How to Use DMSA

Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is a colorless solid with a mildly unpleasant odor. It has the molecular formula HO2CCH(SH)CH(SH)CO2H and has two different physical structures (isomers). One of these is known as the meso isomer and is able to bind to heavy metals such as mercury and lead. This property is known as chelation and makes DMSA effective in treating heavy-metal poisoning.

Things You'll Need

• Medical preparation of DMSA

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Instructions

• 1

  Use DMSA for children who have more than 45 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL). DMSA is useful only in cases where the lead poisoning already exists and is not helpful in preventing future exposure to lead. In addition, DMSA can't cross the blood-brain barrier in humans and therefore can't extract heavy metals from the central nervous system. DMSA is the only substance approved for chelation therapy in the United States.

• 2

  Administer DMSA orally. This is the most common means of providing DMSA and the dosage is typically calculated from the patient's weight. Patients usually take DMSA for a few consecutive days and then abstain from DMSA for a few days. This cycle is usually repeated several times before the treatment is complete. The treating physician uses the results of regular urinalyses to determine when to discontinue the treatment.

• 3

  Inject DMSA directly into the bloodstream. Insert an intravenous (IV) needle into the patient's arm and prepare an IV bladder to deliver a continuous supply of the DMSA solution. An IV is a faster method of getting DMSA into the bloodstream and is most often used in cases of acute heavy-metal poisoning.

• 4

  Provide intramuscular injection of DMSA. Load the DMSA solution into a syringe and inject it into the patient's muscle tissue. Intramuscular injection is also reserved for more severe cases and is most often used when the heavy-metal poisoning is concentrated in a specific part of the body.