What Is Chelation Therapy? A Complete Guide to How It Works
- April 3, 2022
- Written by : Rebecca LaMarca, MSN, APN-BC, CNS
Some heavy metals, such as iron, play an essential role in your health. But when too many of these metals build up in your body, you may experience heavy metal poisoning, which can damage your cells and cause serious symptoms like kidney damage, trouble breathing, and abnormal heartbeat.
Thankfully, you can remove toxic metals with chelation therapy. This chelation therapy guide explains what you should know about the medical treatment and where to get it in New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia.
What is chelation therapy, and how does it work?
Chelation therapy is a treatment that uses substances called chelating agents to remove heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and iron from the body. The chelating agents bind to the metals, which are then removed through the urine or stool. They can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or orally.
At IV Elements, our certified nurses perform chelation therapy intravenously with a chelating agent called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid). We offer three dose options: 0.8g, 1.5g, and 3g. Other common chelating agents are succimer, edetate calcium disodium, deferoxamine, penicillamine, and dimercaprol.
How does EDTA chelation work in the body?
EDTA works in the body by binding to metal ions in your bloodstream, creating water-soluble complexes that your body recognizes as waste. Your kidneys then filter out these complexes and eliminate them from your body in urine. This process reduces the amount of heavy metals in your body over time.
EDTA can also bind to essential minerals like calcium and zinc, unintentionally removing them from your body as well. That’s why it’s important to have your nutrient levels closely monitored by a medical professional while receiving chelation therapy.
How long does a chelation therapy session take?
A session of IV chelation therapy usually takes several hours, with the exact time depending on your needs, the clinic, and the chelating agent. EDTA has to be infused slowly (typically taking 2 to 5 hours) because a faster infusion might cause a sharp decline in calcium levels, which can be dangerous. A fast infusion can also overwhelm your kidneys and lead to kidney injury. By keeping the drip slow, your nurse reduces your risk of side effects.
How many chelation treatments do I need?
Most people need between 10 and 20 chelation treatments to successfully remove toxic metals. These treatments are usually given over a period of several weeks or months. The board-certified team at IV Elements can help you figure out your ideal treatment plan based on your current health.
Does chelation therapy have side effects?
Yes. During IV chelation therapy, you might feel side effects like flushing, warmth, lightheadedness, or headache. These side effects tend to fade quickly once the infusion is over. Your nurse can also ease or stop the effects by slowing your drip.
Other possible side effects include:
- pain at the injection site
- muscle pain
- fever
- chills
- dizziness
- high or low blood pressure
- nausea and vomiting
Some people also have more serious side effects like muscle spasms and trouble breathing. That’s why it’s essential to only receive IV chelation therapy from a certified healthcare professional. If you experience serious symptoms, your nurse will stop the infusion immediately.
Heavy Metals at a Glance
| Arsenic | Lead | Mercury | Iron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common sources | Contaminated well water, rice and rice products, some seafood, pressure-treated wood, agricultural chemicals | Lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, old plumbing, contaminated soil, imported ceramics, battery manufacturing | Large fish (tuna, swordfish, shark, king mackerel), dental amalgam fillings, broken thermometers, industrial exposure | Excess iron supplements, hereditary hemochromatosis, repeated blood transfusions, iron-fortified foods |
| Key symptoms | Skin discoloration, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, numbness in hands and feet, cardiovascular issues | Fatigue, headaches, brain fog, high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, memory issues, developmental delays in children | Tremors, mood changes, memory problems, numbness or tingling in hands and feet, kidney issues, muscle weakness | Joint pain, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, bronze-tinted skin, liver dysfunction, heart complications |
| FDA-approved chelators | Dimercaprol (BAL), DMSA (succimer) | EDTA, DMSA (Chemet), edetate calcium disodium, penicillamine | DMSA (succimer), dimercaprol (in select cases) | Deferoxamine (Desferal), deferasirox (Exjade/Jadenu) |
Is chelation therapy FDA-approved?
Yes, chelation therapy has been approved by the FDA to treat certain conditions that involve harmful buildups of metals or minerals. These conditions include:
- lead poisoning
- iron overload
- copper overload
- arsenic poisoning
- mercury poisoning
- calcium overload (hypercalcemia)
The FDA has approved different chelating agents to treat different types of heavy metal poisoning. For example, EDTA, succimer, and edetate calcium disodium are approved to treat lead poisoning, deferoxamine is approved to treat iron poisoning, penicillamine is approved to treat copper overload, and dimercaprol is approved to treat arsenic poisoning, gold poisoning, and some cases of mercury poisoning.
Chelation therapy has not been approved by the FDA to treat any other health conditions. But some alternative medicine practitioners use it to help people manage conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease alongside FDA-approved treatments.
How do I know if I need chelation therapy?
You should only get chelation therapy if a doctor finds out you have toxic heavy metal levels from a blood or urine test. You’re more likely to have toxic heavy metal levels if you:
- have a job where you might be exposed to heavy metals (such as mining, smelting, or working in a battery plant)
- have a genetic condition that affects metal metabolism, such as Wilson disease or hemochromatosis
- get repeated blood transfusions, which can cause iron overload
- have been exposed to a water source contaminated by metals like lead or arsenic
Depending on the metal and your body, some of the most common signs of heavy metal poisoning include:
- fatigue
- headaches
- brain fog
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (neuropathy)
- mood changes like irritability, anxiety, or depression
These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have heavy metal poisoning, as they can overlap with many other conditions. That’s why it’s important to have a medical professional test your levels before getting chelation therapy.
Where can I get IV chelation therapy in New Jersey?
You can get IV chelation therapy in New Jersey at IV Elements’ drip lounges in Hoboken, Asbury Park, Marlton, and Parsippany. Our ER-trained nurses also offer in-home infusions across NJ, NYC, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA.
Explore chelation therapy at IV Elements
If you’re searching for IV chelation therapy in New Jersey, New York City, or Philadelphia, IV Elements has you covered. As proud members of the Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine (PAAM) and the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), we’re committed to helping you restore healthy heavy metal levels. Along with chelation therapy, we offer a variety of customizable IV vitamin treatments so you can fully personalize your integrative wellness journey. Book your in-lounge or at-home session today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does chelation therapy work?
Chelation therapy works by using substances called chelating agents that bind to metals in your bloodstream, forming a stable complex that the body identifies as waste and removes through the urine or stool. These agents help your body rid itself of toxic metals.
How is chelation therapy administered?
The chelating agents in chelation therapy can be administered via an intravenous drip, intramuscular injection, or oral supplement.
What’s the difference between IV and oral chelation?
IV chelation is given into a vein so it can enter the bloodstream right away, while oral chelation is taken by mouth and absorbed through the digestive tract. Because IV chelation works faster, it’s usually recommended for severe heavy metal poisoning. In general, oral chelation should only be used for more mild cases.
What is EDTA used for?
EDTA is used in IV chelation therapy to treat heavy metal poisoning. As a chelating agent, it binds to metals in your bloodstream and forms a water-soluble substance that is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine. EDTA can also be used to treat excess calcium levels and irregular heartbeats caused by digitalis medications.
How much does chelation therapy cost in New Jersey?
The cost of chelation therapy in New Jersey depends on your health and the clinic you use. You can explore IV Elements’ costs here.
References
- Do You Have Heavy Metal Toxicity? Treatments, Symptoms, & Testing. (2025, November 13). IV Elements. https://ivelements.net/heavy-metal-toxicity
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 7). Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23424-heavy-metal-poisoning-toxicity
- Chelation IV Therapy From IV Elements. (2022, March 16). IV Elements. https://ivelements.net/chelation-therapy
- Cleveland Clinic. (2025, February 12). Chelation therapy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/chelation-therapy
- Vitamin Infusion: Get At-Home IV Drip for Revitalization. (2025, November 13). IV Elements. https://ivelements.net/vitamin-drips
- Schedule Your IV Therapy At-Home | Book IV Drip Now. (2024, November 4). IV Elements. https://ivelements.net/book-now-1
- Edetate Disodium, Disodium EDTA injection. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20773-edetate-disodium-disodium-edta-injection
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