What Is Colloidal Silver?

Side Effects

The side effects of colloidal silver have been significantly documented, but there's not enough information to accurately predict them. Research indicates the compound can create or compound existing health issues. The effects of colloidal silver seem to vary based on the shape and size of the silver particles, along with how concentrated they are. Because there is no documented benefit, there are no medical guidelines for dosage. Exposure to silver is not necessarily toxic right away. In fact, the environment exposes individuals to tiny amounts of silver daily. Silver can be found in the air, food, and drinking water. Environmental silver is considered safe, but silver nanoparticles carry potential health risks, and health professionals have deemed purposefully ingesting colloidal silver unsafe. The biggest potential side effect is argyria, which is a permanent medical condition that causes the skin to turn bluish-gray because of the way silver particles build up in the skin and body. It's also possible that silver deposits will occur in the kidneys, intestines, liver, and other organ systems, which can impair function.

Learn about what medications colloidal silver may interact with next.

Medication Interactions

Multiple organizations and groups of health professionals have indicated colloidal silver is unsafe when applied directly to the skin or taken by mouth. If individuals do decide to take the compound anyway, they should be aware of what medications interact with it. Always check a list of medication interactions before taking any new dietary supplements, vitamins, or over-the-counter medicines. In addition, if individuals start any new medications, they should tell their doctor about all the herbal and dietary supplements they take regularly. When taken with antibiotics, colloidal silver might decrease the amount the body absorbs. At best, this decreases the antibiotic's effectiveness. At worst, it can cause an infection to become antibiotic-resistant. The compound can also decrease the amount of levothyroxine the body absorbs. Because colloidal silver can harm the liver by creating silver deposits, an individual's risk of liver damage becomes much higher if they're also taking any hepatotoxic drugs, which can harm the liver as well.

Get familiar with healthier alternatives to colloidal silver next.