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Chelation Therapy

Key-lay-shun Ther-a-pee

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Procedure

Call Your Doctor

En Español

Definition

Chelation therapy uses special medicines called agents to remove heavy metals from the body. The agents bind to the heavy metals in the blood. Once they bind, they can leave the body in urine or stool. Examples of heavy metals are:

Lead
Arsenic
Mercury
Iron
Copper
Gold

Reasons for Procedure

Chelation therapy is done to treat metal toxicity. This is when exposure to metal causes problems with how the body works. It can be most harmful to organs like the brain, kidney, and liver.

Metal toxicity may be caused by:

Metals that enter through the mouth, such as iron pills or eating paint chips or dirt with lead
Water that has high levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic
Food that may contain things like pesticides or mercury
Air that contains cigarette smoke, paint fumes, pesticide sprays, or gasoline fumes
Certain jobs, such as foundry, printing, mining, or petroleum work

Heavy metals can also build up from certain some health problems such as:

Iron buildup from thalassemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or sickle cell disease
Copper buildup from Wilson disease

Heavy Metal Poisoning Can Lead to Liver Damage

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

Allergic reaction
Irregular heartbeat
Vision problems
Kidney failure
Organ damage
Death

Things that may raise the risk of problems are:

Smoking
Drinking
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or obesity

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The care team will meet with you to talk about:

Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before therapy
Tests that will need to be done, such as blood or urine test to monitor the levels of heavy metal in the body

Description of the Procedure

The agent and method that is used depends on what metal is causing the problem. Some agents are taken by mouth. Others are given by injection or through an IV.

How Long Will It Take?

The amount of time it takes depends on the type of metal poisoning and the treatment.

IV or injection chelation therapy may be repeated over a period of weeks or months. Some IV drugs will need to be given over a period of hours during each visit.

Will It Hurt?

Discomfort is common after an injection or IV insertion. Medicine and home care can help.

Post-procedure Care

At the Care Center

Right after the procedure, the staff will monitor you for side effects, such as a headache or rash.

At Home

Some dietary changes may be advised to help remove the metal from the body. It will also be important to avoid further exposure.

Call Your Doctor

Call the doctor if you are not getting better or you have:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
Lightheadedness or fainting
Lasting nausea or vomiting
Pain, burning, or other problems urinating
Clumsiness
Vision problems
Irregular heartbeats
Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as itching, hives, or a rash
Problems with thinking
Symptoms that get worse

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
https://www.osha.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
http://www.ccohs.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

References:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What Do Parents Need to Know to Protect Their Children? CDC 2016 Jun 6.

Chelation therapy. Iron Disorders Institute website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed October 20, 2020.

Chelation: Therapy or “therapy”? National Capital Poison Center website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed October 20, 2020.

Heavy metal poisoning. NORD—National Organization for Rare Disorders website. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/heavy-metal-poisoning. Accessed October 20, 2020.

Lead toxicity—emergency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/lead-toxicity-emergency-management-11. Accessed October 20, 2020.

Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
Last Updated: 10/20/2020

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