When do you need glucosamine

These side effects are reported in a small portion of patients. However, even substances that are found naturally in the body can have unpredictable results when taken in higher than normal quantities and in different formulations.

This is particularly true with patients who are taking multiple medications or who have other diagnosed illness. For example:. Request an Appointment. Search form Search. Twitter Facebook YouTube. You are here Home Share. What is Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate? Typical dosage is mg for glucosamine sulfate and mg for chondroitin sulfate, taken once daily.

For body weight less than lbs, the dose is generally reduced to mg for glucosamine sulfate and mg for chondroitin sulfate. Duration of treatment has not yet been determined. Reported improvement e. Some studies have shown continued improvement of symptoms after oral intake was stopped.

Generally, if there is no pain reduction after two months, there is little chance of improvement. Patients should keep a diary of their symptoms when treatment begins to better judge any changes in pain level or joint movement, and this information should be shared with their physician. The trials lasted from three weeks to three years. The first trial involved people over two years. In this six-month trial, which included participants, glucosamine had a clear significant benefit over a placebo and an even stronger effect than paracetamol in improving both pain and function.

The 64 participants with osteoarthritis of the knee in this study received either mg glucosamine sulphate three times a day or mg vitamin E made from palm oil once a day for six months. Both groups improved in pain and function, but there was no difference between them. After 12 weeks, there were no improvements in the placebo group but those who received glucosamine reported significant improvements in resting and moving pain, overall pain, stiffness and function.

The improvements in these final three measures lasted for 20 weeks. In the treatment group, reported side-effects were heartburn and an all-over itch.

Results of this trial were given a lower weighting when we came to our conclusion about the compound. Two RCTs were conducted to evaluate the role of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. A review article also looked at its effects for hip and knee osteoarthritis. The first trial included people and lasted 8 weeks.

Participants were randomly selected to receive 1, mg a day of glucosamine hydrochloride or a placebo. In the second trial, 1, people with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments once a day for 24 weeks:. Osteoarthritis OA is the most common form of arthritis. It can cause joint pain and stiffness. This has kept me pain free now for 14 years. I am a breast cancer survivor. After I started taking Letrozole generic Femara , I suffered stinging pain in my ankles every morning as I rose from bed.

I searched on the internet and found the Cosamin DS recommendations. I phoned my doctor who said that I could try it. Although this medicine does not vanquish all my joint pain, it certainly took the edge off it, especially in the morning. I take one pill in the morning and one at night. I started taking the pills almost five years ago. I certainly would have had to discontinue taking the letrozole if I had not found some form of relief. Glucosamine is not independent of joint structure. It seemed to help, along with other herbal supplements, but did not prevent the loss of cartilage in the joint.

The year after my surgery, my dog started to limp. An x-ray showed he had lost cartilage in his shoulder and neck not unlike my hip. Sure, we both take a glucosamine supplement which has relieved his limping , but no bone leaves the house without first being subjected to 12 hours of simmering to make bone broth, for both of us. Hint: stash bones in a ziplock bag in the freezer until you have a good lot for broth.

What about your dog? Years ago my really-old dog started limping and favoring his left rear leg. I am not seeing any references to the study mentioned. I wonder if the source of the supplements is known and whether it was ever tested for actual ingredients; most are never tested. The ingredients are key. The best, I believe, is Cosamin DS.

I felt no adverse effects, but I am shortly going to have a titanium ball and socket to replace my hip parts — the supplements did not solve the joint problem. So, for me, no adverse effects, but no obvious beneficial ones either. It worked like a miracle, leading me to believe there are some conditions involving joint pain it relieves.

Recently recommended it to a young friend with hip pain- same results! My advice—give it time to work. I tried another combination of both ingredients and again noticed no difference. Finally I tried one more combo—Flexamin Triple Strength—and within a month I realized that gradually my joint creakiness had disappeared and I was completely without symptoms. It then also occurred to me, though, that it might not have been the Flexamin that did the trick—it might just have been using the product for at least three months.

If people give up on it too soon they may be shortchanging themselves. Is this study showing they reduced mortality obviously, for the study time only, not forever worth considering? Use of glucosamine and chondroitin in relation to mortality. In shorter well designed placebo controlled human clinical studies glucosamine alone or in combination with chondriotin showed no better response than the placebo arm.

This is why research continues to explore new dietary supplement ingredients to find a suitable product that offers clinically effective joint health relief. Thus there is a strong need for new safe and effective products for chronic use. I am a 78 year old female who has taken glucosamine and chondroitin for 38 years. I am convinced that I can still do all of these things without pain — nor any joint replacements — is due to g and c.

Perhaps they have worked as a preventative measure vs. I have been taking both in the sulfate form. They work for me. The hydrochloride form does not. When I started, it took about 2 months for any effect. I have been taking Triple-Flex for over 20 years. It contains the two mentioned ingredients plus MSM. I will be 75 years old in a few months and I have absolutely no joint pain anywhere in my body.

I stopped taking it a few years ago and hard a hard time walking up my driveway. I restarted taking it and the pain disappeared. I do not care what the studies report. I will continue taking it. This is a useless, dithering article. Every study referred to here has a negative result. There are no references to any peer-reviewed studies with the hint of a positive impact, and yet the doctor does not dissuade his patients from taking the supplements.

A little more backbone, doctor! This Special Health Report, Rheumatoid Arthritis: How to protect your joints, reduce pain and improve mobility , gives you the information you need to work with your physician to design a treatment plan. You'll find information on established medical therapies as well as complementary treatments such as acupuncture, yoga, and dietary supplements.

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