Side effects?
Side effects? Not being dead?
Actually -
Dichloroacetate safety (see http://www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/treatmts/ebuffer/j4.html)
There is some concern about the toxicity of dichloroacetate. Accumulations of dichloroacetate in groundwater have been described by some reports as a potential health hazard. However, concern about dichloroacetate toxicity is mainly based on data obtained in rats who were administered dichloroacetate at doses thousands of times higher than those to which humans are usually exposed. In these animals, chronic administration of dichloroacetate was found to cause liver problems and tumors. (Stacpoole, 1998.) In contrast, the dosage given to most humans is much lower than that administered to the rats. In clinical trials where dichloroacetate is used as a medical drug, no major side effects have been reported. Dichloroacetate is currently the most effective treatment for a disease known as congenital lactic acidosis (CLA). People with CLA have defective PDC enzymes and are thus unable to efficiently produce energy. In one study, patients with CLA were treated with 25-50 mg of dichloroacetate per 1 kg of body weight. No major complications were observed in the participants. (Stacpoole, 1997.) However, more research is currently being done to study the possible toxicity of dichlororacetate.
All I know about it is what's in the article, but it does say this: "The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe."
From Wikipedia:
Although dichloroacetate "has actually been used safely in humans for decades" its therapeutic use can cause pain, numbness and gait disturbances in some patients.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloroacetic_acid
"Side effects?"
Sleepiness (somnolence)
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)
Raised levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
Seizures
Persistent painful erection of the penis (priapism)
Raised blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia)
Explosive diarrhea (caca-poopoo-mia)
Dyslexia
Inflammation of the head (hugeheadism)
Sudden desire to run for political office
Spontaneous Combustion
Death (dropdeadism)
Neurotoxicity at 25 mg/kg/day:
Chemo drugs generally aren't judged by their side effects.