DTPA chelation for GDD (Lead and Cadmium too) is like a train ride. There are stopping points. But once you get on the train you can't jump off at 90 miles/hour.

once you are on the train, you can't get off till the next stop

I sent this email recently to a patient. The analogy is very fitting and illustrative, so I have made a blog from it. It may pictorially describe the concept that once you start chelation you cannot randomly stop it, because of the risk of re-equilibration.

Gd in most regions of the brain does get removed by chelation with DTPA. Redistribution is the very least with DTPA compared to other chelators. To avoid Gd returning to the brain in an appreciable amount through re-equilibration, for atleast the first 5 chelations the intervals between chelation should not exceed 4 weeks. An ideal interval for most individuals is 3-4 weeks. Once you are on the chelation train, the first stop is after 5 chelations, unless you are doing extremely well. Otherwise you are jumping off a train from Melbourne to Perth when it is traveling at 90 miles/hr.

Richard Semelka, MD