Potassium iodide: When to take "radiation pills"

Potassium iodide pills on the shelf of a Plano, Texas drugstore on March 15, 2011.

/ AP

(CBS) Potassium iodide pills are suddenly a hot commodity.

Americans snapping up bottles of the cancer-preventing salt even though the U.S. government has said that radiation leaking from Japan's earthquake-stricken nuclear reactors poses little if any threat to the U.S., as CBS has reported.

Potassium iodide, whose chemical name is KI, doesn't work for all forms of cancer associated with exposure to radiation. But it can help lower the risk for thyroid cancer in people who have ingested or inhaled radioactive forms of iodine. a.k.a. radioiodones. It does that by flooding the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine, thereby limiting the gland's absorption of radioiodones.

KI works if taken within three to four hours of exposure and should be taken on a daily basis until the threat passes, according to the FDA. Though it's available over the counter, it's smart to consult a doctor before taking it and - perhaps most important - whether it makes sense to take it at all.

Click here to read Dr. Jon LaPook's take on the fears and realities of Japan's nuclear crisis.

9 Photos

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[amerilatino]

For all those of you who live nearby a nuclear energy facility, there's an alternate procedure in case you experience an exposure 'incident' thereof. If you witness an explosion from said facility, followed by a blast of hot ash and dust, immediately find a sheltered location where you can strip to your undergarments, exhale deeply, close your eyes tightly, assume a deep fetal position and kiss your @$$ goodbye. You will know why soon enough.

[82ndairbornediv]

Maybe Americans should take a break from 24hr. "news" networks. That might alleviate more problems than a pill. In the last four days, I have heard "melt-down" and "nuclear blast" (neither of which has actually happened) enough times to make it sound like Armageddon and the Rapture are taking place RIGHT NOW!

Chill out, America.

[kenhamlett]

While I doubt we will need Potassium Iodide for the Japanese radiation released so far I think this will be a chance to stock up for long term storage AFTER all of the old stock is depleted. For the preppers out there just wait until the new stock starts coming onto the shelves and pick up a few bottles for when we in the USA screw up our nuclear program.
It is bound to happen so all of prepared will survive. Until then you will obviously be called paranoid.