Last updated on December 6th, 2017
In case you have been wondering about the shelf life of potassium iodide tablets, also branded as iOSAT, I discovered that what I had thought about it has been incorrect…
For those of you who don’t know what they are, they’re basically ‘nuke pills’ that help prevent radioactive iodine from getting into the thyroid gland during a nuclear radiation emergency.
You do have some, right?
Here’s what I discovered about their shelf life:
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. There’s also that little threat called nuclear war – which may not be so little…
Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg (14 Tablets)
As with all types of ‘medications’, there is an expiration date printed on the package. While I generally know that in many or most cases these dates do not mean that the drug will ‘go bad’ the next day, in fact, many drugs/medications will be quite effective for significantly longer (do your own due-diligence).
With that said, we were recently going through our medical / First Aid supplies and I came across the packets of iOSAT potassium iodide tablets (which supposedly expired in 2013). I decided to do some research on it, and guess what I found out? They are still good!
From the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, FAQ,
Is it safe to take KI tablets with an expired shelf-life?
(KI is potassium iodide)
Quote, “Yes, potassium iodide tablets are inherently stable and do not lose their effectiveness over time.” “Manufacturers must label their products with a shelf-life to ensure that consumers purchase safe and useful products.”
“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…
Source: NRC
What is potassium iodide?
Potassium iodide is a salt, similar to table salt. Its chemical symbol is KI. It 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 potassium iodide is ingested, it is taken up by the thyroid gland. In the proper dosage, and taken at the appropriate time, it will effectively saturate the thyroid gland in such a way that inhaled or ingested radioactive iodines will not be accumulated in the thyroid gland.
@ Ken
Ok Ok, I put the “tin-foil-hat” on for a bit and asked myself. Can I just take a BUNCH of Morton Iodized Salt instead of KI Tabs…..? Well basically the answer is, of course, NO!!!! Not only no, but digesting 286 POUNDS of salt a day probably would be really bad for my blood pressure…
So anyways I figured I would bring that up before anyone else though of it.
Taking the Hat back off now.
NRP
ALL things are poisonous, what matters is the dose. That’s the abridged version of a quote from Paracelsus, an alchemist from the middle ages. An overly large dose of table salt results in hypernatremia which if it continues and is not treated can be fatal. The old Chinese would commit suicide by eating about a pound of salt (or so I’ve heard). As an aside, Iodine is added to our salt to prevent Goiter.
I wonder if Berky filters will filter out radio active particles? I wouldn’t want to rely on it, but if I am dying of thirst I want to know if it would be a viable option. My guess is it would be better than nothing. But I would only ever attempt it if it were life or death. In which case you have nothing to lose. Kind of off topic, but thought I would ask anyway.
@ E52rgr75
Simple answer, No. BUT it all depends on the radiation type. Radiation is not simply Radiation. To put it exactly to your question, if the filter will remove the “particles” that are the isotope, then yes, then the next problem is what do you do with the filter after you contaminated it with radiation particles? Personally I would not count on it.
NRP
So…. you’re saying now is the time to drill that well I keep talking about.
If you are safe from nuclear fallout, say a bunker with 16 feet of dirt around it, you should continue to filter your water, unless the supply is stored in a way where no radioactive particles could contaminate it. The danger is the ingestion of these particles, so filtering is smart. It doesn’t matter if the filter traps the particle..that is what you want it to do. A small particle in a filter is not dangerous, whereas, that same tiny speck inside your body..is..even if it is pretty weak.
In an atomic attack the fallout has a pretty short half life, but a nuclear plant spew has a very long half life…and the particles it releases vastly more powerful.
I purchased 4 water straws that will take out radiation out of water on amazon as a back up plan. The water volume is very low so, I can only use each for 25 gallons before it goes bad. I intend to locate a safer area to call home before if it does.
I read somewhere, some time back, that Berkey will not filter out radiation. What I recall, was stated that to “filter” out radiation requires some type (don’t recall exact info) of clay filter.
Everyone should purchase a Geiger counter as part of their prepps as well as potassium iodide tablets. Note most medication in tablet form are still usable if expired they only loose strength. Liquids on the other hand do expire and go bad.
I don’t know about all liquid medications going bad. My two favorites, bourbon and honey, both have indefinite shelf lives. Both are good antiseptics and if it doesn’t cure you, at least you’ll feel better.
Everyone have a good weekend.
do you know?
I have always heard that honey lasts indefinitely, same for Manuka Honey. (supposed to be more effective for medical)
recently someone told me they do not…the active parts will deteriorate.
anyone know?
Honey will become crystallized, but does not spoil. still retains health benefits. Manuka honey is honey the bees make from the “tea tree oil” plant/tree. I make a fake out by using 3 ounces of regular honey and 8-10 drops of tea tree oil in it for wound care. it worked well, and instead of costing many dollars, was cheap and effective.
Thank you, for the info.
All,
We have a hand held radiation detector…”inspector” model. We started a regular log shortly after Fukushima went off. We especially watched the winds, rain and snow and you would NOT believe the horrible readings we got for a period of time. The jet stream brought some horrible news. We were particularly concerned for our relatives in the pacific northwest, and Michigan!
This is no joke folks. the govt did NOT inform our citizens of the potential hazards. A couple of days we not only wore N95 masks and covered up completely to go out to the livestock (leaving all clothes at the door upon coming in for decontamination) but made sure we added sea kelp to all the livestock feed.
