Iodine solution?!?! Making me vomit!!

[LJones2703]

I've been given iodine to take for 7 days prior to surgery, surgery is Monday so I've had 2 doses so far today! It's awful! Brown, nasty tasting stuff that leaves my mouth and throat burning! I was actually sick after the last dose! Does it have to be taken in liquid form?? Can I mix it with anything?? Anyone with any tips would be an absolute blessing!! Do I have to take it??? Thanks in advance xx

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I assume the product is Aqueous Iodine Oral Solution?

This is the only product listed on EMC:

medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.25...

You should be diluting it with water or milk?

Being sick afterwards could very well reduce the amount you are receiving.

[I am very glad that I am not in the position of having to take it.)

[LJones2703 in reply to helvella]

This makes so much more sense! I've literally been given a bottle of the stuff with no instructions what so ever! I cannot even explain how awful it is! My mouth and throat are burning and looking at the back of my throats it's red raw! I'm going to call my surgeon tomorrow. My consultant gave me the solution and told me I needed to take it on the day of surgery inclusive however the surgeon said it must be finished the day before! I'm just upset I've not been given more information!! Not very professional is it!! Thank you so much for your reply

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to LJones2703]

In my view, the pharmacy that dispensed it was negligent (seriously so) in letting you have it without a full Patient Information Leaflet. How can you possibly know all about it?

Yes - DO get medical advice - I have no idea what the effect of neat iodine solution could be.

[LJones2703 in reply to helvella]

It was dispensed by the hospital pharmacy too! Maybe they would be a good port of call tomorrow do you think??

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to LJones2703]

You might find this statement supports you:

Patient information leaflets (PILs)

Unless all the information is on the pack, all medicines must include a PIL, regardless of how patients get them. PILs must:

be easy to understand

not contain personal information that can identify an individual, including names of staff members or digital signatures

gov.uk/guidance/medicines-p...

As I read it, that categorically requires a PIL to be supplied. Not optionally. Not "if the patient asks". Not only if pre-packed by a big company.

I would most certainly consider a complaint to the pharmacy, to PALS, to anyone you can get to listen.

[LJones2703 in reply to helvella]

I'm going to do this first thing! Even the label on the front with dosage wasn't completely clear. Once again! Thank you so much

[shaws Administrator in reply to LJones2703]

I think you should put in a complaint. The fact, too, that it was an awful experience for you which is/was completely unnecessary.

[bantam12 in reply to LJones2703]

If you had no instructions how did you decide on the dose to take ? If you have taken too much you should see a doctor asap.

[LJones2703 in reply to bantam12]

It has the usual label on the front of the bottle stating the dose.

[LJones2703]

It's beyond awful, I cannot even begin to explain 🤢

[Davidc555]

Hi I understand as Lugols or liquid Iodine is a strong powerful solution . I take mine with milk which helps me take it without feeling sick. The fat in the milk helps protect the irritation of the stomach. I am on currently 700mg (100 drops of 15% solution ) and the milk helps greatly.

All the best

[LJones2703 in reply to Davidc555]

Do you mix it in the milk?

[Davidc555 in reply to LJones2703]

Yes......then swish it round to mix it with the milk and then drink it. It is much easier to take it this way. You can take Iodine tablets if you prefer but to take this level of Iodine would be expensive for me.

The Iodine group on Facebook with Stephanie Buist will give you all the background information to how much to take and companion nutrients.

I have been doing her protocol for over 2 years now.

Best wishes

David

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Davidc555]

The dosing in this case is highly specific to pre-surgery preparation - I doubt that any general dosing advice is appropriate.

(Though LJones2703 has been badly let down by the system, jumping in a different direction days before surgery is probably not a good idea.)

[LJones2703 in reply to Davidc555]

Thank you for your advice. This is purely a pre-op dose as I'm having thyroidectomy monday

[Davidc555 in reply to LJones2703]

Send me a PM if you want to discuss.

[LJones2703]

Sorry, I didn't have any internet yesterday to get back to you! So I called the hospital pharmacy who said the BNF states that it must be diluted in milk or water prior to taking! I was so cross this information was not given to me! I asked the pharmacist who's responsibility it was to give me all the information, he said they can only write on the label what the consultant wrote on the prescription therefore couldn't write about diluting it on the label along with the dosage instructions. So they basically blamed the Dr, I am going on for surgery Monday so intend to make a complaint! My mouth and throat have been burnt by taking it undiluted so I don't like to think the damage that could've been done had I not had this amazing forum to contact!! Thank you all so much xx

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to LJones2703]

That is hand-washing!

You (patient) CANNOT be expected to know of and consult the BNF. Until recently it wasn't even openly available!

If the pharmacist knew about dilution and failed to tell you, that is disgraceful. I'd argue consumer protection law insists that end users are informed of hazards. And ordinary negligence law means that you are expected to ensure you don't let someone walk into a hazard.

If the pharmacist didn't know, that is disgraceful. After all, self-admittedly, it says so in the BNF!

There is precious little space to write detailed instructions on a prescription form. For most items, a computer system automatically fills in the details. So will the consultant blame that computer system for not adding the "how to take" information?

It all gets back to my point earlier "all medicines must include a PIL, regardless of how patients get them". I argue that statement does not have a let-out clause "unless the consultant bothers to write all details on the prescription" or "if the pharmacist decides it is necessary". I know of nothing that says "you must not give a PIL to a patient"!

Your case is a classic of why PILs arose, and have the requirements they have. It is also typical of the sort of example used in text books on law and pharmacy.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to LJones2703]

Have just looked at the BNF.

bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-f...

bnf.nice.org.uk/about/label...

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/iodide...

As I read it, it states that the product MUST have this label:

Cautionary and advisory labels

Label 27 - Take with a full glass of water

That looks to me like an instruction to the dispenser to put that caution onto the pharmacy label stuck to the product.

[Hidden]

Drink some milk green cap before you take the stuff. Fill glass a quarter full then put teaspoon

of solution how much you need, then pour some milk on top and drink. Don't mix so you only taste

the milk rather than the stuff.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Wishing you well on Monday.

(Has your throat recovered?)