Last update Aug. 18, 2021

Iodine (as Thyroid Drug: Miligrams)

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Potassium iodide and other iodine salts in high doses of milligrams (1 milligram = 1,000 micrograms) are used as treatment in iodine deficiency, hyperthyroidism and radioactive protection of the thyroid.

Administering iodine to the mother increases the concentration of iodine in breast milk (Hamada 2017, Leung 2012). Iodine reaches concentrations in milk more than 20 times higher than in blood.
Iodine intakes greater than 500 micrograms per day are considered not to be recommended (Alexander 2017, Leung 2015).

Excessive iodine administration in normothyroid mothers has caused transient subclinical hypothyroidism in their breastfed infants (Hamada 2017, Chung 2009, Kurtoğlu 2009, Smith 2006, Casteels 2000).

Twenty-three hyperthyroid mothers with Graves’ disease treated with 50 mg (50,000 micrograms) of potassium iodide daily, had an iodine concentration in breast milk of 15 mg/L (15,000 micrograms/L), one hundred times higher than necessary (150 micrograms/L) to ensure the infant’s iodine needs (Manousou 2021, Nazeri 2018, Ares 2015). Despite this, only one of their 26 breastfed children showed laboratory signs of subclinical hypothyroidism (Hamada 2017).

Although there are better alternatives (methimazole, propranolol, beta-blockers, dexamethasone ...), if a high dose of iodine is used to treat a thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm) it is recommended to wait 24 to 48 hours before breastfeeding again, meanwhile expressing and discarding the milk (Hale).

Iodine is only compatible with breastfeeding if it is used as a nutritional supplement at microgram doses and in the standard treatment of mothers with iodine deficiency, analytically monitoring the infant.

Iodine is also used in treatments as an antiseptic, in expectorant products and in an antiarrhythmic (amiodarone).


See below the information of these related products:

  • Amiodarone (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Antiseptic, disinfectant iodine (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Fucus (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Iodinated Glycerol (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Iodine (nutritional supplement; micrograms) (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Iodine-131 (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Povidone-Iodine (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)
  • Seaweed (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Iodine (as Thyroid Drug: Miligrams).

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Iodine (as Thyroid Drug: Miligrams) is also known as


Group

Iodine (as Thyroid Drug: Miligrams) belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Iodine (as Thyroid Drug: Miligrams) in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 100 %
Molecular weight 166 daltons
M/P ratio 15 - 26 -

References

  1. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on April 10, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  2. Manousou S, Augustin H, Eggertsen R, Hulthén L, Filipsson Nyström H. Inadequate iodine intake in lactating women in Sweden: A pilot 1-year, prospective, observational study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2021 Jan;100(1):48-57. Abstract
  3. Nazeri P, Kabir A, Dalili H, Mirmiran P, Azizi F. Breast-Milk Iodine Concentrations and Iodine Levels of Infants According to the Iodine Status of the Country of Residence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Thyroid. 2018 Jan;28(1):124-138. Abstract
  4. Hamada K, Mizokami T, Maruta T, Higashi K, Konishi K, Momotani N, Tajiri J. Effects of Inorganic Iodine Therapy Administered to Lactating Mothers With Graves Disease on Infant Thyroid Function. J Endocr Soc. 2017 Sep 19;1(10):1293-1300. Abstract
  5. Alexander EK, Pearce EN, Brent GA, Brown RS, Chen H, Dosiou C, Grobman WA, Laurberg P, Lazarus JH, Mandel SJ, Peeters RP, Sullivan S. 2017 Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and the Postpartum. Thyroid. 2017 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  6. Ares Segura S, Arena Ansótegui J, Díaz-Gómez NM; en representación del Comité de Lactancia Materna de la Asociación Española de Pediatría. La importancia de la nutrición materna durante la lactancia, ¿necesitan las madres lactantes suplementos nutricionales? [The importance of maternal nutrition during breastfeeding: Do breastfeeding mothers need nutritional supplements?] An Pediatr (Barc). 2015 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  7. Leung AM, Avram AM, Brenner AV, Duntas LH, Ehrenkranz J, Hennessey JV, Lee SL, Pearce EN, Roman SA, Stagnaro-Green A, Sturgis EM, Sundaram K, Thomas MJ, Wexler JA. Potential risks of excess iodine ingestion and exposure: statement by the american thyroid association public health committee. Thyroid. 2015 Feb;25(2):145-6. Abstract
  8. Leung AM, Braverman LE, He X, Heeren T, Pearce EN. Breastmilk iodine concentrations following acute dietary iodine intake. Thyroid. 2012 Nov;22(11):1176-80. Abstract
  9. Chung HR, Shin CH, Yang SW, Choi CW, Kim BI. Subclinical hypothyroidism in Korean preterm infants associated with high levels of iodine in breast milk. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Nov;94(11):4444-7. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  10. Kurtoğlu S, Akın L, Akın MA, Çoban D. Iodine overload and severe hypothyroidism in two neonates. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2009;1(6):275-7. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  11. Smith VC, Svoren BM, Wolfsdorf JI. Hypothyroidism in a breast-fed preterm infant resulting from maternal topical iodine exposure. J Pediatr. 2006 Oct;149(4):566-7. Abstract
  12. Casteels K, Pünt S, Brämswig J. Transient neonatal hypothyroidism during breastfeeding after post-natal maternal topical iodine treatment. Eur J Pediatr. 2000 Sep;159(9):716-7. No abstract available. Abstract

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