What to Know About Potassium Iodide (SSKI) for Radiation Poisoning
Potassium iodide (SSKI) is a salt of stable iodine that blocks the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Here’s how it works for radiation poisoning.
SSKI
Used for Asthma, COPD
Used for Asthma, COPD
SSKI (potassium iodide) is a prescription medication used as an expectorant to help clear mucus from your airways. It's approved for adults with chronic lung conditions (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, emphysema) where thick mucus is a problem. It’s a liquid solution that you mix with water, fruit juice, or milk, and take 3 to 4 times daily. The most common side effects include stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
What is SSKI (potassium iodide)?
What is SSKI (potassium iodide) used for?
- Chronic lung conditions (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, emphysema) where thick mucus is a problem
How SSKI (potassium iodide) works
SSKI (potassium iodide) is an antithyroid medication. It works by helping the lungs make more fluid, which thins the mucus in your airways. This makes it easier to cough up the mucus and clear your congestion.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | SSKI |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Expectorant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of SSKI (potassium iodide)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Skin rash
- Swollen or tender salivary glands
Less Common Side Effects
- Stomach bleeding
- Confusion
- Irregular heartbeat
- Numbness
- Tingling, pain, or weakness in hands or feet
- Tiredness
- Weakness or heaviness in the legs
- Fever
SSKI (potassium iodide) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Too much iodine: burning in the mouth or throat, severe headache, metallic taste, sore teeth and gums, cold-like symptoms, eye irritation with swollen eyelids, drooling, acne, severe skin rashes
- Serious allergic reaction: trouble breathing, swelling of the face, bleeding, fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes
The following SSKI (potassium iodide) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
joint pain
swelling of arms, face, legs, lips, tongue, and/or throat
swelling of lymph glands
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$69.750
GoodRx discount
$69.75
Pros and cons of SSKI (potassium iodide)
Pros
- Makes it easier to cough out mucus
- Can stop taking once cough symptoms improve
- Available as a liquid
Cons
- Need to take 3 to 4 times a day
- Unknown if safe to use in children
- Commonly causes stomach upset
Pharmacist tips for SSKI (potassium iodide)
- Mix your dose of SSKI (potassium iodide) in water, fruit juice, or milk. Taking it with food or milk might help reduce stomach upset.
- Carefully measure each dose of SSKI (potassium iodide) using the measuring device provided with the medication or one from your pharmacist, as kitchen spoons might not be accurate.
- Don't take SSKI (potassium iodide) for longer than prescribed. Generally, you can stop using it once your cough symptoms have improved.
- Store SSKI (potassium iodide) in a dry place at room temperature, away from light. If it gets too cold, crystals might form in the liquid. To fix this, shake the bottle and warm it until the crystals dissolve.
- If the SSKI (potassium iodide) solution turns brownish-yellow in color, throw it away and ask your pharmacist for a new bottle.
- If you accidentally take too much SSKI (potassium iodide), you might feel sick right away or within a few hours. If you notice swelling, throat tightening, and bleeding, stop taking the medication and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Risks and warnings for SSKI (potassium iodide)
SSKI (potassium iodide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Harm to unborn baby
If you're pregnant or become pregnant while taking SSKI (potassium iodide), tell your prescriber right away. This medication can cause thyroid problems in your unborn baby. Your prescriber will discuss with you the benefits and the risks of taking SSKI (potassium iodide) during pregnancy.
Low thyroid hormone
- Risk factors: Taking SSKI (potassium iodide) for a long period of time
Some people who take SSKI (potassium iodide) for a long time can develop low thyroid hormone, also known as hypothyroidism. Only take this medication as prescribed by your healthcare professional. SSKI (potassium iodide) is typically taken for a short time and stopped once your symptoms improve.
Interactions with medications
SSKI (potassium iodide) can interact with many medications. For example, taking this medication with lithium or other antithyroid medications can raise the risk of thyroid problems. Also, certain diuretics and blood pressure medications can lead to high potassium levels and serious heart problems. Let your prescriber know all of the medications and supplements you are taking to make sure they are safe.
SSKI (potassium iodide) dosage
The average cost for 1 dropper of 30ml of 1g/ml of SSKI (potassium iodide) is $456.09 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 20.15% off the average retail price of $571.21.
Interactions between SSKI (potassium iodide) and other drugs
SSKI (potassium iodide) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with SSKI (potassium iodide). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acenocoumarol
- Anisindione
- Dicumarol
- Phenindione
- Phenprocoumon
- Warfarin
How much does SSKI (potassium iodide) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Sski (brand)
$69.75
SSKI (potassium iodide) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because SSKI (potassium iodide) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to iodides
What are alternatives to SSKI (potassium iodide)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of SSKI (potassium iodide). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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