| Download the amazing global Makindo app: ✅ Means NICE/National Guidelines 2026 compliant Android | Apple | |
|---|---|
| MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Educational use only. Not for diagnosis or management. See below for full disclaimer. |
Lugol iodine 💊
ℹ️ About
Always check the BNF link here 📖 for the latest guidance.
⚙️ Mode of Action
- High-dose iodide acutely inhibits release of thyroid hormones (T3/T4) from the thyroid gland (“Wolff–Chaikoff effect”).
- Also reduces thyroid vascularity and size → useful pre-thyroidectomy.
💊 Indications & Dose
- Thyroid storm: Lugol’s iodine 5–10 drops (≈0.25–0.5 ml; ~8 mg iodine/drop) or 1 ml PO/NG every 6–8 hours. ⚠️ Must be started ≥1 hour after carbimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU) to block new hormone synthesis first.
- Pre-operative preparation: Used short-term before thyroidectomy to reduce gland size/vascularity.
⚠️ Interactions
- See BNF - interactions with lithium, amiodarone, and other iodine-containing preparations.
🔎 Cautions
- See BNF - caution in patients with tuberculosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, or vasculitis.
🚫 Contraindications
- See BNF - e.g. hypersensitivity to iodine, certain dermatological or pulmonary conditions.
❗ Side Effects
- See BNF - may include rash, salivary gland swelling, gastrointestinal upset, “iodism” (metallic taste, burning mouth, sore teeth/gums, rhinorrhoea, eye irritation).
📚 References
📝 Revisions
- Updated: [insert date]
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
|
|
Categories
- A Level
- About
- Acute Medicine
- Anaesthetics and Critical Care
- Anatomy
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Book
- Cardiology
- Collections
- CompSci
- Crib Sheets
- Dental
- Dermatology
- Differentials
- Drugs
- ENT
- Education
- Electrocardiogram
- Embryology
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Ethics
- Foundation Doctors
- GCSE
- Gastroenterology
- General Practice
- Genetics
- Geriatric Medicine
- Guidelines
- Gynaecology
- Haematology
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infographic
- Investigations
- Lists
- MRCP
- Mandatory Training
- Medical Students
- Microbiology
- Nephrology
- Neu
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Nutrition
- OSCE
- OSCEs
- Obstetrics
- Obstetrics Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Oral Medicine and Dentistry
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Palliative
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Procedures
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Resuscitation
- Revision
- Rheumatology
- Statistics and Research
- Stroke
- Surgery
- Toxicology
- Trauma and Orthopaedics
- USMLE
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery