FDA Rules Against Colloidal Silver

From: bjs1779
Date: Thu Aug 26, 1999 6:22 pm
Subject: Re: FDA Rules Against Colloidal Silver

Wednesday August 18 5:46 PM ET

FDA warns about silver in over-the-counter drugs

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters Health) -- Over-the-counter drug products that contain colloidal silver or silver salts have not been shown to be safe or effective, announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

The FDA also said that the general public cannot use these types of drugs safely because adequate directions for the products could not be written.

Products containing silver particles have been appearing in stores in recent years, note FDA officials. Labels on these products include claims that the products can treat adults and children for diseases including AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, malaria, lupus, syphilis, scarlet fever, shingles, herpes, pneumonia, typhoid, and tetanus.

But FDA officials write that such products are misbranded ''when their labeling falsely suggests that there is substantial scientific evidence that the drugs are safe and effective for their intended use.''

According to the FDA Final Rule issued Tuesday, ``a colloidal silver product for any drug use will first have to be approved by the FDA under the new drug application procedures.''

Use of colloidal silver solutions, where silver particles are suspended in a gelatinous base, can result in argyria, ``a permanent blue-gray discoloration of the skin and deep tissues,'' notes the FDA.

The products in question include colloidal silver ingredients and silver salts such as silver proteins, mild silver protein, strong silver protein, silver chloride, and silver iodide. The drugs are usually in oral dosage form, but sometimes exist in topical (to be applied to the skin) and even intravenous forms.