HOW DO CHELATORS WORK?
Chelators are drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning. They bind to heavy metal ions in the blood to form a complex structure that can be easily excreted through the urine. The most common ions that chelators bind with include:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Arsenic
- Iron
HOW ARE CHELATORS USED?
Chelators are used to treat heavy metal poisoning and other conditions like:
- Hemochromatosis (iron overload)
- Some types of anemia
- Wilson’s disease (a rare genetic disorder characterized by excess copper stored in various body tissues)
- Cystinuria (build-up of amino acid in the kidneys and bladder)
WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHELATORS?
Chelators, when administered intravenously, can cause the following side effects:
- Chills
- Fever
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Itching
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Diarrhea
- Metallic taste
- Trace element deficiency
- Depletion of zinc, magnesium, and manganese
- Injection site pain
- Headache
- Tremor
- Hypertension
- Nasal discharge
- Increased heart rate
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
WHAT ARE NAMES OF CHELATORS?
Generic and brand names of chelators include:
- BAL
- Ca-DTPA
- Calcium Disodium Versenate
- Chemet
- Cuprimine
- Deferasirox
- Deferiprone
- Deferoxamine
- Depen
- Desferal
- Dimercaprol
- Edetate calcium disodium
- Exjade
- Ferriprox
- Jadenu
- Jadenu sprinkle
- Penicillamine
- Pentetate calcium trisodium
- Pentetate zinc trisodium
- Succimer
- Zinc DTPA
- Zn DTPA
