Important information on the use of potassium iodide (KI) tablets

6 Pages·2003·0.3 MB·English

by  Illinois. Dept. of Nuclear Safety. Division of Planning and Preparedness

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ON THE USE OF
POTASSIUM IODIDE
(KI)
TABLETS SfatS
toifo/44
WARNING: TheuseofPotassiumIodide (KI)
willnotpreventexposuretoradiation
.
Themosteffectivemeans ofpreventingor
minimizingexposureis immediateevacuation
from anyarea whereradiation ispresentoris
anticipatedtobepresent.
What is Potassium Iodide (KI)?
KI is a non-prescription drug used to provide a
“loadingdose”ofstableiodinetothethyroidwhen
thereisariskthatanindividualmightbeexposed
to a potentially harmful quantity ofradioactive
iodine.
Radioactive iodine or “radioiodines” are by-
products of nuclear fission such as that which
occurs withinanuclearreactororas aresultofa
nuclearweaponexplosion.Thefissionprocessalso
produces other dangerous radioisotopes, all of
whichpresentanexposurehazardtoanyonewho
remainsincloseproximitytothemoncetheyare
NO
released into the environment. KI offers
protectionagainstisotopesotherthanradioactive
iodine.
When
inhaledoringestedinsignificantquantities,
radioactiveparticlescirculateinthebloodstream
where they become available to various body
systems. Someconcentrateinmuscletissue;others
inthebones. Radioiodinesconcentrateintheonly
bodyorganthatusesiodine,thethyroidgland.The
thyroid absorbs and processes iodine to create
hormonesthatcontrolthebody’smetabolism.
How does KI work?
TheuseofKIisintendedtosaturatethebloodstream
with non-radioactive iodine so that ifexposure to
radioiodineoccurs,thethyroidislesslikelytoabsorb
theradioactivematerial.Thislessensthechancesthat
radioiodineisheldinthethyroidglandwhereitcan
causetissuedamageresultinginthemalfunctionof
theglandandthepossibledevelopmentofcancerous
thyroidtumors. KIwillNOTreduceorpreventthe
total body exposure that may occur as a result of
being in the presence of radioiodine and other
radioisotopesreleasedduringanuclearincident.Low
dose exposure may have little effect on the gland
whiletheresultsofacuteorprolongedexposuremay
notbeapparentforyears.
When should KI be taken?
TheeffectivenessofKIasa“thyroid-blocking”agent
dependsheavilyonwhenitisconsumed. Ideally, it
shouldbetakennomore thanfourhoursBEFORE
exposureoccurs sothereis time forthe drugtobe
absorbedintothebloodstreamandmade available
tothethyroidpriortoanyexposure.Whilethe drug
may be taken up to four hours after radioiodine
exposureoccurs,itseffectivenessisdiminishedonce
radioidineisingestedorinhaled.
KI shouldNOTbe taken simplybecause thereis a
publicnotificationofaradiologicalemergency. State
andlocal authorities will advisethepublic whenit
isappropriatetoconsumethedrugbasedonwhether
aradioiodinehazardexists.
KIshouldNOTbeusedasasubstituteforevacuation
orshelteringinplacewhenstateandlocalauthorities
recommendthoseactions.Themosteffectivemeans
ofpreventingunnecessaryexposureistofollowthe
broadcast recommendations provided by local
officials. KIshouldNOTbeusedasasubstitute for
voidingconsumptionofcontaminated food, milkand
/aterfollowingaradiological incident.
low much Kl should I take?
he US FoodandDrugAdministrationhasissuedage-
datedguidelinesontheamountofKI thatcanbesafely
onsumed. Thecomplete FDAguidancemaybefound
n the Internet at www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/
idex.htm. Theseguidelinesare importanttofollow,
articularly for children and infants whose thyroid
landsaremoreactivethanadultthyroidsandthusmore
msitivetoiodine levels.
Foradults (over 18), the recommendeddosage is a
ngle 130-mgtabletevery24hours.
Forthose4-18yearsofage,therecommendeddosage
65-mgevery 24 hours (one-halfofthe adultdose),
eenagersoffulladultsizemaytakethe 130-mgdose.
Forchildren(under4),therecommendeddoseis32-
igevery24hours (one-quarteroftheadultdose).
Forinfantsamontholdoryounger,thedose should
