Do RadX and RadAway from Fallout exist in real life? How do we medically prevent and treat radiation poisoning?

Question

Do RadX and RadAway from Fallout exist in real life? How do we medically prevent and treat radiation poisoning?

In: 192

Answer 1

RadX kind of exists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amifostine

How this works: Radiation harms you by splitting the water molecules in your cells. The split parts (like OH-) can then oxidize and damage your DNA. Radioprotective molecules like the one I linked remove these oxidative parts before they can do damage.

This is used in radiation therapy to protect healthy cells when irradiating a tumor. I don’t know if it can be/is used in other contexts. (Also, this only really works against gamma radiation, alpha and beta (I think) can damage DNA directly)