hello tracy, i didn't get any 'side effects' when i lowered the dose. I feel 5 drops is a lot, if you just started with NCD.
The first week i took much less and had a very strong reaction. On some days even 3 drops were too much for me, 6 weeks later I could take as much as 50 drops a day without side effects <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Stopping for 1-2 days did help me a lot. I also noticed that i tolerate many little doses, much better than a few big ones.
In the beginning, 1 drop every 4-5 hours was much better for me than 3 drops 3 times a day. I think your body will tell you if you can ramp up the dose.

Don't forget to drink a lot of water! Remember detox is a marathon, not a sprint.

Hope this helps.