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There are a number of drawbacks to chelation therapy, which include:
- The use of a common chelating agent (EDTA) for coronary artery disease is not advocated or approved in most medical circles. General side effects include a burning sensation at the site of injection, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. In rare instances, EDTA can cause more serious side effects, including kidney damage, depressed bone marrow and a sudden drop of blood pressure.
- To date, there is inadequate published evidence supporting the use of chelation in the setting of coronary artery disease. The American Heart Association, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health all agree that there is no data supporting the use of chelation in heart disease.
- It is expensive (up to $100 per treatment) and currently, the therapy is not covered by medical insurance. In the first month, patients may receive up to 30 treatments. They also are advised to continue with preventive treatments, which add to the cost.
- It is time-consuming (25 to 30 infusions, each lasting about four hours, are recommended over a period of weeks or months).
- It may delay the patient from taking advantage of proven treatments such as bypass surgery.
The most effective and proven treatments are administered under the guidance and supervision of a physician. Patients are encouraged to discuss their situation with several board-certified physicians before beginning any type of treatment.
The AHA, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association, believe there is no proven scientific evidence to support the benefit of chelation therapy for heart diseases. It is hoped that the current NIH study will provide definitive information on chelation therapy.
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