the preferred embodiments herein described are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed . they are chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention , and its application and practical use to best enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings . the method of this invention involves the administration of an effective amount , also referred to as an antidotal amount , of a formula i compound to a patient suffering from heavy metal poisoning . administration may be either oral or parenteral . the effective amount of the formula i compound will necessarily depend upon the degree of the poisoning . since the formula i compounds are essentially nontoxic , large amounts can be safely administered . the preferred dosage to treat heavy metal poisoning ranges from an equimolar amount of the formula i compound when compared to the blood levels of the heavy metal , up to several thousand times the amount of the heavy metal . normally , the effective amount to be administered ranges from 0 . 1 mg / kg of body weight up to 3 , 000 mg / kg . the more severe the poisoning , the more formula i compound should be administered to provide an antidotal response . the method is effective against heavy metal poisonings which include lead , arsenic , mercury , copper , bismuth , platinum , palladium , barium , selenium , and other metals . administration is preferably through parenteral or oral routes . for parenteral administration , the formula i compound is dissolved in a suitable solvent , most preferably water , to produce a solution which may be injected . one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients may also be added to provide for an elegant formulation . for oral administration the formula i compound is preferably combined with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients , fillers and / or diluents . oral dosage forms may include pills , caplets , tablets , and others . alternatively , the formula i compound may be contained in a swallowable container such as a gelatin capsule or the like . the formula i compounds work to detoxify the heavy metal complexes by substituting a thiol moiety for a hydroxy or aquo moiety . this substitution renders the heavy metal relatively nontoxic , and increases the water solubility , which both impedes entry into cells and facilitates elimination through the kidneys . administration of the formula i compound should be made as soon as possible following diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning . preferred initial dose is between 20 mg / kg and 500 mg / kg . careful observation and blood analysis is performed regularly after diagnosis as per accepted medical procedures for treating heavy metal poisoning . other accepted methods of treatment may also be combined with the administration of the formula i compound . in particular , if the poisoning is recent in nature , emesis - inducing drugs should be given in attempts to lower the amount of absorbed poison . the patient may then be dosed with the formula i compound to neutralize any of the poison which may have already absorbed . it is understood that the above description is in no way limiting of the invention , which may be modified within the scope of the following claims .
this invention relates to a method of treating patients afflicted with heavy metal poisoning . the method includes administering to a patient in need of treatment an antidotal amount of a thiol or reducible disulfide compound according to the formula set forth in the specification .