Key points
- Prussian blue is a pill that can help remove radioactive cesium and thallium from people’s bodies.
- Prussian blue traps radioactive material in the intestines and removes it through bowel movements.
- You can only obtain Prussian blue through a doctor.
Treatment overview
Prussian blue traps radioactive cesium and thallium in the intestines to keep them from being absorbed by the body.
These radioactive materials move through the intestines and pass out of the body (excrete) in bowel movements. Getting these materials out of the body helps limit the amount of time they expose the body to radiation.
Prussian blue reduces the biological half-life of cesium from about 110 days to about 30 days and of thallium from about 8 days to about 3 days.
The biological half-life is the amount of time it takes for the radioactive material to leave the body. It is important to quickly remove radioactive material from the body to reduce its harm.
Keen in mind
Taking Prussian blue
Before taking Prussian blue
It is not yet known if Prussian blue is safe for infants (newborn to 2 years old). It is known to be safe for:
- Most adults
- Pregnant people
- Children ages 2 to 12 years
Before taking Prussian blue, tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. Also tell your doctor if you are having:
- Constipation
- Blockages in the intestines
- Other stomach problems
Using Prussian blue
Prussian blue comes in 500-milligram capsules that patients can swallow whole. If you cannot swallow pills, you can break the capsule and mix the contents in food or liquid. This may cause your mouth or teeth to turn blue during treatment.
Side effects
The most common side effects of Prussian blue are upset stomach and constipation. You can easily treat these side effects with other medications.
You may have blue feces (stool) while you take Prussian blue.