Extreme fatigue after DMSA

[xbxndjdidir]

I'm having a weird experience. I am currently on a chelation protocol for elevated lead and mercury (my doctor has me taking 500 mg DMSA 3 times a day for 3 days every 2 weeks). I've been on this protocol in the past with maybe mild fatigue afterwords but nothing noteworthy.

While I was in the midst of the first 3 days of this protocol, I began to have very poor sleep. I suspected that I was low on magnesium, and after the 3 days were up, I started taking magnesium glycinate and the sleeping problems immediately went away. However, the moment I started taking the magnesium supplement (literally minutes after the first pills) I began to feel extremely tired and weak, like I could barely stay awake. It has now been about 5 days since I started magnesium, and the fatigue seems to be either exact the same, or marginally worse. I have taken this kind of magnesium before without issue.

At first I thought it was a nutritional issue, but after taking all my supplements and eating well for almost a week, it persists. I have tested slightly low for cortisol in the past, but never low enough to be an emergency and I take an adrenal supplement to help with it. I also have some tickborne illnesses, but the herbs I take have historically always kept it in check, and anyway none of my tickborne symptoms have gotten worse, just this fatigue.

The fatigue I'm experiencing is constant and more or less unwavering. It is slightly better in the morning and gets more intense in the evening. It is unlike anything I have experienced before. I've reached out to my doctor, but in the mean time I wanted another perspective.

[Alanna012]

I know nothing about DMSA but is it possible that as well chelating heavy metals like mercury it is also chelating other metals like iron, zinc, chromium, copper etc by proxy? Is it discriminatory?

I know you've had it in the past with less issues, but perhaps there's been a change that means you're feeling possible side effects this time.

Not sure about the magnesium. Perhaps change it to another form that is still relaxing but less tiring at this time. I take Malate which still helps with sleep, but doesn't have you nodding off in the day.

Sorry just my two pennies, and I hope someone who knows more comes along!

[radd]

xbxndjdidir,

Welcome to our forum.

DMSA isn’t for the faint hearted and needs to be used with great caution as can cause awful side effects without the proper supports.

I used DMSA for the chelation of heavy metals after having all amalgam removed several years back. It can be immensely harsh on the liver so you’ll need a tailored supplement programme to support and replace everything that’s being excreted that you don’t want to be, ie nutrients & vitamins, etc.

Also, antioxidants such as glutathione, large amounts of Vit C, and a binder to help excretion of heavy metals drawn out from deep tissue. This part is immensely important and I used psyllium husk and apple pectin. I also needed gut support in the form of glutamine, slippery elm and marshmallow and loads of probiotics.

A second Genova Toxic Element Clearance Profile evidenced a dramatic fall in heavy metals levels after six months. I was supposed to chelate for a year but gave up after this result because had started feeling so much better and the regime was hard to manage.

Ensure you don't have mercury fillings in your teeth, because you can not chelate until these are removed.

[xbxndjdidir in reply to radd]

Thanks for your reply. I do take a pretty extensive regimen of supplements (vitamin c, magnesium, zinc, other vitamins, glutathione, a probiotic, nac, ala for liver support, etc). Just yesterday I tried a calcium supplement, which improved my fatigue dramatically but did not get rid of it, so I suspect there is still something missing, but I have no idea what it could be. I constantly feel like I've just finished a brutal workout, so perhaps it has something to do with the gut.