The Various Uses of Potassium Iodide

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Welcome to Adani Pharmachem
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The Various Uses of Potassium Iodide
Potassium iodide is also used as an antithyroid
medication that is used in preparation for a
thyroid removal surgery. It is also used to treat
hyperthyroidism where the thyroid gland becomes
overactive. The medication works by shrinking the
gland and reducing the amount of hormone it
produces.
Potassium iodide is used in a thyroid hormone
uptake blockade in nuclear medicine in
combination with other radioiodinated compounds
such as iobenguane. This is used in a process
called scintigraphy which is a nuclear medicine
diagnostic test.
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The Uses of Potassium Iodide

• Potassium iodide has both medical and industrial
  uses that are known to man.
• Medical Uses

• For medicinal purposes, potassium iodide is very
  commonly used as a dietary supplement. For this,
  potassium iodide manufacturers mix processed
  table salt with potassium iodide to produce
  iodized salt. Iodine is an important component
  that is necessary for the thyroid gland to
  function. The deficiency of iodine in the diet
  can lead to the formation of a goiter. To combat
  this, iodine is provided to people in their diet
  through table salt.
• For patients with lung diseases (asthma,
  bronchitis, etc.), potassium iodide is a commonly
  used drug to break up the mucus blocking the
  airway to allow for easier breathing. This form
  of medication is known as an expectorant.

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Potassium iodide is an approved drug that is
administered to people who may be in danger of
being exposed to nuclear fission products called
radionuclides. Of these radionuclides, a
radioactive isotope of iodine is also commonly
present in the radiation that escapes from a
nuclear reactor, in the event of a leakage or
damage. When non-radioactive iodine, in the form
of potassium iodide, is administered to people in
such situations on a daily basis, it has been
found that the risks of thyroid cancer caused
from the absorption of the radioactive iodine is
significantly lowered. Here, potassium iodide can
protect the thyroid gland by saturating the body
with enough healthy iodine that the radioactive
isotope is simply excreted by the body. However,
potassium iodide can effectively protect the
gland only up to 48 hours after administration,
and must be consumed daily until the threat of an
imminent nuclear fission leakage is no longer an
issue. For this, potassium magnesium citrate must
produce the compound in accordance with the WHO
standards and requirements that are laid down for
a radioactive emergency.
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2. Industrial Uses

• Potassium iodide is used with silver iodide to
  develop photographic plates.
• Potassium iodide is used in biomedical research
  for fluorescent quenching which is a process
  where collisional quenching of fluorescent
  substances with potassium iodide is carried out.
• Potassium iodide, along with iodine, is a
  component of dye sensitized solar cells.
• Potassium iodide is used in the synthesis of aryl
  iodides in a reaction called the Sandmeyer
  reaction. Aryl iodides are used in nucleophilic
  reactions with other organic compounds where the
  iodide ion acts as the leaving group.

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The use of potassium iodide does warrant a level
of caution, as an overdose of this drug can
trigger severe hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
in otherwise healthy people. It can also cause
permanent damage to the thyroid gland if used
excessively. Therefore, all dosages should be
taken only according to the instructions provided
by a certified medical practitioner.
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