Drug & supplement interaction

Colloidal Silver + Cefaclor

Cefaclor brand names: Ceclor CD, Ceclor.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Cefaclor states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Cefaclor and Colloidal Silver in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Colloidal Silver at all — not against Cefaclor, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Colloidal Silver safety at a glance

Colloidal Silver overall Avoid Not proven effective and can cause serious, sometimes permanent harm; oral use is discouraged by health authorities.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally, topically, or intravenously. Silver appears to cross the placenta. Epidemiological evidence links increased silver levels to developmental ano... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Unsafe When used orally, topically, or intravenously. Silver appears to cross the placenta. Epidemiological evidence links increased silver levels to developmental ano... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Cefaclor and Colloidal Silver? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 4 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A low platelet count / Anemia / A low white blood cell count Worth acting on Additional detail

    Colloidal Silver

    “Orally and intravenously, hematologic effects have been reported. .In one case, a 30‐year‐old female experienced severe anemia and leukopenia with elevated serum ferritin after receiving 48 infusions with a specific colloidal silver marketed for oral use (Argentyn 23). The infusions provided silver 883 mg and were administered over 3 months.”

    Colloidal Silver · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anemia.

    2 sources cited
    1. 102570. Natelson EA, Baker KR, Pyatt DW. Anemia and leukopenia following intravenous colloidal silver infusions-Clinical and hematological features, unique peripheral blood film appearance and effective therapy with supplemental oral copper and apheresis. Clin Ca PubMed
    2. 115303. Stjernbrandt A. Colloidal silver ingestion and severe anemia - A case report. Toxicol Rep 2023;11:270-272. PubMed

    Cefaclor

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cefaclor. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

    Colloidal Silver

    “At least two cases of myoclonic seizures have been reported after the use of homemade colloidal silver preparations. In one case, myoclonic status epilepticus and coma occurred secondary to consumption of a homemade colloidal silver drink (Schaffer's Health Center Ltd., Unity). The patient had consumed at least one ounce daily for 4 months.”

    Colloidal Silver · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in common cold.

    3 sources cited
    1. 44485. Mirsattari, S. M., Hammond, R. R., Sharpe, M. D., Leung, F. Y., and Young, G. B. Myoclonic status epilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver. Neurology 4-27-2004;62(8):1408-1410. PubMed
    2. 44649. Stepien, K. M., Morris, R., Brown, S., Taylor, A., and Morgan, L. Unintentional silver intoxication following self-medication: an unusual case of corticobasal degeneration. Ann Clin Biochem. 2009;46(Pt 6):520-522. PubMed
    3. 112290. Hu D, Yuen C. Seizures Following Self-Medication With Colloidal Silver: A Case Report. Hosp Pharm 2023;58(4):350-352. PubMed

    “Orally, chronic intake of colloidal silver over a 10-year period may have caused bone marrow damage, possibly contributing to the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in a 72-year-old male. The patient died of respiratory failure related to recurrent pneumonia.”

    Colloidal Silver · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in leukemia.

    1 source cited
    1. 102574. Keung YK, Wang T, Hong-Lung Hu E. Acute myeloid leukemia with complex cytogenetic abnormalities associated with long-term use of oral colloidal silver as nutritional supplement - Case report and review of literature. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2020;26(1):212-21 PubMed

    Cefaclor

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Cefaclor. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Colloidal Silver but not commonly for Cefaclor: liver problems, seizures and raised blood pressure.

Effects for Cefaclor come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Colloidal Silver come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Colloidal Silver in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Unsafe

When used orally, topically, or intravenously. Silver appears to cross the placenta. Epidemiological evidence links increased silver levels to developmental anomalies of the ear, face, and neck. Colloidal silver supplements can also lead to silver accumulation and an irreversible bluish skin discoloration known as argyria. Neurological deficits and diffuse silver deposition in visceral organs can also occur.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

How to take them

Some Cefaclor Products Have a Food Rule — Colloidal Silver Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Cefaclor says to take it with food. If you take Colloidal Silver on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Cefaclor with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Cefaclor products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The absorption of cefaclor extended-release tablets is enhanced when it is administered with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Cefaclor — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cefaclor

This page covers Colloidal Silver only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cefaclor page lists 60 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Aristolochia (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 46 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cefaclor page

“The entries worth understanding before any others on this cefaclor (Ceclor) page are the kidney risks and charcoal. Cefaclor is a cephalosporin antibiotic, typically a short course for ear, sinus, throat, or skin infections, and two herbs here, Siberian cocklebur and asarabacca, can damage the kidneys on their own, so pairing either wi…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cefaclor interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Colloidal Silver
Top half

#572 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Cefaclor
Top 10%

#241 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Colloidal Silver reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified October 4, 2026. The Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Colloidal Silver

What is Colloidal Silver?

