ABSTRACT
T he topic of radiation drugs interests many cross sections of the community, including rst responders, clinicians, and public health professionals, as well as members of the general public. Yet, there are oen misconceptions about these drugs. Do they provide immunity against radiation? Do they cure the eects of radiation injury or provide an antidote for it? How available are they and how do people obtain them? What if people cannot nd them? Just a sampling of news headlines in recent years may explain why the general public and professionals alike might have such questions and how misconceptions can arise from sensational coverage of this topic:
“Approval of radiation drug sought by Pentagon” (• New York Times, December 7, 2001) “Feds stockpiling antiradiation pills; drug called ‘psychological • valium’” (Atlanta Journal Constitution, January 13, 2002) “FDA wants antiradiation drug” (• Wired, February 1, 2003) “Paint pigment Prussian blue may be radiation antidote” (Associated • Press, January 31, 2003) “Antiradiation pills are urged for children” (Associated Press, April • 7, 2003) “Scientists have created a drug which they say could protect people • from the eects of a nuclear attack” (BBC News, April 8, 2003) “Radiation sickness drug developed” (• Washington Post, May 19, 2003) “Radiation sickness drug could save thousands” (• New Scientist, May 20, 2003) “FDA approves dirty-bomb antidote” (Associated Press, October • 17, 2003) “U.S. drops plans for antiradiation drug” (• New Scientist, March 17, 2007) “Drug to protect against radiation” (BBC News, April 10, 2008)•
In fact, health care providers may use several classes of drugs to treat individuals exposed to high doses of radiation or who have large amounts of radioactive contamination in their bodies. ese drugs belong to one of three general categories:
1. palliative care or supportive care drugs used to relieve pain, complications, and side eects of radiation sickness;
2. drugs used to treat exposure to radiation speci cally; and 3. drugs used to block the absorption of radioactive contaminants
into body organs or help excrete or eliminate them from the body.
