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Ill. officials warn against potassium iodide radiation medication
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning residents against taking potassium iodide to prevent radiation sickness.
Public Health Director Dr. Damon Arnold says it's unlikely radiation from damaged nuclear plants in Japan will reach the U.S. west coast.
He says it's not worth the risk of suffering from potassium iodide's possible side effects.
Potassium iodide is a non-prescription drug that can be used to protect the thyroid gland from exposure to high levels of radiation.
But it can be harmful to people with allergies to iodine or shellfish. Those with certain skin disorders, renal disease and other chronic diseases may also be harmed.
Nausea, rashes and salivary gland inflammation are also possible side effects.
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Online: http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/factsheets/Radiation_Potassium_Iodide.pdf
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
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[naviga:li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"]Potassium iodide: When to take "radiation pills" (cbsnews.com)
This Tuesday, March 15, 2011 photo shows bottles of potassium iodide on the shelf of the Texas Star Pharmacy on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in Plano, Texas. The pharmacy has been receiving an unusually high number of calls about potassium iodide from people who are afraid radiation from the Japan nuclear crisis will reach the U.S. Health agencies in California and western Canada warned Tuesday that there's no reason for people an ocean away to suddenly stock up on potassium iodide, even as some key suppliers say they're back-ordered and getting panicked calls from would-be customers. (AP Photo/Richard Matthews)
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