Pnomorethan 16-mgonceevery24hours(one-eighth
fthe adultdose).
o not take more than the recommended dose
wring a 24-hour period. Consuming additional
aantitiesofthedrugwillnotincreasethelevelof
ryroidprotectionandmaycauseseriousmedical
implications.
tie currentavailabilityofKIonly in 130-mgtablets
akesitdifficultto accuratelydivide thetablets into
e smallerdosages. Overdosingchildren andinfants
ay cause thyroid problems affecting growth and
welopment,andparentsandguardiansarecautioned
carefullymonitorandcontroltheuseofthedrug.
Administering Potassium Iodide (KI) to
Infants and Children:
The US FoodandDrugAdministration (FDA)has
developeddetailedinstructionsonhow toprepare
theavailable 130-mgtabletsofPotassiumIodide(KI)
inthelowerdoseamountsrecommendedforinfants
andyoungchildren.
Because the drug has a bitter, salty taste that is
generallyrejectedbychildren,FDAsuggeststhe 130-
mgtabletbecrushedanddissolvedinasmallamount
ofwaterwhichisthenaddedinspecificamountsto
oneofseveralcommondrinkssuchasflavoredmilk,
juice, or soda. The complete FDA guidance is
available on the Internet at www.fda.gov/cder/
drugprepare/kiprep.htm
.
Whena 130-mgtabletofKIiscompletelydissolved
|in 8 ounces ofliquid, one ounce contains a 16-mg
doseofthedrug. However,thetabletsdonoteasily
dissolve. As an alternative approach, parents or
caregiversmaycutthepills intoapproximatedose
sizesorcrushthetabletsanddividethepowderinto
equal amounts. The resulting dose can then be
administeredinasmallamountofjuiceorotherfluid
ormixedwithapplesauce,babycereal,pudding,or
otherfood.
Once dissolved in liquid, the KI mixture can be
refrigeratedforuptoaweek. Ifunusedafteraweek’s
time,itshouldbediscarded.
IninstanceswhereKIisgiventoanewborn,the
infant should be monitored by a physician for
symptomsoftransienthypothyroidismfollowing
theadministrationofthedrug.
KI Is Not Safe For Everyone!
Those who have aknown allergyto iodine, such
asthosewhomustavoidcertainseafoodandother
NOT
foodswithhighnatural iodinecontent,should
consume KI. Severeallergicreactionscouldresult.
Thosesufferingcertainthyroiddisordersortaking
thyroid medications, aswell aspregnantwomen,
nursing mothers, and individuals taking certain
heart medications orantipsychotic drugs should
consult theirphysiciansbeforedecidingtouse KI.
DoNOT substitute othersourcesofiodine (such
asIodinetabletsforwaterpurificationorTincture
ofIodinedrops) forKI. Theseproductscontain a
different formofiodine thatcanbepoisonous if
misused.
In some instances, those who consume KI,
particularlyforprolongedperiodsorinlargerthan
recommendeddoses, mayencountersideeffects
suchasskinrashes, swollenneckglands, stomach
upsets,ordiarrhea. Moreseriousallergicreactions
mayproduce fever,jointpain, facial swelling or
shortnessofbreath. Shouldanyadversereaction
occur, stop taking the drug and seek immediate
medicalattention.
Aswithanymedication,youshouldconsult
your physician to determine if KI is safe
foryou. Keep this and all drugs outofthe
reachofchildren.
The product being provided is IOSAT™ brand
potassium iodide tablets produced by Anbex,
Incorporated,andmanufacturedtoU. S.P.standards.
Eachtabletscontains 130-milligramsofpotassium
iodide(abbreviatedbyitschemicalsymbol: KI). The
tabletsaresealedinindividualfoilpacketstoprotect
againstmoisture andlight.Thefoilpackets should
be storedatroomtemperature (between59 and 86
degreesF) tomaintainpotency.Althoughstamped
withafive-yearexpirationdate,thetabletsareknown
toretainpotencywellbeyondthatdatewhenstored
properly.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregarding KI
andemergencyresponseplans,contact:
/DVj
IllinoisDepartmentofNuclearSafety
DivisionofPlanningandPreparedness
1035 OuterParkDrive
Springfield,Illinois62704
217-785-9882
r.state.il.us/idns
ILLINOIS
DEPOSITOR
DEC 1 5 2003
AUTNIUVREBRASMIAT-Yw^;.' .i.!;v, Wl
.
Printedby theauthority ofthe StateofIllinois
(4864-100-2/03)