HOW
TO BUY and USE chelation agents
(previous title
was: HOW TO BUY DMSA WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION)
Copyright
Moria Merriweather 2002 and November 2003.
This
file was last updated on 11/30/03
INDEX:
PUBLICATION
NOTES:
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send corrections, updates, and additional information to moriam@earthlink.net
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share this file with anyone and everyone. Kindly do so by referring to
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THANK
YOU to everyone who has provided the information in this file.
The
information and pricing in this file is NOT guaranteed to be accurate,
and may actually be wrong. The
companies and brands listed are not being recommended over other sources.
This is not an endorsement of the companies listed, nor a recommendation
of their products.
Providing
this information is NOT an assertion of the safety of these products for
any specific use or for any particular person or use. The
use of chelation agents involves risks and side effects. The
information in this file is not medical advice, and should not be misconstrued
as such. If you wish medical advice, please seek it from someone legally
licensed to provide it: a doctor or other licensed health practitioner.
Thank you.
How
to buy ALA (alpha lipoic acid)
-
IN
THE US: ALA can be purchased at most health food stores. It
is sold as an anti-oxidant supplement.
-
IN
EUROPE:
-
IN
GERMANY: ALA is not freely available in Germany. Vitamin
Research Products CAN ship ALA to Germany. There may be many companies
that can, this is simply one that I know will. Vitamin Research
Products, Inc., Carson City, NV 89701 USA (800) 877-2447 (Mon - Thurs 6
AM to 6 PM pacific time; Fri 6 AM to 5 PM) http://www.vrpcentral.net
For people outside the US, a non-800-number for orders is: (775) 884-1300.
-
ALA can be ordered on-line from
http://www.affordablesupplements.co.uk
and http://www.purestrength.co.uk
and http://www.supplement-warehouse.co.uk
-
IN
THE UK: ALA can be purchased at many health food stores, such
as GNC or Halland and Barrett.
How
to buy DMSA
DMSA generally requires
a prescription. Therefore, one way to buy DMSA is to see a practitioner
who is licensed to prescribe drugs, and who is willing to prescribe DMSA
for you or your child. DMSA is generally available from pharmacies, and
you should not have trouble obtaining it with a prescription. The brand
name for prescription DMSA is "Chemet". (This is a capsule.)
You
can buy DMSA without
a prescription from the
sources listed below. There may be advantages
or disadvantages for you to buy it by prescription verses over the counter.
An advantage with a prescription is that you may have insurance that may
covers much of the cost. Prescription DMSA can cost approximately $3 to
$5 per capsule. OTC (non-prescription) DMSA costs about $1 per capsule.
However, depending on insurance payment, the prescription DMSA may still
work out to cost YOU less. If you do not have insurance payment,
then OTC (non-prescription) DMSA will be cheaper. Also, you don't have
to have a doctor sign for it. You can consider these and other factors.
There are many reasons you may want to have a doctor directing and/or monitoring
chelation, so this is also a factor to consider, and may be a disadvantage
of OTC (non-prescription) DMSA.
-
IN
THE US: Unrestricted sources:
-
Vitamin Research Products sells
DMSA without a prescription. 100 mg capsules: $40 for 45 capsules, plus
about $3 for shipping. They do not sell DMSA in doses smaller than 100
mg. VRP can ship DMSA to Germany and South Africa,
and probably many other parts of the world. (Not sure if this about everywhere.)
Vitamin
Research Products, Inc., Carson City, NV 89701 USA (800) 877-2447 (Mon
- Thurs 6 AM to 6 PM pacific time; Fri 6 AM to 5 PM) For people outside
the US, a non-800-number for orders is: (775) 884-1300.
http://www.vrpcentral.net
Other Ingredients:
Microcrystalline cellulose (a natural plant fiber) and gelatin. Contains
no added sugar, starch, salt, wheat, gluten, corn, coloring, dairy products,
flavoring or preservatives. Comment on other ingredients: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/message/77761
-
Advanced Vitamins and Supplements
from Dr. Ralph Cinque This is a discount distributor of VRP products.