This is a good tool to have, and learn how to use effectively.
Ken, this is a great site….keep the info coming.
Are you still taking readings and if so have you noticed an increase or decrease?
we take readings most days…..has been steady calm for some time. Every time it rains or snows though there seems to be some increase…especially out of the northwest. Will keep all posted. Has been within usual limits for some time.
Rain and snow wash out naturally occurring Pb and Bi isotopes that are daughter products of radon gas that continually naturally vents from granite etc. So, if it hasn’t rained for several days, and you get a rain event, and you’re in an area with radon gas, then you’ll see a spike (apparently up to 50% increase) in the normal background radiation levels. Lots of peer reviewed papers about this (look up google scholar).
Unfortunately where I live there’s little radon gas produced by the rocks, so I’ve yet to detect any ‘spike’ in background radiation during rain (my son was trying to measure this for a science project).
The Government NEVER will alert you to radioactive fallout. We have had fallout from Chinese nuclear tests hit the U.S., and from ALL the above ground tests of bombs in the South West. These fallout plumes were all mapped, and that map is classified. Remarkable how populations can be effected by various cancer “hot spots” centered in limited areas..eh? The cancers caused by various doses of radiation in these fall out zones can take time..time enough for people to move about..and disperse a potential fall out hot spot..and not be too noticed.
I met a guy who moved here about 6 months ago. He has quite a few auto immune health problems.
When his Mom was a kid her family lived downwind of the nuclear blast sites.
His Mom and her family received free health care for life due to their “POSSIBLE” exposure to nuclear fallout.
All her family had serious auto immune health problems. She apparently passed it on to him and his siblings too. He’s afraid that he has passed them on to his own young kids.
He is an ultra healthy food guy who has done so much research into his own ailments. Trying to stay as healthy as he can for his family.
What he has gleaned from his research is very troubling to say the least.
You are right! They will never really admit or tell the real truth about what is going on.
Remember the “cattle mutilations” in the 70’s and 80’s?
They blamed aliens and even satanic cults for them.
I think we all now know that is was the Gov. seeing if the effects of the nuclear testing was working it’s way up the food chain…
Question:
My friend had his thyroid removed….So does that mean he will not be in danger? He asked me that question and I told him if something happens to take a normal dose. Is that correct? I figured it wouldn’t kill him……right???
livin in the woods….if he has no thyroid, he has no absorbtion filter for iodine 133 which is what the iosat tablets assist in preventing.
So he should be OK without taking the iosat? That’s kind of what we originally thought…no thyroid/no problem.
Thanks for the quick response. I will tell him to save the iosat for his family. Thanks again.
Iodine is used in other parts of the body, so I would still take it. Not as much would be needed since the thyroid is by far the biggest “user” of iodine.
What part of the country are you from? I am in northeast, NYS specifically. Looking for a better place to live. Gave up eating seafood several years ago when my daughter had a sudden allergic reaction to shrimp.
Remember Bill Gates said we needed to eliminate 2/3rds of the world pop in order to save the planet. Now a lot of time is being spent looking for a planet that will sustain life. Elysium is going to happen. They will suck this planet dry and move on to another one.
Nice tie in from all the nuke talk yesterday.
THANK YOU
we have expired ones too, and I have been worrying. These were pricey, and I hated to waste the money.
much appreciate the info.
Great article and thanks. I just ordered a replenishment package last week because my former stash had ‘expired’. Since you have so diligently informed us that they don’t expire, I’ll just save the old ones for barter, because a nuclear war is coming, coming absolutely. Pray for the people in Paris to get them through the hell their government has allowed to come across their borders. Hollande has announced he will close France’s borders. That’s a lot like putting on your seat belt after being thrown through the windshield. God bless one and all and don’t delay ordering your tablets. thanks for your time.
He closed the borders and effectively declared martial law BEFORE the third attack. He also LEFT the game where the 2nd attack took place at halftime, with no explanation. Wonder if he knew something in advance?
Off topic we should talk about terrorist attacks and what to do in case you are involved in one. Like note your exits, possible weapons and areas to hide. In light of the Paris attack we need to be prepared. Types of attacks as well.
Thor, I would like that discussion too..
Also, I keep hearing on news that folks in Paris are taking in any/all strangers fr the street, even posting on facebook etc, “open door”/”safe harbor” etc.
Seems like a really bad idea to me…How many terrorists will be amongst those “taken in”?
That’s what’s Scary about open borders or letting refugees in that are only 20-30 year old men only that are nothing less than soldiers but our traitorous government wants them here. Soon this will be just like Paris.
The family that I am buying my fingerlings from started their fishery business right after the Japan nuclear debacle. They are professional fisherman and farmers. They were and still are concerned about the safety of the fish being caught and eaten. The Gov. Lackeys have assured all that the fish are safe but you wonder what the real truth is.
They started the fishery so they would still have an income even if they banned fishing.
It seems like the ocean trash always finds its way to the Islands eventually. We worry here that Fukushima will touch the Islands sometime in the future and not in a good way.
I keep a supply on hand and it’s good to know that it will be good past the exp. date. This is one prep I hope I never have to use…
Where can I get these and do I need a script?
You do not need a script, and you can get it via the embedded link within the article (or any other source that sells them).