Colloidal Silver- 

Colloidal silver is an illegal drug in the US (not a supplement), sold via the internet and in some vitamin stores as primarily a "natural" method of treating infections as a substitute for antibiotics.  Although it has been used for 120 years, there is nearly no medical or scientific evidence of effectiveness or safety, yet it is widely used.  It has a nasty side effect of turning the skin, whites of the eyes, and fingernail beds a grey to bluish color (called argyria) due to deposits of silver in these areas, making the person appear to be near death.  Whacko internet doctors and naturopaths, who do not value human safety or believe it is necessary to prove effectiveness, tout this misbranded drug as a panacea for bacterial, viral, fungal infections and as an anti-inflammatory agent.  

     Evidence of safety and effectiveness:  In 1999 the FDA issued a ruling colloidal silver or silver salts for human consumption is a misbranded drug, and is neither safe nor effective.  This means it is not a supplement, but is an illegally produced drug in the US, and cannot be sold legally via the internet or in stores (Fed Regist. 1999 Aug 17;64(158):44653-8).  There are no alpha or beta level studies to support its use. There is a beta level study showing that colloidal silver applied topically was completely ineffective in treatment of rhinosinusitis (J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Nov 25;46(1):64).  A delta (low) level report showed healing of superficial ulcers with a colloidal silver spray (Panminerva Med. 2011 Sep;53(3):185-91).  There is a epsilon level (very low) single case report of treatment of a child with cystic fibrosis with colloidal silver (J R Soc Med. 2008 Jul;101 Suppl 1:S51-2.).  There is a case report of kidney damage from colloidal silver treatment for lymphoma (BMC Nephrol. 2016 May 17;17(1):49) and another with nephrotic syndrome associated with colloidal silver (Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2008 Feb;31(2):67-9).  Also there is a case report of a woman admitted to the hospital for acute psychosis after long term colloidal silver ingestion (Ann Clin Biochem. 2012 May;49(Pt 3):300-1).  A case report exists of a man presenting with seizures and brain degeneration after long term use of ingested colloidal silver (Ann Clin Biochem. 2009 Nov;46(Pt 6):520-2.) and another associated with seizures (Neurology. 2004 Apr 27;62(8):1408-10).  In a review of colloidal silver effects it was stated: "Consumption of large doses of colloidal silver can result in coma, pleural edema, and hemolysis. Colloidal silver is also toxic to the bone marrow and may be associated with agranulocytosis. The toxic effects of inorganic silver ingested orally in large doses are very similar to any corrosive solution. Such ingestion can result in burning of the throat and epigastrium, leading to abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient often suffers convulsions and goes into shock." (Dermatol Online J. 2005 Mar 1;11(1):12)