While your body gets rid of the radioactive iodine, you’ll need to take precautions to keep others safe. Radioactive iodine leaves your body in your urine, sweat, and saliva. For three weeks, limit your contact with babies, young children and pregnant women and stay away from crowded places where you’d be close to others for a long time. And don’t share a bed or prepare food for others.
See our section on treatment of overactive thyroid for more information on radioactive iodine treatment.