"Andy keeps saying that DMSA and ALA dissipate in your body at about the same rate, and that after three hours both are pretty much gone."
He says the half life of DMSA is around 4 hrs but it will vary somewhat from person to person. Some will tolerate 5 hrs. I have reactive hypoglycemia and need to take food, other medicines, and chelators more frequently in order to experience a smooth consistent effect. I take DMSA every 3 hrs and ALA every 2.25.
He says the situation with ALA is more complex but most folks do okay by taking it every 3 hrs.