I've never heard of magnesium succinate. I tried to look into it, but didn't come up with much. So I don't know where you may have read this. I saw it in body building formulas, but none of them said what it did.

My husband tried detoxing a few days ago. Now his health is generally okay. He doesn't have any chronic issues like me, so he started on a fairly "high" dose of DMSA of 25mg. He had such a severe reaction that he temporarily lost vision out of his left eye. Needless to say even though he doesn't appear to be mercury sick, he needs to start on a MUCH LOWER dose.

ALA is much stronger than DMSA, so I think you are simply going too fast. On one of the yahoo groups someone had a great analogy as to what this detox is like. They said it is a marathon race where you have to pace yourself for 25 miles. This detox isn't a 500m dash where you have to give it your all right off the start. You have to take your time or you'll have to stop chelating for months until you get better. Can you imagine if someone was in full sprint at the beginning of a marathon? They'd have to stop before reaching the finish line. Starting with "high" doses of ALA and DMSA will force you to stop prematurely.

The DMSA alone at 25mg is enough for me to get ill and I've already done 5 rounds at 15mg. As I said, my husband lost VISION in his left eye on that dose. I can't even IMAGINE how he'd feel on 25mgDMSA and 20mgALA. When I start ALA next month, I will begin with 4mg. It really is that powerful. I just think you are trying to go fast WAY too soon. The feelings of hopelessness and "is it worth it to chelate now" is definitely the mercury. With each round you are pulling too much mercury out and your body can't get rid of it fast enough. Then at the end when the chelator levels fall you are having severe mercury redistribution. The breaks are going to be worse than on round, but you'd shouldn't need 11 days in between.

As I said before I think it is too soon for ALA. Your body obviously still have a LOT of mercury stores in the blood and tissues. These must be cleared out before starting ALA or you could get worse.

I'd divide the DMSA capsules into third's (8mg) and take that for at least 5 rounds. See how you feel. Until the breaks become better (4 day breaks rather than needing 11 days), you don't want to increase it. Then you can consider adding in the ALA. I'd start under 10mg.

I am very concerned for you and think you may be harming yourself more with these doses. I hope you aren't offended by my posts.