U.S. Supplies of potassium iodide pills are taking a huge hit as people flock to the stores in search of protection from possible nuclear fallout.
A number of stores across the west coast are reporting that they are completely sold out. And a pharmacist at a Walgreen’s in California told us that they would not be getting anymore because the government has seized all supplies.
Fleming Pharmaceuticals, maker of ThyroShield a potassium iodide used in nuclear emergencies, said in a press release, that before the Japanese Quake the federal government already had stockpiled millions of doses. The company claims that some of the federal stockpile has expired and the remaining supply is set to expire over the year.
White House chief spokesman Jay Carney continued to tell the press that the U.S. is not in danger, but wouldn’t comment on the governments stockpiling program.
Potassium iodide, which is sometimes sold as anti-radiation pills, can protect your thyroid from radiation by blocking the absorption of radioiodine. Potassium iodide does not protect from all side effects of radiation poisoning and can have a number of side effects. It should only be taken in prescription doses if the radiation reaches the coast at dangerous levels.
UPDATE: 3-15-2011 11:24p.m pst
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a statement about potassium iodide policy.
Dori Salcido, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health, said that they will be looking into “every aspect” of the Japanese disaster including “Policy options relating to KI distribution.”
UPDATE: 3-17-2011 9:44p.m pst
Anbex, the largest supplier of FDA-approved potassium iodide announced on its website that it ran out of stock on Monday, March 14, 2011. The Manufacturer says they should have more available by April 18.
Got all my gear set up in a bug out bag ready to go in the event I ever had to leave at a moments notice but overlooked the need for potassium iodide pills. Finally found some and and got a email saying they were out of stock after I ordered so took there other brand they had in stock and they said it will be shipped out today. Emailed me again and said they can’t send out my order right now so kinda dissapointed but hopefully things won’t get bad enough that anyone here in the states should need them.
I just want all you peeps to know, that you can get the natural form of iodine, KELP, no one has discovered it yet, and it is still on the shelves of places like GNC, or your local grocery store. That is what we are using. Also, GNC multivitamins have 100% of your daily potassium iodide in them. There ARE options! Protect yourself!
@ MEME, how much Kelp do I take? Also I have children ages 10, 7, and 6.. how much do they take and for how long?? I just ordered Kelp from GNC but it’s in micrograms….
Thanks;
Nikki
Kelp and KI (potassium iodide) are two different things entirely. You cannot swap one for the other.
GNC multivitamins measure their KI in mcg. To obtain the needed amount of KI for radiation–measured in mg–you would need to consume bottles of the stuff. The vitamins would kill you long before any radiation.
Keep things in perspective people. The U.S. detonated TWO ATOMIC BOMBS over Japan in WWII and everyone in the US made it out just fine.
1000mcg = 1mg
I think we are all assuming that it will be in the air, but what happens when it hits the ground? All plants, etc. will be contaminated! I was raised in Wyoming and we were constantly showered with radiation with the government was testing bombs above ground. No one panicked then and although the cancer rate might be higher, no one died! I think this is all hype to keep the public in a constant state of fear. Last year it was global warming, this year its nuclear disaster. What happens, happens. Deal with it then and stop worrying.
Emulate the Japanese… you don’t see them panicing under the worst of circumstances!
For once I feel safe living in south Florida!.
Well, looks like the government is taking good care of itself. Perhaps they bought all those potassium iodide pills to share with the people. lol
We are not taking all the KI because of what is going on in Japan. We are taking all the KI for what is going to happen in the US. Specifically the New Madrid Fault line area.
There are many reactors along the fault line. And there are many of you who are going to die from what is about to occur.
Spend time with your families more than anything else. Your children. Days are short.
There is a bit of “fear-mongering”, but not nearly as much as I thought there would be.. Of course the MSM is telling you everything is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. I keep myself stocked up with things to keep myself healthy in an event of most situations. I do admire the Japanese, the are either a very stoic people or conditioned to do what their government tells them. . Either way they’re standing up to the adversity quite well. I also agree that a good quality multivitamin will give you iodine (potassium iodide). Just check the labels carefully.
