I started on 40,000 units once daily (this is the lowest strength one typically can find in the many serrapeptase products available today) and, after continued reading on how this supplement works, gradually titrated up to 120,000 once daily.

The conventional material on serrapeptase usually states that 120,000 units daily is the highest level ever studied for safety, but thereś lots of writing in the natural healing literature indicating that significantly higher amounts are safe and likely to be more effective.

Iḿ taking the approach that I am willing to consume doses lots higher than the conventional recommendation of 120,000/day as a cap IN EXCHANGE FOR my observance of some rules for dosing that help to minimize and reverse adverse effects.

In particular, because serrapeptase seems to be able to break down biofilms of many types (some of them derived from acute infections that have subsided), it is known to have the capacity to cause Herxheimer reactions in some users. Herxheimer reactions are sometimes called ¨die offs,¨ (a concept very popular among chronic Lyme Disease patients who believe that particular remedies, if they are working well, will, at times, flush away toxins that were produced, in the body, by infectious organisms that may themselves no longer be active, with the toxin flush producing short-term symptoms like gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, rash, and even a temporary relapse into the symptoms of the disorder being treated.

So far, I have titrated my serrapeptase dose up to 160,000 units 3X/day without triggering a Herxheimer reaction, but if such a reaction develops, I will scale back for a while. That dosing level is actually the recommended standard dose on several well-known serrapeptase products, and while I would never have started at that level from the outset, this product labeling provides me with a modicum of reassurance that others may have proceeded safely at this level at some point in their self-treatment.

To minimize the risk of Herxheimer reactions, itś important to take serrapeptase only on an empty stomach and only with at least 8 oz. of water. This means taking it not less than 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything (other than water), and not sooner than 2 full hours after eating or drinking anything (other than water). In addition, it is essential to use only acid-resistant serrapeptase to ensure its bioavailability. Products that are enteric-coated or that have been formulated for delayed release can both meet that requirement (though there is some debate over which approach yields the most reliable resistance to GI acids).

As you can tell, I am always keenly aware that I am on my own, in this endeavor, and may encounter unwanted effects at times, but that I nonetheless move into this unknown territory because conventional medicine has been entirely unable to help me get well, so far, and may, in fact, have set me back seriously, at times.