Your body naturally produces glucosamine, which plays a key role in building the connective tissue, or cartilage, that cushions your joints. Cartilage in those with osteoarthritis breaks down and is lost, either due to injury or normal wear through aging. Many studies report that glucosamine treatment reduces pain, joint swelling and stiffness while improving function in people with osteoarthritis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. On the other hand, some studies report that glucosamine has no effect on arthritis symptoms, notes UMMC. Talk to your doctor before taking glucosamine to ensure safety.
Dose
MayoClinic.com and UMMC recommend a dose of 500 mg, three times daily for 30 to 90 days, as most studies use this dose. You can also take 1,500 mg once a day. According to MayoClinic.com, some publications also use 20 mg for each kilogram of body weight per day. So if you weigh 150 lbs., or 68 kg, you would consume 20 mg x 68 kg, which is 1,360 mg of glucosamine per day. However, your doctor can recommend the best dose for you based on your symptoms. Experts do not recommend glucosamine for children, as arthritis is a condition that affects adults and thus no studies have investigated the safety of glucosamine in children. Healthcare providers also do not recommend glucosamine during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sources and Deficiency
There are no major food sources of glucosamine, so to get adequate doses of it you need to take supplements. Manufacturers produce most supplements from the hard outer shells of shrimp, lobsters and crabs. However, if you are allergic to shellfish, other forms of glucosamine are available, including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and n-acetyl glucosamine. You take the supplements orally via tablets, capsules or powders. According to UMMC, studies show that your body can best absorb glucosamine hydrochloride.
Side Effects
The Mayo Clinic reports that most studies show people tolerate glucosamine well for 30 to 90 days. If you experience side effects they may include stomach upset, drowsiness, insomnia, skin reactions, sun sensitivity and nail toughening. Though rare, you may experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, gas, constipation, heartburn and diarrhea. Glucosamine may also increase your risk of bleeding, so if you have a bleeding disorder, or are taking other medications that increase your risk of bleeding, your doctor may adjust your dose.
Drug Interactions
Glucosamine may interact with a variety of medications. Warfarin, or Coumadin, is a medication prescribed to slow blood clotting. Taking it with glucosamine may cause bruising and bleeding that can be serious, so talk to your doctor about other available options if you take warfarin. Glucosamine may also interact with certain chemotherapy medications, decreasing their effectiveness. If you usually take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, to relieve your arthritis pain, you may need to decrease your NSAID dose as taking both can cause stomach bleeding. Glucosamine may also affect your insulin or other blood-sugar-lowering medication, so talk to your doctor before starting glucosamine.
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