You might wonder, “Does potassium iodide expire?” (Potassium iodide tablets are used to some extent for nuclear radiation thyroid protection.) “What is potassium iodide shelf life?”
If you have wondered if potassium iodide expires (such as the branded iOSAT™ tablets and others)… I found out that I had made a wrong assumption. This was based on what I had heard from others and the dates on the packaging. I discovered this information years ago and want to share it with you…
For those of you who don’t know what these tablets are… They’re basically ‘nuke pills’. They help prevent radioactive iodine from getting into the thyroid gland during a nuclear radiation emergency.
You do have some, right? (It’s a good prepping and preparedness item to have, just in case.)
I always keep several packs of iOSAT™ (Potassium Iodide Tablets) on hand as part of my medical preps. Although I do not live near any nuclear power plants, it’s still cheap insurance to have on hand during times of uncertainty and threats of nuclear war.
>> Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets)
IOSAT on Amazon
Potassium Iodide Tablets Shelf Life
As with all types of ‘medications’, an expiration date is printed on the package. I know that in many or most cases, these dates do not mean that the drug will ‘go bad’ the next day (for example).
In fact, far from it. Many drugs/medications will be quite effective for significantly longer despite slightly degraded efficacy.
We were going through our Medical / First Aid supplies and came across packets of iOSAT™ potassium iodide tablets. The “expiration” date was indicated to be several years ago.
I decided to research it, and what did I find out? They are still good!
Here’s what I discovered about the shelf life of potassium iodide tablets:
From the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, FAQ,
“Is taking KI tablets with an expired shelf life safe?”
(KI is potassium iodide)
“Potassium iodide tablets are inherently stable and do not lose effectiveness over time.”
“According to FDA guidance on Shelf-life Extension,
Studies over many years have confirmed that none of the components of KI tablets, including the active ingredient, has any significant potential for chemical degradation or interaction with other components or with components of the container closure system when stored according to labeled directions.”
“To date, the only observed changes during stability (shelf-life) testing have been the failure of some batches of KI tablets to meet dissolution specifications. Some tablets tested required slightly longer than the specified time to achieve dissolution. Even in the case of a failure of this sort, the product remains usable.”
So apparently and evidently, iOSAT™ tablets (or other potassium iodide tablets) do not expire in the context of suddenly “going bad”…
Source: U.S.NRC
What is Potassium Iodide?
Potassium iodide is a salt similar to table salt. Its chemical symbol is KI. Potassium iodide is routinely added to table salt to make it “iodized.”
Potassium iodide, if taken in time and at the appropriate dosage, blocks the thyroid gland’s uptake of radioactive iodine and thus could reduce the risk of thyroid cancers and other diseases that might otherwise be caused by exposure to radioactive iodine that could be dispersed in a severe nuclear accident.
When ingested, potassium iodide is taken up by the thyroid gland. In the proper dosage and taken at the appropriate time, it effectively saturates the thyroid gland so that inhaled or ingested radioactive iodines will not accumulate there.
iOSAT™ (Potassium Iodide) Nuclear Radiation Protection
Radioactive iodine (primarily I-131) is a waste product of nuclear fission produced in nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs.
In the event of such a nuclear catastrophe, what makes I-131 so dangerous is that the body cannot distinguish I-131 from ordinary iodine.
As a result, if it’s inhaled or swallowed following a nuclear ‘event’, it will be absorbed into the thyroid gland and will poison its victim.
Depending on the absorption, the effects can lead to thyroid damage, cancer, growth, congenital disabilities, or even death.
Potassium iodide protects against radioactive iodine by preventing absorption into the thyroid gland. It does this by saturating the thyroid with stable iodine, “filling it to capacity”. Once filled, the gland “turns off” its absorption mechanism. It will remain off long enough for the radioactive iodine to disappear naturally.
This method of protection is extremely safe and effective. Up to 99% of all radiation induced thyroid damage can be avoided by the use of iOSAT™.
Because of its inherent safety, the FDA allows iOSAT™ to be sold without a prescription for radiation protection. However, its use should be limited to radiation emergencies.
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Note: People should not take iOSAT if they have a specific allergy to iodide.
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[ Read: US Nuclear Target Map ]
[ Read: Gas Mask For Nuclear Radiation Fallout ]
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