Taking the tablets on an empty stomach may lead to an irritation of the stomach lining.

In rare cases, the intake of iodine tablets may trigger allergic reactions, such as: skin rash, itching and burning eyes, a cold, dry cough, diarrhoea, headache, high temperature or similar symptoms.

In individual cases the intake of iodine tablets may cause an iodine-related thyroid-hyperfunction. Symptoms can include an accelerated pulse, sweating, insomnia, shakiness, diarrhoea or weight loss. Please contact your General Practitioner (GP) should you notice any of these symptoms.

Persons who suffer or suffered from thyroid-hyperfunction should only take iodine tablets after having consulted their attending doctor.

When should potassium iodide not be taken?

If you or your child has been diagnosed with the following diseases or allergies, you or your children must not take any iodine tablets:

  • Intolerance to iodine (this rare type of allergy must not be confused with the much more frequent allergy to radiopaque material);
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring, also called Duhring-Brocq-Disease (a chronic skin disease whose symptoms include itching, skin eruptions, skin redness, hives and small blisters);
  • Hypocomplementaemic vasculitis (a disease of inflamed blood vessels caused by an allergic reaction).

If you are not certain whether you suffer from any of the above diseases please contact your GP.