Hey there folks. I started Iodine 3 weeks ago. Dosing went as follows (using Lugol's 2%, assuming 3 mg/drop)

Week 1:
5 days on - 9 mg/day
2 days off
bad breath, Body Odor , runny nose

Week 2:
4 days on - 12 mg/day
3 days off
same symptoms as above (but milder) + mild frontal sinus headache

Week 3:
2 days on - 18 mg/day
5 days off
started with vit C (1500 mg/day), B complex (niacin 300 mg/day), and salt water
same symptoms as above (but milder) + headless pimple

That headless pimple popped up the day after I started with the vit B+C. Surely a coincidence, right? Once it appeared I decided to take a break.

If I ramp up the Iodine more slowly, can I avoid these symptoms (particularly the pimples)? The pimple is just starting to go away after five days. In the future, how long a break should I take after seeing pimples? I'm planning to go 5 days on, 2 days off, increasing by 3mg/week.

How necessary are the companion nutrients I've seen suggested (particularly here: http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iprotocol.html
)?

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Edit: Seeing Mariusz's post, I might as well add: I'm also taking Vit D3 5000 IU/day, Omega 3's (DHA + EPA) 1000 mg/day. I get lots of animal protein, fruits, veggies, raw milk; minimize grains, eat mostly organic.


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Edit 2: I started back up on Iodine today, will shoot for 12 mg/day for the next week.


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Edit 3: I coincidentally had some job-related blood work done and asked my doc to test my lipid and thyroid numbers. My TSH has fluctuated in the 2-10 range over the past few years, but this time it came back at 15. I know the iodine docs say not to worry about that (so I'm not), but my LDL also came back higher than usual at 105. In the past it's never been over 80. Is this something to worry about? I'm a 28 year old male.