Iodine Cautions
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General warnings and precautions
Certain people should not take iodine supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice:
- People with hyperthyroidism
- People taking lithium for any health condition
Acute toxicity of iodine from taking too much in iodine supplements - over 2,000mcg can cause the following symptoms:
- Hypersensitivity
- Stomach irritation
- Swollen heart tissue
Toxic Levels of Iodine
Iodine is toxic at doses greater than 2000mcg (2mg) per day.
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Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms
Acute toxicity from taking too much in iron supplements - over 100mg can cause the following symptoms:
- Extreme tiredness or weakness
- Fever
- Numbness and tingling in hands or feet
- Severe abdominal pain
- Skin rash
- Swelling of salivary glands *
* People who experience the highlighted symptoms should seek immediate emergency treatment.
Chronic toxicity of iodine from taking higher than the therapeutic dose of iodine supplements for a long time can cause the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Brassy or metallic taste in the mouth
- Burning in the mouth or throat
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased salivation
- Skin rash
- Sore teeth and gums
People who experience any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their iodine supplements and see their doctor for advice.
Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of iodine is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.