Colorless (almost white) cubic crystals or a fine crystalline white powder, salty and bitter in taste, but odorless, is potassium iodine. It is very damp in humid and warm air. Easily soluble in ordinary water, alcohol, glycerin.
Potassium iodine is perfectly absorbed by the digestive tract, and is excreted mainly by the kidneys.
Most often iodine preparations are used.
- with endemic goiter, hyperthyroidism, to prepare for various operations with pronounced forms of thyrotoxicosis;
- for eye diseases (opacification of the vitreous body and cornea, cataract, hemorrhage in the membranes of the eyes);
- with inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, severe bronchial asthma;
- with fungal lesions on the conjunctiva and cornea.
An important property of potassium iodide is its ability to effectively prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland and to provide its protection against radiation.
Take this drug inside in the form of solutions, tablets, drops and potions. In order to avoid irritation, the gastrointestinal tract is washed down with milk, sweet tea or kissel.
Potassium iodide solutions are never injected into a vein due to the inhibitory effect of potassium ions on the heart.
As an adjuvant, potassium iodine is prescribed for seriously ill syphilis (most often in the tertiary period). This drug helps to reduce pain, resorption of infiltrates. Also prescribed for the treatment of actinomycosis of the lungs.
Ophthalmological practice uses, as a "resolving" agent, eye drops "Potassium iodine" in the form of a 3% solution. Instill 2 drops a couple of times / day in the conjunctival sac. The duration of such treatment is 10-14 days.
If there is a threat of possible ingestion of radioactive iodine into the human body, doctors prescribe 0.125 g once a day for children older than 2 years and adults for reliable protection against thyroid irradiation; small children (under 2 years old) - 0.04 g once a day. The tablet is crushed and served with a little sweet tea or jelly.
Take the drug daily until the complete disappearance of threats to the intake of radioactive iodine.
When using the drug "Potassium iodine" there may be some kind of iodism: a runny nose, Quincke's edema, urticaria, etc., and when taken internally - unpleasant sensations, slight pains in the epigastric region are possible.
This drug is contraindicated in nephritis, nephrosis, hemorrhagic diathesis, pulmonary tuberculosis, furunculosis, pyoderma, urticaria, acne, hypersensitivity to iodine itself, pregnancy.
Drops "Potassium iodine"
The active substance of drops of potassium iodine is potassium iodide (in 1 ml of a solution of 20 mg). Additional substances: sodium thiosulfate, chlorhexidine diacetate, sodium chloride, purified water, disodium edetan.
Iodine is excreted very slowly from the body. Potassium iodine (an ionic inorganic compound) is not metabolized at all. Single compounds are excreted by the kidneys.
The drug "Potassium iodide" is usually used
- to maintain complex resorption processes in the eyes, especially exudate,
- with changes in the vessels of the choroid and retina of the eyeball ,
- with hemorrhages and cataracts of various etiologies, cataracts of the initial stage, atrophy of the optic nerve, parenchymal keratitis.
It is also used as an additional tool in the treatment of keratitis and fungic conjunctivitis. The drug can be used by children, adolescents and adults.
Typically, potassium iodide is very well tolerated. Immediately after instillation, a temporary burning sensation may occur. Uncontrolled long-term use of the drug can lead to the so-called "iodism", manifestations of which are redness and irritation, increased tearing, swelling of the eyelids.
Contraindications: chronic pyoderma of the facial skin, hypersensitivity to certain components, pregnancy and feeding, hemorrhagic diathesis. Can not be used to treat newborns.