Overview of Capsion
Quick Facts
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Sodium Iodide I-131 (Na¹³¹I) |
| Form | Oral Capsule; Oral Solution |
| Pharmacological Class | Radiopharmaceutical; Antithyroid Agent |
| General Purpose | Targeted ablation of thyroid tissue |
| Origin | Radioisotopic (synthetically produced) |
What Type of Medicine is Capsion (Sodium Iodide I-131)?
Capsion is classified as a radiopharmaceutical and a specialized radioactive therapeutic agent because its efficacy is derived from a radioactive isotope, specifically Iodine-131. This core classification places the drug within the Antithyroid Agent pharmacological group. Its unique nature allows it to function as both a therapeutic agent and a diagnostic aid when administered in varying amounts.
It is intended for oral administration, typically provided as a concentrated oral solution or, distinguishing it from older methods, as an individually prepared oral capsule.
Composition, Origin, and General Purpose
Capsion is a single-active ingredient product composed of Sodium Iodide I-131, an ionic compound that is highly water-soluble. The active constituent is defined by the synthetic, radioactive nuclide Iodine-131, which distinguishes it from stable, non-radioactive iodine used in dietary supplements. The radioactive properties of the isotope are essential to its function, featuring a half-life of 8.04 days.
The general therapeutic purpose of this agent is rooted in the fundamental mechanism of selective cellular absorption by the thyroid gland. As the thyroid naturally traps and concentrates iodine, the body's processes carry the radioactive substance directly to the target tissue. Once concentrated, the Iodine-131 isotope releases beta particles—a form of highly localized radiation—to destroy tissue that is either overactive or malignant. This mechanism leads to the ablation or controlled reduction of abnormal thyroid mass and function.


