Potassium iodide (KI) is a salt that can help protect you from radioactive iodine. Your thyroid gland is the part of your body that’s most sensitive to radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide can help block your thyroid disease
A newborn (a baby less than 1 month old) could develop hypothyroidism if they take more than the suggested amount of potassium iodide. Hypothyroidism is a condition where your thyroid hormone levels are too low. If doctors don’t treat this, it can cause brain damage. To keep your infant safe:
- Get your child’s hormone levels checked if they received more than a single dose of potassium iodide. Your doctor should continue to monitor their levels.
- Stay away from repeat dosing of potassium iodide for infants.
Where Can You Get Potassium Iodide?
You don’t need a prescription to get potassium iodide. You can get it over the counter at local pharmacies or drugstores. If it’s not available near you, you can order potassium iodide online. Make sure that the FDA has approved the version that you get.
Store your potassium iodide in a dark, dry, and cool place. In this setting, it can last for about 5 to 7 years.