#1.)  It's Not Necessary.  Most experts have said there's almost no chance that large amounts of radioactive material will show up in United States.  President Obama said it too . . . and you believe him, right?

So unless you're a conspiracy theorist, that should be reason enough to not take potassium iodide pills.  And while the pills are generally considered safe, there are a few health concerns.

For example, they can interact with certain medications, like blood thinners.  And you also shouldn't give them to kids unless you're 100% sure they're not allergic to iodine.

Allergic reactions to potassium iodide pills can include rashes, hives, swelling of the throat, fever, joint pain, and in rare cases, even death.

#2.)  It Offers Limited Protection Anyway.  Potassium iodide prevents radioactive iodine from invading your thyroid gland, but that's it.

It doesn't protect against other radioactive elements like cesium (--pronounced SEE-zee-um).  That's being released from the damaged nuclear plant too.

So, if there WAS enough radiation floating around in the air to cause health problems, the pills would protect you from getting cancer in your thyroid, but the rest of your body would still be at risk.

#3.)  The Pills Might Be Fake.  According to the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control, a lot of the pills people are buying don't actually work.

Only three products have been approved by the FDA to combat radiation exposure:  Iosat tablets, ThyroSafe tablets, and ThyroShield solution.

If it's not one of those, there's no guarantee that what you're paying for would help, even if large amounts of radiation DID reach the U.S.