DMPS Is Not a Legal Drug

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) is one of several drugs used by doctors who improperly tell patients they are suffering from heavy metal toxicity. To help persuade their patients, these doctors typically perform a "provoked" urine test in which DMPS or another These practitioners typically use a "provoked" urine test in which a dose of DMPS or some other chelator is administered before the urine specimen is collected. This artificially raises the urine level of lead, mercury and other heavy metals, which enables the doctor to falsely represent that the patient is toxic and needs chelation therapy.

DMPS is not FDA-approved, but proponents claim that it is legal for compounding pharmacies to provide it. However, as noted in the e-mail below, this is untrue.

Some practitioners use DMPS as a chelating agent. Several who did so have been disciplined for unprofessional conduct by their state medical board.

From: CDER DRUG INFO
Subject: RE: Drugs@FDA Comments
To: Christopher Grell, Esq.
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 11:58 AM

Thank you for your message to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), one of the five centers within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

DMPS is not an approved drug in the U.S. You can not compound drugs that are not approved in the U.S., unless they are subject to an approved investigational new drug application (IND). IND's are confidential. Compounding pharmacies can not mass produce their drugs as they then would be considered a drug manufacturer. See our compounding web page at http://www.fda.gov/cder/pharmcomp/default.htm and view our compliance policy guide on pharmacy compounding.

Sincerely,

Division of Drug Information
D202D

This communication is consistent with 21 CFR 10.85 (k) and constitutes an informal communication that represents our best judgment at this time but does not constitute an advisory opinion, does not necessarily represent the formal position of FDA, and does not bind or otherwise obligate or commit the agency to the views expressed.

The above e-mail was said to be "informal," but the FDA's policy was clearly expressed in a 2007 case in which the agency seized 17 vials of DMPS along with samples of several other drugs from ApotheCure, Inc., in Dallas, Texas.

This article was posted on January 25, 2010.