I have been besieged by questions about Iodoral. Iodoral is made by Optimox. Full disclosure: I have never had any financial interest in Optimox or any company that manufactures or supplies iodine.
Here’s the story as I know it. Sometime over the summer, Optimox ceased production of Iodoral due to maintenance on their equipment. As would be expected, shortages of Iodoral developed.
Unscrupulous people and companies began selling Iodoral for hundred’s of dollars over the true retail value. They should be shunned for taking advantage of patients at a time of need. Please, do not purchase products from people who have charged outrageous amounts for Iodoral.
However, there is no need to panic as iodine is readily available. The old standby is Lugol’s solution—it is still available. I have recommended 5% Lugol’s solution for well over 10 years. This is what I have written about in my book. I recommend 5% Lugol’s solution which provides 6.25mg of a combination of iodine and iodide per drop.
I have tested two other brands of tableted iodine and found them to be good products. Lugo Tabs from Hakala Nutritionals and Iodozyme HP from Biotics Research have both tested well. Both companies are (IMHO) ethical and strive to put out excellent products. I cannot recommend their products enough. Full disclosure: I have no financial interest in either company.
When Iodoral comes back on the market, my office will carry it. As of now, we carry Lugol’s solution, Lugo Tabs and Iodozyme HP—they are all available at my office; store.centerforholisticmedicine.com.
However, there is no need to panic as there are alternatives. One note of caution: There are many companies that sell cheaper versions of a company’s products on web sites like Amazon. I have tested some of these products and found them to be adulterated. Just because they have a company’s label does not mean that a company’s product is in that bottle. When buying a certain company’s product, it is best to buy from a reputable source. In this case, a cheaper version is not always better.
DrB
How is the iodine from the suggested forms compared with the Iodine from kelp? I have been consuming Kelp from a particular seaweed that is harvested off the coast of Norway in the Arctic Circle. I have chosen this product because it is a natural form of Iodine plus it contains minerals. More information can be fund on the following website:
http://www.hsu.com/kelp.htm
Please advice. Do you see any issues continuing with the Kelp over Lugols or Iodoral?
Tom,
Good question. If the kelp is grown in a clean area, it can be a good source of iodine. However, if it is grown in a polluted area, then it can be contaminated with bromine and/or fluoride.
With our continuing exposure to bromine and fluoride, I am not sure there is enough iodine in kelp to protect the glandular tissues–thyroid, ovaries, uterus, breast, prostate and pancreas.
DrB
Ioderal has been a life saver for me. I had a problem with a loud heart beat. I increased my Iodoral from 37.5 by one more pill a day and all the problem went away. I did that per your book on iodine and I feel great Thank you Betty murphy
sir!
I also looked for Iodoral but it was in shortage and my order was cancelled can u plz tell me if taking j c crows lugol is okay to consume ?
Thanks
Iodoral is back. My office has it in stock: http://www.centerforholisticmedicine.com
DrB
Yikes! Iodoral stopped the pains in my heart, which all regular MD’s said was micro-value-prolaps syndrome . However, you told me I had no Iodine in my system. After starting Iodoral, I have not had a pain since. Will the Lugol’s tabs work the same way? What do you suggest?
What do you do if you are allergic to Iodine
Rosemary,
Very few people are allergic to inorganic, non-radioactive iodine–though many think they are. NAET is an acupressure technique which can help overcome allergies. To find a practitioner, go to: http://www.naet.com.
DrB
I noticed Iodoral was not available this summer and reached out on a Facebook group where I found out about Lugo Tab by Hakala Nutritionals. The appearance is similar, but a bit different than Iodoral and seem almost burned. I hope they are OK. We prefer the tablets vs Lugol’s. Question, though, about the Lugol’s. One drop=6.25 mg ?? Somewhere I had the idea a dropperful=6.25 mg. If it’s really just a drop, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. I was probably using too much! No wonder I prefer the tablets. Please comment to verify the Lugol’s is just one drop vs a vertical or horizontal drop. It’s a bit confusing. Thanks for all you do!
Could you please comment specifically on the “ionic” form, sold as, for example, Nascent Iodine? This question has been asked before, but I’m not sure that you really answered the question. I personally don’t see how the iodine could remain in an ionic form for long, so I am curious as to whether this is a product that is misleading consumers.
Pam,
Like you, I also don’t get it.
DrB
Kathy, I have used the ionic form in the past and had really good noticable results and I had Hoshimotos at the time also.
This a very honest person/ Doctor; a very rare commodity in human nature. I have read about the need for Iodine
before but now it has been hidden from view.
Good job Dr. Brownstein
Thank you for responding to this issue, as I have been experiencing difficulty getting product. Can you perhaps also comment on whether the ionic form of iodine is helpful or more easily absorbed. I had bought the ionic form since I could not find the Optimax Iodoral in stock for several months.
Kathy,
Lugol’s solution and tableted Lugol’s solution (as mentioned in my post) are absorbed well.
DrB
Do you need Iodine even if your thyroid has been removed? I am 80 years old, and my thyroid was removed when I was 30 years old. I am taking Armour at 60 mg/day. Thank you for making all of your information available to us.
Marilyn,
See my comment above,
DrB
How could this be true. I am aghast. Do you mean that a reputable company would allow their products to be sold with the same label but without the same ingredients or same quallity? Isn’t this illegal?
Susan,
The reputable companies do not allow this. This is done by unethical people.
DrB
Just wanted to mention that the price of Armoir Thyroid medication has sky rocketed too. I called to refill my RX for a three months supply which is 270 tablets 30 mg each and the pharmacy said it would be around $160.00. Fortunately through my insurance I paid $71.23. Still not good since my last Rx for this same amount for 3 months supply was $36.00 thru my insurance. The price has gone up everywhere I have checked. What is going on with this?
Gerry,
Naturethroid from RLC labs is priced more reasonably. It is a desiccated source of thyroid glandular, similar to Armour. I don’t prescribe much Armour thyroid anymore.
DrB