be stored and disposed of?

The storage and disposal of Yodafar (Potassium Iodide) must comply strictly with official regulatory specifications to maintain product stability.

Required Storage Conditions

Scope Element Official Regulatory Requirement
Storage Temperature Store at controlled room temperature, typically 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F).
Protection Protect from light and excessive moisture; do not store in areas of high humidity.
Handling The liquid formulation must not be frozen. Keep the container tightly closed and in its original packaging.
Child-Protection Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Official instructions require disposal of unused or expired product in accordance with local regulations or a medicine take-back program. It is generally advised not to dispose of Yodafar via wastewater or household trash.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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