(They only sell VRP.) 45 capsules / 100 mg each capsule for $35.96
You pay the actual shipping charge, and no handling. http://www.1to1vitamins.com/
Here is their page about DMSA: http://www.1to1vitamins.com/products/10941.html
-
The Falls Pharmacy sells Captomer
(which is DMSA made by Thorne Labs) without a prescription. A bottle of
45 capsules is $45. To order (or for more info) send email to Brock Nyberg,
Pharmacist at: getit@thefallspharmacy.com
-
Nutri Pharmacy sells Captomer
(DMSA made by Thorne Labs) without a prescription. A bottle of 45 capsules
is $39.95. They also have 250 mg. capsules available, in case
someone wants a biiiiig dose. To order (or for more info) call (212)983-8291,
or fax order to (212)983-8382. Address: 45 E. 45th Street, New York,
NY 10017.
-
IN
THE US: restricted sources (requiring something other than an Rx):
-
Thorne Research makes DMSA called
"Captomer". They will not sell this to just ANYone, but they will sell
it to any licensed health care practitioner of any sort (e.g. nurse, chiropractor,
optometrist, podiatrist, pharmacist, clinical nutritionist, homeopath,
acupuncturist, etc.), who could then re-sell it to you. (Note that
the Falls Pharmacy, listed above, sells the Thorne brand.) Their suggested
RETAIL price is $43.10 for 45 capsules, 100 mg-- I don't have the wholesale
prices. Thorne Research: (208)263-1337, located in Idaho.
-
Kirkman's will sell
DMSA without a prescription, but they do require verification
that the user is under a doctor's care. This verification can be
phone, fax or written note from the doctor. Kirkman's sells flavored DMSA.
http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/
-
Emerson Ecologicals . To set
up an account you need to be working with a practitioner, such as an MD
or ND. If you have an account they will sell you DMSA. They
primarily sell to practitioners. (800)654-4432
-
IN
EUROPE:
-
DMSA can
be ordered without a prescription from: http://www.supersmart.com
"Smart City" brand. € 36 for 45 capsules, 100 mg each.
-
UK:
Nutricentre
sells Thorne Captomer (DMSA) without a prescription. The cost is
£45 for 45 capsules (100 mg). Nutricentre: phone 020 7436 5122
http://www.nutricentre.com
(The Thorne products are not listed on their website, so you need to order
Captomer by phone.)
How
to buy DMPS
Note:
DMPS is very much more expensive that DMSA.
-
IN
THE US: We have not heard of a
non-prescription source for DMPS in the US.
-
IN
SWITZERLAND: DMPS is non-prescription. One can go to a drugstore
and order it. They usually don't carry it in stock, so you order it then
go pick it up. You can order some variations of dosages. Heyl makes it.
-
IN
TURKEY: DMPS is sold over the counter.
How
to buy small dosages (ready made)
-
ALA:
Kirkman's sells 25 mg capsules of ALA; ($16 for 90 capsules, 25 mg); also
50 mg.
http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/about/company/contact.html
-
ALA:
HealthSmart sells 30 mg capsules of ALA (120 capsules of 30 mg each
are listed as "on sale" for $7.50, regular price $24.05. I don't know if
they are always $7.50) http://www.healthsmartvitamins.com
-
ALA:
Puritan's Pride sells 30 mg capsules of ALA http://www.puritan.com/
(60 capsules of 30 mg each are listed as "on sale" for $2.17. 120 capsules
are listed as "on sale" for $3.97. I do not know if they are always at
the sale prices.)
-
ALA:
Twinlab makes a 50 mg. ALA. This can be bought most anywhere, including
the Vitamin Shoppe http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/
and Needs, Inc. http://needs.com.
-
ALA:
The Vitamin Shoppe's house brand of ALA, available in 100 mg and 50 mg,
are tablets. These can be halved or quartered with a pill cutter. http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/
-
ALA:
"Liquid" ALA can be purchased from
Brainchild Nutritionals. An 8 oz bottle for $10.00 plus 4.50 S/H.
One tsp equals 16 mg ALA. (According to a standard conversion chart one
8 oz bottle contains 48 teaspoons. At 16 mg per teaspoon, that's
768 mg in the whole bottle.) It would be a lot cheaper to mix your own
(from capsules). Their phone number is: (831) 465-0104 (M-F,
9-5 PST.) email address: postmaster@brainchildnutritionals.com
http://www.brainchildnutritionals.com
-
DMSA:
Kirkman's sells DMSA 25 mg (90 caps for $40); also 50 mg. You must have
a doctor's approval to buy DMSA from Kirkman's. Kirkman's sells flavored
DMSA. Call (800)245-8282 to order. (Prices for this product are not listed
on Kirkman's website, due to their requirement of a doctor's approval.)
