Hi, good going!! ALA MUST be taken every 3-4 hours around the clock just like DMSA. You take it with every DMSA dose (or alone if you're not doing DMSA).

In fact, ALA is safer taken even MORE often like every 3 hours. So you would need to take DMSA with ALA every 3 hours non stop for 3 days each week (or however many days you are doing it for).

It's unfortunate to have to wake at night to take doses, but it's the only way to keep it safe and cut down on redistributing mercury. You can however extend the night doses to every 4 hours if it helps you get more sleep, but go back to every 3 hours during the day.

I hope this helps.