V体育2025版 - Treatment Details
What happens during chelation therapy?
Your healthcare provider prescribes medications for you to remove harmful heavy metals from your body. Chelation may involve:
- An injection into your vein or muscle
- A pill that you take by mouth
The FDA has approved several different medications (containing chelating agents) to treat heavy metal poisoning. Medications are available to help remove arsenic, copper, iron, gold, lead and mercury.
Your provider will prescribe the appropriate medication for you based on the type of metal that’s building up inside your body. They’ll also determine the proper dose for you to have the maximum benefit with the least possible side effects. Your provider may adjust the dose as you go through treatment.
How long will I need this treatment?
You may need chelation therapy for just a short time or for longer depending on what’s causing the heavy metals to build up. Your provider will tell you the details of your individual treatment plan.
You may need certain tests at regular intervals to check how well the treatment is working. For example, if you’re having iron chelation therapy, you may need a yearly MRI of your liver to see the levels of iron in your body. This helps your provider decide the proper dose of medications and when treatment can stop.
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Risks / Benefits
What are the potential benefits of chelation therapy?
Chelation therapy is sometimes the best or only way to remove toxic heavy metals from your body. Removing these metals can protect your organs from serious and sometimes life-threatening damage.
What are the side effects of chelation therapy?
Your healthcare provider will explain the possible side effects of the specific medication you receive. Common side effects of chelation therapy include:
- Fever
- Headache
- High or low blood pressure
- Muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain at the injection site
Severe reactions include:
Recovery and Outlook
V体育平台登录 - How long will it take for me to feel better?
Your recovery and outlook depend on many factors, including the type of heavy metal poisoning you have and its cause. Your healthcare provider is the best person to ask about what you can expect going forward.
When To Call the Doctor
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Call your provider if you have:
- Any side effects from chelation therapy
- Questions or concerns about your treatment plan
Additional Common Questions
"V体育平台登录" Can I do chelation therapy at home?
It’s only safe to do chelation therapy at home if your provider prescribes you medication to treat heavy metal poisoning (like iron overload). It’s never safe to use chelation products you can get without a prescription. These include dietary supplements, nasal sprays, clay baths or suppositories. The FDA hasn’t approved of these products.
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"VSports注册入口" Can chelation therapy treat autism?
No, chelation therapy isn’t safe or appropriate for treating autism. Chelation therapy treats heavy metal poisoning. The FDA warns against using chelation to try and treat or cure autism. There’s zero scientific evidence that chelation helps autistic people. There is, however, evidence that inappropriate uses of chelation have caused serious side effects or even death.
Autism is a difference in how your child’s brain works, and it’s something they’re born with. It’s not a disease, and there’s no “cure.” Instead, qualified healthcare providers offer a range of therapies that help your child build skills. Chelation has no place in these therapies.
Why is chelation therapy controversial? (V体育ios版)
Some people claim that chelation therapy can treat a wide range of conditions — from autism to heart disease. But most healthcare providers disagree with these claims. Let’s take a closer look at the heart disease controversy.
Chelation therapy removes heavy metals like lead and iron from your bloodstream. The chelating agents bind to these metals and send them out of your body through your pee. Advocates of chelation therapy for heart disease believe that the chemical cocktail also can remove plaque from clogged arteries in the same way. But there’s no proof this theory is true. And most heart doctors strongly disagree with it.
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The main study that showed possible benefits of chelation for heart disease had serious design flaws. This means we can’t trust its results. It’s a bit like putting a cup in your garden to measure rainfall but then watering your garden at the same time. You couldn’t really say how much water in the cup came from rain and how much came from the hose.
So, the scientists who did that controversial study decided to try again. But their second study (published in 2024) didn’t show any benefits of chelation. Instead, it provides evidence that chelation does not help with heart disease.
The bottom line? Chelation shouldn’t be used to treat heart disease. It doesn’t work and could cause serious side effects.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Chelation therapy is an important treatment option for people with heavy metal poisoning. If your provider prescribes this therapy, follow their guidance closely and let them know if you have any side effects.
You might hear chelation can help cleanse your body of heavy metals or treat conditions like autism or heart disease. There’s no scientific evidence to back up these claims. Using chelation for these purposes is unsafe and can delay you or your child from getting proper care. Talk to your healthcare provider about safe and effective treatments and therapies.
Last reviewed on 02/12/2025.
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