Is it true that almost all those who have low mercury levels don't get a negative reaction to ALA? I guess it preobably is, since ALA capsules are available in doses up to 600 mg! I can't even imagine how I would feel if I took a 600 mg capsule of ALA. I get a strong reaction to 50 mg!

If the 'reaction' happens 8-36 hours after taking the ALA then yes, I do consider that proof of mercury toxicity.

If you were reacting to the ALA itself you would have a reaction within hours of taking it I would think.

Also, if the reactions is one the classic symptoms of mercury poisoning, its definitely more likely.

To me if u get any reaction other than the ones u'd get from any other antixodiants like vitamin C or E, it is proof of mercury toxicity, esp if the reaction is negative somewhat.

"If the 'reaction' happens 8-36 hours after taking the ALA then yes, I do consider that proof of mercury toxicity.

If you were reacting to the ALA itself you would have a reaction within hours of taking it I would think. "

8+ hours? At the start of a round, I usually start to get a reaction around half an hour to an hour after starting. can anyone here say that they used to get a bad reaction to ALA or DMSA but that they no longer get a bad reaction if they take it?

I think your dosing may be too high, or you may be one of those that feel worse during rounds. I feel much better during rounds and don't feel symptoms until at least 8 hours after stopping the chelators.

I don't think the dose is too high as long as I can tolerate the symptoms. My mood is often better during chelation, and sometimes I feel like I have more energy, however I get muscle ache during chelation, and often don't feel like moving at all.
I am afraid that if I go too slowly with chelation, it might take very long for me to see progress. I guess I need to chelate with the highest doses I can tolerate.

Reactions can happen quickly or later on in the round. Symptoms can also differ on other rounds. ALA is simply an antioxidant, I don't see why someone would have a reaction to it, other than if they were mercury or other metal toxic. Just my opinion. Unless they were taking too much of the stuff, which then may create adverse reactions which may not be metal related.

Muscle ache is really common during the removal of mercury. That is a real strong indication. I remember when I was actively detoxing mercury the feeling of aching and the feeling of exhaustion on chelation rounds. Some were worse than others. My symptoms often increased/intensified as the round went on. Usually the symptoms would start about a day or two into the round and then begin to get worse as it went on.

There is no need for you to reduce your dose, unless the symptoms are intolerable. Side effects can be expected. The more poisoned you are, the worse they can be.

In hindsight, when I look back to my initial chelation days on Andy's protocol, I would probaby use half the dose I used back then and probably for half the time. I was using 50 mg of DMSA and for an entire week. I realise now, it was too much. I wasn't going crazy, because the protocol itself kept things somewhat stable, but I was really pushing it. I felt very very poorly during it and sometimes very ill. I would often have to cut the round a bit short because I simply could not continue.

Are you taking ALA alone or with DMSA?

I am taking both ALA and DMSA, 50 mg of each, in rounds that are 3 days(3 days, two nights). The last two or three doses each round I take only DMSA. The ALA seems to be what brings on the muscle ache, as I don't seem to get them during the last few doses that are DMSA only. I think I will stick with this scheme unless the symptoms start getting much worse or much less. This is my third round at these doses.

That's a pretty hefty dose for many, but if you can handle it, then stick with it. It appears that DMSA does indeed help many with the side effects of ALA, but does not remove them completely as you have discovered.

Do you know how many rounds you have done altogether? I mean at any dose. Can you say how long you've been chelating for overall?

I'll be interested to hear how things go for you as time goes on. How do you feel inbetween rounds? Are you noticing gradual improvements as time goes on? Some people feel worse on round and better off round, others can feel better ON round and worse off round and even that can alternate!

Sometimes it's hard to explain when you feel better in one way, yet worse in another as some symptoms are exacerbated.

I did a few doses last year with ALA only, and I couldn't continue. I think I did 5 or 6 rounds with 50 mg ALA, then crashed badly. A few months later I tried 25 mg ALA but couldn't even handle that. This year I started with 25 mg of each, then went to 25 mg DMSA 50 ALA, then to 50 mg of each. Perhaps it is the DMSA, or all the mineral supplementation I have taken that is allowing me to continue to chelate? I am getting strong symptoms on chelation, although they aren't intolerable as I experienced last year. Perhaps the high dosage(around 15 mg a day!) iodine that I took for a month also helped greatly? I stopped the iodine when I felt a slight bit of pain in my throid(
it wasn't bad, but I though that I might be overstimulating my thyroid). I think my temperature is much closer to normal these days(it was too low for a while).

I have done around 13 rounds total. My first rounds were last May. I think I am noticing some improvent after I went up to 50 mg of each for both ALA and DMSA. I got headaches during chelation, a symptom I never had before. I have had muscle ache for years.

ALA is involved in the Krebs cycle, so ALA can be quite energizing.