Rajkummar Rao once drank half a bottle of Betadine because of Janhvi Kapoor; know what happens to the body after

She added, “Next day I even asked him, ‘How are you feeling?’ and he said, ‘Yes, it is cured completely.’ I asked him how many times did he gargle and he said, ‘No no I drank half the bottle.’ I was like, ‘Why did you drink it?’”

The Great Indian Kapil Show recently featured Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao as guests. (Pic: netflix India/X)

Dr Rajeev Gupta, Director-Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said ingesting half a bottle of Betadine, which contains povidone-iodine, glycerin, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, citric acid, saccharin, and peppermint, can be hazardous.

“This can lead to renal failure, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte disturbances such as hyperthyroidism and hyponatremia due to high iodine levels,” Dr Gupta explained.

He added that it may cause local gastrointestinal irritation, resulting in symptoms like diarrhoea, burning in the epigastrium, and vomiting. It can also exacerbate conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and thyroid disorders.

It can also cause electrolyte imbalances, such as hyponatremia can occur, affecting overall cellular function and potentially leading to serious health issues. According to Dr Gupta, conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis may be aggravated after ingesting Betadine, also it might disrupt the body’s acid-base balance.

Can there be any long-term risks?

Dr Gupta pointed out the long-term risks of ingesting Betadine:

• Persistent hyperthyroidism due to high iodine levels can lead to chronic thyroid dysfunction.
• Renal failure may require long-term dialysis or lead to permanent kidney damage.
• Chronic metabolic acidosis can affect various bodily functions and require ongoing medical management.
• Long-term gastrointestinal issues and exacerbation of respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic bronchitis can also result from such an incident.

Therefore, ingestion of Betadine poses serious immediate and long-term health risks and one must not do so, even as a prank, the doctor warned.