iOSAT 130 mg (14) review
iOSAT Potassium Iodide 130 mg, 14 Tablets
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Strength
- 130 mg
- Count
- 14 tablets
- FDA status
- FDA-approved, no prescription
iOSAT 130 mg tablets are on the FDA's list of approved potassium iodide products sold without a prescription. KI protects only the thyroid, and only from radioactive iodine. CDC says not to take it unless public health or emergency officials, or a healthcare provider, tell you to, and that it's recommended only for people under 40 and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Best for
- FDA-approved KI for adults
- Skip it if
- You're over 40 and not pregnant or breastfeeding
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- FDA-approved
- No prescription needed
Worth knowing
- Only for radioactive iodine; take only when told
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Our review
iOSAT 130 mg is a potassium iodide tablet from Anbex that the FDA lists as approved without a prescription. This researched review quotes the label's age doses and warnings, FDA's and CDC's rules on when to take it, what KI does not protect against, and who the tablet is not recommended for.
Read this first: take it only when told
Potassium iodide (KI) is not a general radiation pill. The FDA says KI works only to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland, and is not a general radioprotective agent. CDC says KI protects only the thyroid, and that it does not protect other parts of the body.
CDC's rule is plain: do not take KI unless instructed by public health or emergency response officials or a healthcare provider. The FDA adds that KI should not be taken as a preventative before radiation exposure, and that local officials will say if there is a need. iOSAT's own package insert opens the same way: take KI only when public officials tell you.
What the product is
The tracked listing is iOSAT 130 mg, 14 tablets. The DailyMed label for Anbex's 130 mg tablet lists NDC 51803-001-01 as 14 foil-sealed unit-dose tablets, which matches that pack size. The FDA's list of approved KI products, available without a prescription, names iOSAT 130 mg tablets from Anbex alongside iOSAT 65 mg, ThyroSafe 65 mg and a 65 mg/mL oral solution.
This review is researched, not tested. It relies on the DailyMed label, FDA, CDC and the maker's site, whose home page says FDA approved it in 1982 and calls it made in the USA. Treat the rest of that page as marketing.
Dosing by age, from the label
For the 130 mg tablet, the Drug Facts say: adults over 18 years, 1 tablet daily (130 mg); children over 12 to 18 years weighing at least 150 pounds, 1 tablet; those under 150 pounds, 1/2 tablet (65 mg); children over 3 to 12 years, 1/2 tablet (65 mg). For ages 1 month to 3 years the label gives 32.5 mg and for birth to 1 month 16.25 mg, as directed in the package insert.
The label says not to take more than 1 dose in 24 hours. The FDA says a higher dose, or taking it more often than recommended, does not offer more protection and can cause severe illness or death. The package insert says officials will tell you how many days to take it. The insert lists the mixing steps for small children.
Who should not take it, and who it is for
The label says not to use it if you have ever had an allergic reaction to iodine, or have nodular thyroid disease with heart disease, hypocomplementemic vasculitis or dermatitis herpetiformis. For pregnancy, breastfeeding, a baby up to 1 month or thyroid disease, it says to take it as directed and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
CDC recommends KI only for people younger than 40 and for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Officials or healthcare providers may instruct adults over 40 to take it if predicted exposure is high enough.
What it will not do
CDC says KI is not a treatment and cannot reverse damage already done to the thyroid, and that it may not give 100 percent thyroid protection. It says KI must be taken within 24 hours before or 4 hours after exposure to be most effective. CDC also says it will not help in a nuclear bomb emergency, because fallout carries hundreds of types of radioactive material, and that leaving shelter to seek KI could put you at greater risk.
Ready.gov's advice for any radiation emergency is to get inside, stay inside and stay tuned. Read our potassium iodide guide and fallout shelter guide first, and see our potassium iodide page for the approved products.
Storage, comparison and who should skip it
The label says to store at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F), keep dry and foil intact, protect from light, and not throw away the consumer package insert. The label text we read gives no shelf life, so check the expiration date printed on your pack. The other pick on our page, ThyroSafe, is a 65 mg tablet; the FDA's table gives an adult 2 of the 65 mg tablets, against 1 of the 130 mg.
Skip it if everyone it would cover is over 40 and not pregnant or breastfeeding, since CDC recommends it mainly for younger people, if you are allergic to iodine, or if you wanted something to take in advance. CDC says table salt is no substitute.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: DailyMed: iOSAT potassium iodide tablets 130 mg (Anbex), Drug Facts and package insert; FDA: Frequently Asked Questions on Potassium Iodide (KI); CDC: Potassium Iodide (KI); Anbex: iOSAT; Ready.gov: Nuclear Explosion.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you're over 40 and not pregnant or breastfeeding: CDC doesn't recommend KI for you.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for Smaller 65 mg tablets, easier to split for children
See the comparison →Questions
When should I take iOSAT?
Only when officials or a healthcare provider tell you to. The label says to use it as directed by public officials, and the FDA says it should not be taken beforehand as a preventative.
Does it protect me from all radiation?
No. The FDA says KI works only to prevent radioactive iodine from entering the thyroid gland, and CDC says it protects only the thyroid and no other part of the body.
How many tablets is the adult dose?
The 130 mg label lists 1 tablet (130 mg) daily for adults over 18 years, and says not to take more than 1 dose in 24 hours. Follow officials and the insert for others.
Is iOSAT approved by the FDA?
Yes. The FDA lists iOSAT 130 mg tablets from Anbex among the KI products that are FDA-approved and available without a prescription.