Affected people may have excessive thirst and a metallic taste in their mouth. The symptoms usually go away on their own after six to 12 hours. Eliminating heavy metals from the body has a positive prognosis. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent life-threatening symptoms from affecting the body.

Untreated cases of heavy metal poisoning can cause irreversible symptoms, such as brain damage and kidney and liver failure. For the most serious cases, the standard treatment is chelation therapy. This involves administering a medication, either through a pill or an injection, that attaches to the body's heavy metals. For people with heavy metal poisoning, heavy metal detoxification may be essential to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.

Doctors may use certain medications, such as penicillamine or dimercaprol, that bind to metals and expel them from the body.