Chelation Therapy:

What if chelation therapy?
It is a treatment that helps remove excess iron, patients undergo "iron chelation therapy," in which a drug is introduced into the body which binds with excess iron and removes it through the urine or stool.

Ways of giving Chelation Therapy
-Intravenous
The only FDA-approved iron chelator was Desferal which has to be administered through a painful and difficult infusion process. When using Desferal(deferoxamine mesylate), a needle is attached to a small battery-operated infusion pump and worn under the skin of the stomach or legs five to seven times a week for up to twelve hours.

Oral
-Exjade.
-This is a pill which is dissolved in water or juice and drunk, once a day.

Many patients now have an option in terms of chelators, and it is hoped that more options will become available in the coming years.

How is it taken? 
It is taken once a day, on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before food – preferably the same time each day.
Each tablet is dissolved in water, orange juice or apple juice and the mixture is taken right away.
Use half a cup if the dose is less than 1000mgs (1g) or a full cup (around 200ml) if the dose is more than 1000mgs. Any residue in the cup after taking the suspension should be resuspended in a small volume of water and swallowed.

What are the possible side effects
These are the most severe side effects and must be reported to the doctor promptly.
rash (urticaria)
swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat
in severe cases, there is difficulty in breathing.
Problems in vision and hearing.

Less serious effects are mild upsets with:
stomach pain
nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
Fever
skin rash
cough, runny or stuffy nose
headache and sinus pain.

Most of these side effects are temporary, at the start of treatment and disappearing in time, without having to stop taking the medicine or reducing the dose

Other facts
Renal and liver function tests are monitored monthly during treatment because reactions in both kidneys and liver have been reported, even though these are rarely serious.
Caution is especially needed in patients who already have impaired kidney or liver function, in whom it is best not to use this drug.