What is Potassium Iodide? (ki)

According to the US Centers for Disease Control, potassium iodide is a stable iodized salt that may help prevent the entry of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland. That is, this gland can be saved from the ambush of radiation. This type of trauma can damage the thyroid gland, which regulates various hormones in the body and can also lead to serious diseases such as cancer. The CDC also states that eating iodized salt and foods high in iodine may not contain enough iodine to block radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid gland. Therefore, eating salt or foods high in iodine should not be used as potassium iodide.

How does potassium iodide work?

The thyroid gland cannot differentiate between stable and radioactive iodine. It will absorb both. Potassium iodide blocks the entry of radioactive iodine into the thyroid. When a person consumes a potassium iodide tablet, the thyroid absorbs the stable iodine present in the drug. This means that the thyroid now contains a lot of stable iodine, so that it will not be able to absorb any further iodine, whether stable or radioactive, for the next 24 hours.

When should potassium iodide tablet be taken?

Potassium iodide tablets should be taken only if there is a definite risk of radiation. The CDC’s website clearly states that taking too much or taking it too often does not provide much protection, but there is a fear of falling seriously ill and even death. Therefore, it has been advised that it should be taken only after official consultation from the health department.

Increased shortage in America, increase in price

According to a CNN report, the prices of potassium iodide pills available in the US have gone up since the Russian attack on Ukraine. London-based pharmaceutical company BTG Specialty has said that its potassium iodide product has also increased demand in the US. There are reports of increasing demand seeing a direct effect in the form of a jump in prices. In the US on Monday, four boxes of Thyrosafe Potassium Iodide were priced at $132.50 on eBay. Similarly, the cost of a box of Iosat-130mg tablet was $89.95.

people stocking up in europe

According to a report by Fortune, due to the ongoing war in Russia and Ukraine, fear in Europe has led many people to stock up on iodine tablets. Some 30,000 Belgian residents flocked to the pharmacy to get free iodine tablets after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his nuclear force was on high alert, the Brussels Times reported. A Bloomberg report claims that the demand for potassium iodide tablets in Finland has increased 100-fold since the start of the Russo-Ukraine war.