FAQ

This section provides information about the distribution, storage and effect of iodine tablets and about what you should do if a serious incident involving a nuclear power plant occurs.

You can download a PDF document containing all the questions and answers.

Taking the tablets

Iodine tablets should be taken with plenty of liquid and preferably not on an empty stomach. They can be made easier to swallow by dissolving them in a drink of your choice. This solution cannot be kept for any length of time and should therefore not be prepared until shortly before it is taken. It is also possible to crush the tablets and mix them into yoghurt. 

Radioactive iodine will get into the thyroid gland and expose it to radiation from the inside, and in this way can damage it. This can lead to thyroid cancer. Children and adolescents are at higher risk of developing thyroid cancer as a result of exposure to radioactive iodine.

The blisters are protected by a white child-resistant film. This must be removed first. The tablets are then easy to press out of the blister.

  • Adults: Take 2 tablets at once per day
  • Newborn babies (also breastfed infants of treated mothers) up to 1 month old: ¼ tablet once
  • Children between 2 months and 3 years old: ½ tablet per day
  • Children between 4 and 12 years old: 1 tablet per day
  • Children over 12 (like adults): Take 2 tablets at once per day
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women: 2 tablets at once per day, on a maximum of 2 days

 

The authorities will communicate the length of time for which the tablets should be taken. The above restrictions apply to pregnant and breastfeeding women and to newborn babies up to 1 month old even if the authorities order children and adults to take these tablets for several days in succession. Newborn babies are given ¼ of a tablet just once, pregnant and breastfeeding women take 2 tablets on a maximum of 2 days.

Iodine tablets are not recommended for people over 45 years of age. People over 45 who are considering taking iodine tablets if an incident occurs can obtain further information from their doctor, pharmacy or drugstore.

No.

Each pack of potassium iodide 65 SERB tablets contains more tablets than one person needs if an incident occurs. This means that, should an incident occur, everyone will be able to provide others, e.g. relatives, friends, neighbours or visitors, with tablets should they not have their own with them. In addition, this enables tablets to be provided for people who are only in the municipality for a short time, or who have only recently moved to the municipality, or who do not have their own iodine tablets for other reasons.