About iodine + potassium iodide
Iodine solution; antiseptic and thyroid inhibitor
Used for
- Short-term treatment of severe hyperthyroidism before surgery or during thyroid storm
- Reducing thyroid exposure to radioactive iodine after a nuclear incident
- Antiseptic use in some medical procedures
Usual adult dose
For thyroid storm, commonly 5 drops by mouth every 6 hours after an antithyroid medicine; dosing varies by purpose.
Usual dose in children
Specialist-directed dosing only; varies by age, weight, and purpose.
Common side effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
- Metallic taste or mouth and throat irritation
- Rash or swelling of salivary glands
- Thyroid function changes
Important warnings
- Use for thyroid conditions only under medical supervision; excess iodine can disrupt thyroid function.
- Avoid prolonged use, especially in newborns and during pregnancy.
- May cause serious allergy; seek urgent care for breathing difficulty or facial swelling.
- Oral solution is not interchangeable with skin antiseptics; follow product-specific instructions.
Pregnancy
Use only when clearly necessary and supervised; iodine crosses the placenta and can affect the fetus's thyroid.
Breastfeeding
Iodine enters breast milk and may affect an infant's thyroid; use only with medical supervision.
Interactions
- Antithyroid medicines: iodine timing affects treatment; specialist-directed use is needed.
- Lithium or amiodarone: increased risk of thyroid problems.
- ACE inhibitors or potassium-sparing diuretics: potassium may rise, especially with substantial or prolonged intake.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.