Safety of Ingesting Colloidal Silver
No, you should not ingest colloidal silver—it is not safe and provides no proven medical benefit. The FDA has established that all over-the-counter drug products containing colloidal silver for internal use are not generally recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded 1.
Regulatory Position and Lack of Efficacy
The FDA issued a final rule in 1999 stating that colloidal silver products for internal or external use are not generally recognized as safe and effective, as there is no substantial scientific evidence supporting their use for any disease conditions 1.
A clinical study in 22 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis found that colloidal silver as a topical nasal spray showed no meaningful subjective or objective improvements, demonstrating lack of efficacy even for topical use 2.
Documented Adverse Effects
Argyria (Permanent Skin Discoloration)
Argyria is the most predominant manifestation of silver toxicity, characterized by irreversible grayish-blue discoloration of the skin, particularly in sun-exposed areas such as the face, hands, oral mucosa, tongue, gums, eye conjunctiva, and nail beds 3, 4.
A case report documented a 58-year-old woman who developed generalized argyria after ingesting 1 liter of colloidal silver solution daily for 16 months, with serum silver concentration reaching 381 ng/mL (reference level: <15 ng/mL) 3.
Histologic examination in argyria cases reveals fine, brown-black silver granules deposited in the basement membrane of hair follicular epithelium and intercellular spaces of sweat glands 3.
Hematologic Toxicity
Severe anemia has been documented following colloidal silver ingestion, with one case reporting a red blood cell count dropping to 48 g/L after consuming 150 µg daily for 2-3 weeks, requiring blood transfusion 5.
The same patient developed abnormal liver function tests and signs of incipient heart failure with elevated pro-brain natriuretic peptide and troponin T 5.
Cardiovascular and Hepatic Effects
Silver intake can affect multiple organ systems including the hematopoietic, hepatic, and cardiovascular systems, as demonstrated by cases showing pleural effusion and cardiac biomarker elevation 5.
Whole-blood silver concentrations can remain elevated (20 µg/L) and take approximately three months to normalize after discontinuation (decreasing to 3.3 µg/L) 5.
Special Populations at Risk
Patients with psychiatric conditions may be particularly vulnerable to prolonged colloidal silver use, as demonstrated by a case of a patient with schizoaffective disorder who ingested colloidal silver proteins for approximately 10 years 4.
Even in pediatric cases where skin discoloration appeared transient (an 11-year-old with cystic fibrosis), serum silver levels were elevated to more than twice the upper limit of normal, posing significant health risks 6.
Clinical Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not assume that "natural" or "alternative" remedies are safe—colloidal silver products are increasingly marketed in alternative health practices without adequate warning labels about argyria risk 3.
Always inquire about complementary and alternative medicine use during patient encounters, as these therapies can significantly interfere with conventional medical care and pose serious health risks 6.
Be aware that argyria is typically permanent and irreversible, making prevention through patient education critical 3, 4.