  • Infections (claimed antimicrobial)
  • Wound care and skin issues
  • Sore throat or cold symptoms
  • Immune support
  • Sinus rinses

Colloidal silver is a liquid product containing tiny silver particles that is marketed for infections and immune support, but there is no reliable scientific evidence that it is safe or effective when taken by mouth. Health authorities including the FDA warn against using it, and it can cause a permanent blue-gray skin discoloration called argyria. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Suspension of microscopic silver particles in liquid · Liquid drops, sprays, gels, and lozenges

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Colloidal Silver is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Colloidal Silver record says about it on its own.

Colloidal Silver: dosing

There is no established safe or effective dose of colloidal silver, and it is not recommended as a supplement for any condition. Products vary widely in concentration, which makes consistent dosing impossible to guarantee.Because of the lack of proven benefit and the real risk of harm such as argyria, the safest choice is to avoid colloidal silver.

From our Colloidal Silver monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Colloidal Silver monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cefaclor

What Is Cefaclor Used For?

Brand names: Ceclor CD, Ceclor

Cefaclor treats a range of bacterial infections. The capsule and oral suspension forms are used for ear infections (otitis media), lower respiratory tract infections including pneumonia, strep throat and tonsillitis, urinary tract infections (including kidney infections and bladder infections), and skin and skin structure infections.

The extended-release tablet form of Cefaclor is approved for a narrower set of uses: acute bacterial flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, strep throat and tonsillitis, and uncomplicated skin infections. Not all infections approved for the capsule or suspension are approved for the extended-release tablet — your prescriber will choose the right form for your infection.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Cefaclor

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (1,535 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Drug hypersensitivity 252 reports
Nausea 159 reports
Vomiting 159 reports
Fatigue 137 reports
Fever 121 reports
See full Cefaclor drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Colloidal Silver

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Colloidal Silver — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Colloidal Silver against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Colloidal Silver list.

See the full Colloidal Silver interactions page
See every supplement checked against Cefaclor, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Colloidal Silver References

The 18 references that drive our Colloidal Silver monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Fung MC, Bowen DL. Silver products for medical indications: risk-benefit assessment. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1996;34:119-26. PubMed
  2. Fung MC, Weintraub M, Bowen DL. Colloidal silver proteins marketed as health supplements. JAMA 1995;274:1196-7. PubMed
  3. Fung MC, Weintraub M, Bowen DL. Colloidal silver proteins marketed as health supplements. JAMA 1995;274:1196-7. PubMed
  4. Gulbranson SH, Hud JA, Hansen RC. Argyria following the use of dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein. Cutis 2000;66:373-4.
  5. Hori K, Martin TG, Rainey P, Robertson WO. Believe it or not--silver still poisons! Vet Hum Toxicol 2002;44:291-2..
  6. McKenna JK, Hull CM, Zone JJ. Argyria associated with colloidal silver supplementation. Int J Dermatol 2003;42:549.. PubMed
  7. Cohen LE, Spurlock R, Salem A, Mercado E. Argyria in the silver state. Federal Practitioner 2004;April:9-17.
  8. Mirsattari, S. M., Hammond, R. R., Sharpe, M. D., Leung, F. Y., and Young, G. B. Myoclonic status epilepticus following repeated oral ingestion of colloidal silver. Neurology 4-27-2004;62(8):1408-1410. PubMed
  9. Stepien, K. M., Morris, R., Brown, S., Taylor, A., and Morgan, L. Unintentional silver intoxication following self-medication: an unusual case of corticobasal degeneration. Ann Clin Biochem. 2009;46(Pt 6):520-522. PubMed
  10. Griffith RD, Simmons BJ, Yazdani Abyaneh MA, Bray FN, Falto-Aizpurua LA, Nouri K. Colloidal Silver: Dangerous and Readily Available. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(6):667-8.
  11. Park SW, Shin HT, Lee KT, Lee DY. Medical concern for colloidal silver supplementation: agyria of the nail and face. Ann Dermatol. 2013;25(1):111-2.
  12. Butzmann CM, K Technau-Hafsi, Bross F. "Silver man" argyria of the skin after ingestion of a colloidal silver solution. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2015;13(10):1030-2. PubMed
  13. Hadrup N, Lam HR. Oral toxicity of silver ions, silver nanoparticles and colloidal silver-- a review. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014;68(1):1-7. PubMed
  14. Natelson EA, Baker KR, Pyatt DW. Anemia and leukopenia following intravenous colloidal silver infusions-Clinical and hematological features, unique peripheral blood film appearance and effective therapy with supplemental oral copper and apheresis. Clin Ca PubMed
  15. Tobarran N, Hieger MA. Acute silver toxicity from colloidal silver overdose. Am J Ther. 2019. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Colloidal Silver with Cefaclor?
We do not list a known interaction between Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Should I take Colloidal Silver and Cefaclor at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Cefaclor says to take it with food. If you take Colloidal Silver on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Cefaclor with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Cefaclor products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Does Cefaclor interact with any supplements?
Yes. Cefaclor has documented interactions with 60 supplements in our database — Colloidal Silver is not one of them. The Cefaclor interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Colloidal Silver monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Cefaclor drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Cefaclor supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Cefaclor, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 18 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Cefaclor and Colloidal Silver?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.