| Dose: | |
| Adults over 18 years | 1 tablet (whole or crushed) every day (130 mg) |
| Children over 12 years to 18 years who weigh at least 150 pounds | 1 tablet (whole or crushed) every day (130 mg) |
| Children over 12 years to 18 years who weigh less than 150 pounds | 1/2 tablet (whole or crushed) or 4 teaspoonfuls every day (65 mg) |
| Children over 3 years to 12 years | 1/2 tablet (whole or crushed) or 4 teaspoonfuls every day (65 mg) |
| Children over 1 month | 2 teaspoonfuls every day (32.5 mg) |
| Babies at birth to 1 month | 1 teaspoonful every day (16.25 mg) |
Tablets can be crushed and mixed in many liquids. To take the tablet in liquid solution, use dosing directions under
Making a Potassium Iodide Liquid Mixture.
Take KI every day (every 24 hours) as directed by public officials. Do not take more than 1 dose in 24 hours. More will not help you. Too much medicine may increase the chances of side effects.
Making a Potassium Iodide Liquid Mixture:
1. Put
one 130 mg KI tablet into a small bowl and grind it into a fine powder using the back of a metal teaspoon against the inside of the bowl. The powder should not have any large pieces.
2. Add 4 teaspoonfuls of water to the crushed KI powder in the bowl and mix until the KI powder is dissolved in the water.
3. Take the KI water mixture solution made in step 2 and mix it with 4 teaspoonfuls of low fat white or chocolate milk, orange juice, flat soda, raspberry syrup, or infant formula.
4. The KI liquid mixture will keep for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. It is recommended that the KI liquid mixture be prepared weekly. Throw away unused portions.
The amount of KI (130 mg tablet) in the drink when mixed as described above is 16.25 mg per teaspoonful.
The number of teaspoonfuls of the drink to give your child depends on your child’s age as described in the following table:
Child’s Age | Give your child this amount in teaspoonfuls |
| Over 12 years to 18 years old who weigh less than 150 pounds | 4 teaspoonfuls will give you a 65 mg dose |
| Over 3 years to 12 years old | 4 teaspoonfuls will give you a 65 mg dose |
| Over 1 month to 3 years old | 2 teaspoonfuls will give you a 32.5 mg dose |
| Birth to 1 month | 1 teaspoonful will give you a 16.25 mg dose |
Note: This is the amount to give your child for one
single dose in
teaspoonfuls (not tablespoonfuls). You should give your child one dose each day as recommended by the public officials.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or babies under 1 month of age: Take as directed above and call a doctor as soon as possible. Repeat dosing should be avoided. It is recommended that thyroid function be checked in babies less than 1 month of age that take KI. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also be checked by a doctor if repeat dosing is necessary. Although these precautions should be taken, the benefits of short-term use of KI to block uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland far exceed its chances of side effects.
Patients with thyroid disease: If you have both a nodular thyroid condition such as multinodular goiter with heart disease, you should not take KI. Patients with other thyroid conditions may take KI as directed above, but call a doctor if you need to take KI for more than a few days.
