Chelation therapy — the essentials

Chelation binds excess iron so the body can remove it — the counterpart to transfusions. Its aims are to keep iron balanced day to day, remove stored iron over time, and, in emergencies, intensify quickly if the heart is affected.

Only a small amount of body iron is “available” to a chelator at any moment, so removal is slow and steady — which is exactly why taking it consistently matters far more than occasional big doses. Missed doses leave you unprotected from the most damaging “labile” iron.

If the routine or side effects are hard, tell your team rather than stopping — the dose or the chelator can usually be adjusted.