Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start receiving this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. You must use two forms of birth control together for at least 6 months after using this medicine. Use birth control pills together with another form of birth control, such as a condom, diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

If you are receiving sodium iodide I 131 for an overactive thyroid or cancer of the thyroid, your doctor may tell you to follow some or all of these guidelines for 48 to 96 hours after receiving the medicine, to help reduce the chance of contaminating other persons:

  • Do not kiss anyone, or handle or use another person's eating or drinking utensils, toothbrush, or bathroom glass.
  • Do not have sex.
  • Do not sit close to others, especially pregnant women, and do not hold children in your lap for long periods of time.
  • Sleep alone.
  • Wash the tub and sink after each use (including after brushing teeth).
  • Wash your hands after using or cleaning the toilet.
  • Use a separate towel and washcloth.
  • Wash your clothes, bed linens, and eating utensils separately.
  • Sodium iodide I 131 is passed in the urine. To prevent contamination of your home, flush the toilet twice after you urinate.

If you were treated with sodium iodide I 131 for an overactive thyroid, your doctor may want to check the level of thyroid hormone in your blood every 2 to 3 months during the first year, and once a year thereafter. This is to make sure that your thyroid has not become underactive.

This medicine may cause allergic reactions. Check with your doctor right away if you have a rash, hives, itching, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of the eyes, face, lips after receiving the medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk for cancer or thyroid problems. Talk with your doctor about these risks. You may need to take other medicine with this medicine to prevent thyroid problems.

You will be exposed to dangers of radiation while using this medicine. Talk to your doctor about this risk and the precautions that you might need to take.

This medicine might cause temporary infertility in both men and women. Discuss this with your doctor if you plan to have children.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.