What are the FDA-approved products for treatment of internal contamination with radioactive iodine?

There are three FDA-approved potassium iodide (KI) products for use as an adjunct to other public health protective measures in the event that radioactive iodine is released into the environment. The three over-the-counter products are:

1. Iosat Tablets (130 mg), Anbex, Inc., Williamsburg, Va.
2. ThyroSafe Tablets (65 mg), Recipharm AB, Jordbro, Sweden.
3. ThyroShield Solution (65 mg/mL), Fleming & Company Pharmaceuticals, Fenton.
4. When administered at the recommended dose, KI is effective in reducing the risk of thyroid cancer in people at risk for inhalation or ingestion of radioactive iodine. KI floods the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine and prevents the uptake of the radioactive molecules.
5. Potassium iodide works only to prevent the thyroid from uptaking radioactive iodine. It is not a general radioprotective agent.