Hi stevie,

I would personally not advise taking the DMSA any other way, other than Cutler's protocol. Please be careful. I took it the other way and it screwed me up big time, more than once. I could only help myself by taking it again Cutler style and was able to, over time, reduce my horrible reaction of redistribution. It is too easy, unfortunately, to make matters worse when dealing with heavy metals. Depending upon how poisoned you are and how sensitive you are.

Cutler knows what he is talking about in the respect of mercury redistribution, which is very dangerous and some people react worse than others. He has studied this extensively. I would seriously consider taking his advice if you are going to use DMSA, ALA, oral DMPS.

If the DMSA and ALA are not working, then it may not be mercury toxicity that is your problem. Have you had your amalgams replaced and were they done properly? What did you have put in instead of them?

Do you notice any symptoms during or after chelation? anything that might indicate 'something' is happening? Whether it's an increase in symptoms or an improvement.

There isn't alot of point taking DMSA another way, because it is either moving mercury (if it's there) or it isn't. But if you do have mercury there, taking it with big spaces inbetween is asking for trouble when the blood levels of DMSA drop and then spike back up again. The movement of mercury becomes more random/sporadic. This is where damage can occur. Please believe me, I have LIVED years of this nightmare of mercury, and have some idea of what I'm talking about.

I recognise there are some people who seem to be able to get away with taking it differently, but what is the point in taking that risk? when Cutler has organised a protocol that reduces the potential of mercury redistribution and consequent damage?

DMSA is not essential anyway. It is merely there to help reduce blood levels in the beginning stages and help with symptoms (if taken every 4 hours around the clock) after amalgam removal. Some do not use DMSA due to cost, or they don't like how it feels. You can skip it in that case, but a person needs to wait for at least 3 months following amalgam removal for the blood levels of mercury to reduce enough to use any brain chelating agent. Then ALA (brain/organ chelator) can be used alone (though some find it can create too many symptoms when not used alongside DMSA). DMSA is very expensive, so that alone can be a reason why people choose to wait and then later use ALA on its own.

Consider also your diet. This can help alot. May not cure the underlying problem, but it's surprising how it can help. I went on a candida and gluten free diet and began to consume healthier foods and it made a huge difference (even with amalgams still in my teeth).

Just some advice. I realise some people may respond differently, but I can tell you the worst things I ever did were DMPS IV (absolutely horrific, both times I did it), DMSA random style, chlorella, cilantro, taking ALA without using the cutler protocol, using any metal mobilising product without a proper safe protocol in place. And not paying attention to my diet by consuming the wrong foods like sugar, gluten/wheat, yeast, etc.

Exercise can also help and saunas. Cutler also recommends saunas for helping to eliminate toxic metals. Consider that also as a way of helping to detox heavy metals. Hot baths with epsom sals (or baking soda and sea salt) is another way to induce sweating.

It is hard to say whether the DMSA and ALA is going to help you or not. I do not know when you had your amalgams out? one year seems quite a long time to notice nothing, so I suspect something else maybe going on here, or somehow there is an ongoing source of toxin still there....