-
I am not aware of any unrestricted
source for DMSA without a perscription, in doses less than 100 mg.
I have looked for this over a long period of time.
Compounding
Pharmacies (small doses made to order)
(ALA
/ DMSA / DMPS): Experienced compounders can make up pretty
much whatever you need, just the way you want it. This includes making
a variety of forms where appropriate, including capsules, transdermals,
flavored suspensions, suppositories, and (in some cases) injections. They
can generally use a variety of fillers, and may be able to use tiny sizes
of capsules.
FIRST
CAVEAT: some list members have posted about buying compounded
products which they found out LATER where ineffective, such as DMSA in
a liquid formulation. (This is unstable and will lose potency quickly.)
Compounding pharmacies are very useful for making stuff, but this is no
assurance that the stuff you buy is really what you want--- you get what
you order, or what your doctor orders..
SECOND
CAVEAT: some insurance companies
will pay for pre-made Rx DMSA (brand name "Chemet") but will not
pay for compounded DMSA. You should check with your insurance company,
or ask the pharmacy to do so, if you have insurance coverage to consider.
COMMENT:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/message/71981
Marcy -- beware of fillers, comments on using compounded formulas
HERE
ARE SOME COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES:
-
Here is a list of MANY compounding
pharmacies: http://dmoz.org/Health/Pharmacy/Pharmacies/Compounding/
-
You may be able to find a local
compounding pharmacy in your area. Try the yellow pages in the phone book.
-
From Marcy Kelly, who works
for a compounding pharmacy: "In the circle of compounding pharmacists,
one is very well know as THE expert with autistic children. Her name
is Patsy Angelle, and she works at Prescription Compounds in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. (Note the Louisiana connection.) Her toll free number
is 1-888-876-8778 and she can be emailed at compounds@eatel.net.
I don't know her prices, but spoke to her at a pharmacists meeting last
fall and she is very knowledgeable." Price example: DMSA,
25 mg., 100 capsules: $44
-
Apothecary Labs. Phone:
(800) 869-9160 (on the east coast of the US). Price example: for
100 capsules of
ALA 10 mg each: $7.
(This does NOT require a prescription.) They will only sell compounded
DMSA
with a prescription. They have both DMSA
and DMPS in pure powders. Ron
Keech, a pharmacist there, is familiar with use of chelation agents for
kids with ASD, and familiar with some supplements for kids with ASD. They
will submit their bills to insurance for you, and can take credit card
payments over the phone.
-
Coastal Compounding (912) 354-5188
-
Falls Pharmacy: email to Brock
Nyberg, Pharmacist at: getit@thefallspharmacy.com. A prescription is required
for anything compounded. Price examples: DMSA,
100 capsules: 25mg each $39; 50mg each $52; DMPS
100 capsules: 25 mg each $125; 50 mg each $207; 75 mg each
$289; 100 mg each $372; 250 mg each $875. Will make any number
of capsules that you want to order.
How
to mix small dosages
Mixing DMSA or ALA into juice,
water, or food is a good way to divide it up into smaller doses, and a
good way to prepare night-time doses before going to bed. Mixing into food
or juice is also helpful for kids who don't easily swallow pills.
-
ALA
should be stable. This means it is okay to mix up a few doses
at once. ALA can be mixed into water juice, or food. You can also
use liquid to divide ALA into smaller amounts. (If you buy 100 mg.
capsules, but need to give 25 mg., you can mix the capsule into water and
just use 1/4 of the water for each dose.)
-
DMSA
is more sensitive to oxidation than ALA. If you are mixing the dose in
advance, then DMSA should be in some reasonably acidic (tart or sour tasting)
juice. Acidic fruit juices (lemonade, limeade, or pineapple juice
for example) are good for mixing with DMSA. Limit the number of doses that
are premixed into acidic juice, and then use them up in a reasonable amount
of time. A reasonable period of time to store DMSA after mixing is less
than a day, preferably half a day
-
If you are mixing just one dose
of DMSA (not storing it), you can mix it into any sort of food your child
likes.
-
Store premixed doses of ALA
and DMSA in the fridge.
Comments
on mixing methods & getting kids to take stuff
(This
is just a small percentage of the great ideas that have been posted..............)
Where
to buy TTFD
Note:
this is not a recommendation to use TTFD
Where
to buy transdermal ALA
Note:
this is not a recommendation to use transdermal ALA