It’s possible that all six reactors could melt down. That’s six Chernobyls. I know it’s a worst case scenario but it could still happen. I think that’s when we really have to start being concerned — and all that depends on how high up the contaminants are blown and how the winds are at the time.
you can also get it in rosemary and by rubbing liquid iodine on your abdomen or forearm. doses matter w/the topical iodine too so research proper amounts and how often it should be done [by age]. increasing seafood intake is also helpful, the japanese people get approx 100 times the iodine in their diets as we do…because of the seafood intake. try not to worry, watch overseas reports for more accurate info. al jazeera and RT television, also, democracy now, on pbs is a good source for up to date, honest reporting. best of luck to all.
god bless
Iodine is an essential mineral. Most Americans are iodine deficient. That makes us vulnerable to a lot of diseases – including cancer. Soil depletion and poor diet are the main cause. The Japs have diet rich in iodine – this will help them in this situation. Most seafood is rich in iodine – like kelp.
While KI pills or liquid are the best in a crises any source of iodine will help. If your thyroid has enough iodine it will not absorb the radioactive iodine-131 and it will pass out again relatively harmless.
1000 mcg = 1 mg of iodine. If you could eat enough salt it would work but it would probably kill you too! Any source of iodine will help. Lugals is a good source. You use to be able to buy it at 10% strength. But the DEA said no no no, so now you can get it at 5% only 1 bottle at a time. They were using it for meth or something…. Sure.
With the World Organic liquid KI pictured above – one drop = 150 mcg. So 7 drops = 1mg. With the liquid it is easier to bump up the dose. There is a lot of fear mongering concerning overdosing on iodine. Many experts think there is very little danger or side effects from it.
The FDA MDR is only 150mcg a day. Many experts disagree with this number. The Japs consume much more. They are usually under in their recommendations as they serve big pharma which would rather you buy their stuff.
Good source of info on iodine here:
Iodine for Health
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller20.html
I found liquid iodine in the stores, and avail on web as wound care and potassium is in most green plants including grasses. Seaweed has iodine, fish liver also. Your thyroid loves iodine.
Children need iodine to prevent severe pain and genetic growths, do you want to hear your friends dieing, iodine is harmful like all minerals including salt in quantity over many doses. Give yogurt hours after any antibiotic. Stay quiet or sleep indoors but never exercise in radioactive dust, turn on shower spray, know God and be saved by simple prayer talk to him.
Why would they want us to be able to protect ourselves against their engineered disaster?
FYI – Too easy to make yourself. Really, look it up.
Den
The bottom line is that prevention is better than cure, and let’s face it folks, nuclear power is just plain dangerous….the sad thing is that there are suppressed technologies that can free mankind from energy slavery forever…
Detoxing from radiation exposure is somewhere I’d prefer not to go, but chelation therapy should be very effective, as well as zeolite (zeolite was used at chernobyl as part of the clean up operations as well, and provwed to be tremendously effective)
modifilan
russians developed it for chenolbyl
modifilan.com
This is all wrong…. PLUTONIUM….. Is WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. iodide is useless NUMBER TWO WAS loaded with MOX which is a blend of uranium and the above element
damage set in motion will be beyond comprehension
“Now I am become death…..The destroyer of worlds”
Mr. richard, you are mistaken on reactor #2. It’s actually reactor #3 that has the partial plutonium/uranium core rods. We needed to use up at that time in the late 60′ & 70’s the extra plutonium from the ICBM weapons program. You could say a type of recycling program, not publicly secret. Although, in this unfortunate partial meltdown of 50% to 80% due to plate tectonics and old outdated containment technology, this one reactor is akin to 100+ times more dangerous radiological output than any neighboring reactor. And yes you got it right in general and some of the media is finally covering that fact,but not it’s high output! 100 Godzilla’s.
I couldn’t find any so I got some liquid Iodine instead. As the bad air comes across America you should keep in mind that those clouds and those water droplets have dust particles and some of those are going to be radioactive.
When it rains, don’t let it get on you and wash it off if you do. You need to get an umbrella and a raincoat and use them.
Keep in mind that no one knows how many trillions of atoms of radioactive Iodine, Cesium and other toxins have been released into the atmosphere and radiation detectors do not respond to single atoms of the stuff but your flesh will respond to them and in a negative way if you get it on you or in you.
Obama says and does nothing about getting Iodide pills out to protect our children – he wants to build 60 more nukes in America. NBC News says don’t worry about it – they are owned by the people who made the REACTORS.
Obama is taking his family down to Rio.
Any questions?