Popping potassium iodide already? Really bad idea

[cali]

Poison control centers hear early reports of sickness from preventive pills


As demand spikes for potassium iodide in the wake of Japan’s nuclear crisis, U.S. poison control centers are starting to receive reports of illness in people who’ve ingested the drug aimed at protecting against radiation sickness.

At least seven people have reported reactions to the drug, often called by its chemical name, KI, including two who said they were suffering from serious symptoms including vomiting, racing heart and dizziness or vertigo.

That’s according to Jessica Wehrman, a spokeswoman for the American Association of Poison Control Centers, which tracks reports from 57 poison control centers nationwide.

Radiation has not been detected in the U.S., but some worried Americans are already hoarding the pills — and apparently taking them already — as a precaution. Wehrman said poison control centers have received nearly 130 queries about protection against radiation exposure and the crisis in Japan.

<snip>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42135438/ns/health-health_care/

[Egnever]

1. Do we know any of those 7?

did they have large hordes of milk too?

[cali]

2. cut it out.

we don't need to to bring that shit into this thread.

okay?

:hi:

[Yo_Mama]

6. Mean, but

I laughed, and I really needed the humor. But now I feel guilty for laughing....

In all honesty, reading some of the news coverage could easily have confused some people into thinking they were about to be irradiated and needed the pills. Especially the bogus fallout map.

[Modern_Matthew]

13. ROFL. nt

[Statistical]

18. Made me chuckle. n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

33. LOL! My first thought as well.

[HuckleB]

3. I've been diluting it in milk to 30C. Should I be worried?

:shrug:

[cali]

4. beats me. I don't know the first thing about it. I'm just posting an article

[SidDithers]

8. ROFL...

30C? You should be OK.

Might want to stock up on your Excrementum can. tho :)

Sid

[Tesha]

21. Do you think you've ingested a KI molecule yet? (NT)

[HuckleB]

23. I've been pounding two gallons a day.

What do you think?

;)

[gkhouston]

25. Pounding milk? Um, is that a phrase I should look up in the Urban Dictionary?

:blush:

[HuckleB]

27. Well, my version is G rated.

:hi:

[slackmaster]

28. Damn, HuckleB!

You get a hearty guffaw for that one!

[HuckleB]

34. Gracias! -eom-

[Lynx]

5. This is so ridiculous

You do. Not need. Those pills. They will only make a bad situation worse.

In 2001, a place I had to visit often, had a report of anthrax in the mail room. Everybody wanted Cipro. With so much hysteria going around, it was hard to get real scientific information. But I did learn that under the circumstances, my chances of getting anthrax were less than eensy-teensy. My chances of getting sick from the side effects of Cipro were sky-high.
Who needs that?

[Warpy]

15. Welcome to DU

and yes, your thyroid doesn't actually appreciate the extra iodine and can go into overdrive; plus, the extra potassium can build up and cause problems, too, like death.

It's best to take it only if you really need it and under medical supervision.

[superduperfarleft]

7. This is why people should not be giving out medical advice on the internet.

I could have already seen this coming...

[Old and In the Way]

9. If republicans have their way, those Poison Control Centers will be shut down.

Problem solved!

[readmoreoften]

10. +1

[Johonny]

11. only use homeopathic potassium iodide

much safer, taste like water.

warning consuming too much may cause drowning.

[formercia]

20. +1000

to counter Homeopathic Iodine Isotope.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Or water intoxication. . .

That's when the water remembers "back in the day" when it was a lovely pint.



and ended up here....

[Azathoth]

12. This country is hopeless n/t

[katnapped]

19. It's not just us though

I read that people in China are hoarding SALT.

[seabeyond]

14. another expert on RM show says the hoarding causing severe shortage for people most in need in japan

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x564127

[pokerfan]

16. Meh, don't listen to the experts

Those MDs and PhDs just want to make you sick! :sarcasm:

TOR: What month were you born?
GEORGE: April.
TOR: You should have been born in August. Your parents would have been well-advised to wait.
GEORGE: Really?
TOR: Do you use hot water in the shower?
GEORGE: Yes.
TOR: Stop using it.
GEORGE: ..Okay.
KRAMER: I'm off hot water.
TOR: Kramer tells me that you are interested in an alternative to surgery.
GEORGE: Yes, yes I am.
TOR: (Blows into George's face) I think we can help you. See, unfortunately, the medical establishment is a business like any other business. And business needs customers. And, they want to sell you their most expensive item which is unnecessary surgery.
GEORGE: (Still on the showers) Can I use hot water on my face?
TOR: No. You know, I am not a business man. I'm a holistic healer. It's a calling, it's a gift. You see, it's in the best interest of the medical profession that you remain sick. You see, that insures good business. You're not a patient. You're a customer.
JERRY: (we can hear his thoughts) And you're not a doctor, but you play one in real life.
GEORGE: (Still on the hot water) What about shaving?
TOR: (To Jerry) You're eating too much dairy. (To George) May I? (Reaches over, and touches George's face)
GEORGE: I guess so.
TOR: (Feeling George's face) You see, you are in disharmony. The throat is the gateway to the lung. Tonsillitis, adenoiditis, is, in Chinese medical terms, and invasion of heat and wind.
JERRY: (Again, we hear his thoughts) There's some hot air blowing in here...

[ikri]

17. Red wine > potassium iodine

It works far better than potassium iodine.

Besides which, if you overindulge in red wine you'll stop giving a shit about radiation poisoning.

[cbdo2007]

22. Radiation is already in Chicago. It's coming to your house next!!!

[gkhouston]

24. Tell it to wait! I haven't finished the vaccuuming and the house is a mess!! n/t

[seabeyond]

32. that is funny. nt

[Johonny]

26. Why does Bill Cosby's Chicken heart routine come to mind

[Maru Kitteh]

29. OK I want you people to understand something NOW! I am going to tell you something in FRENCH - OK?

You have to take the pills with special triage milk or they don't work. FRENCH!

[Canuckistanian]

30. I hear drinking boric acid works better

And none of this weaksauce "drugstore" boric acid - go directly to the industrial chemical supply stores.

That'll fix you up. But keep it under your hat - everyone will want it.