Get Informed: Glucosamine
Active Ingredient(s)
Glucosamine
What does it do?
This product is commonly used as a dietary supplement in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 3:18 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Glucosamine
- Glucosamine Sulfate
- Glucosamine Hydrochloride
- Glucadol
- Glucosam
- Arthrimin
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 20 Mar 2010
- Est US Patients*
- 940,200
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Glucosamine or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Glucosamine
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Glucosamine during the past year.
Glucosamine Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Glucosamine interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Glucosamine used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 6,200 patients that use Glucosamine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis | 97% | 
|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 3% | 
|
| Other | 3% |
|
How well does Glucosamine work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,200 users taking Glucosamine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 81%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Glucosamine outweigh the bad things.
- 5%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Glucosamine.
Common Side Effects of Glucosamine
iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,200 users taking Glucosamine (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
3% of patients experience side-effects on Glucosamine
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Glucosamine
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Diarrhea
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Glucosamine ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
i was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. i take 1500 mg. have also numbness tingling hands and feet.
25 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-07-31 19:51:16
Answer/Reply:
I also have numbness and tingling in both hands and feet. Is this caused by the Glucosamine or you had this before? Did the Glucosamine help it or no change. Do you know why you have the numbness and tingling in hands and feet. The carpal tunnel would cause in the hands. Why the feet? Have you got any answers? I haven't. Doctor did tell me I have Carpal Tunnel this would explain the hands. Wakes me up during the night. Thanks
71 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-12 12:13:41
iGuard Answer/Reply:
There could be various causes for tingling in your hands and feet. Carpal tunnel, arthritis, blood pressure fluctuations, diabetes or nerve disorders could be possible causes. If the symptoms continue or worsen you should be seen by your doctor to have a full evaluation and determine the cause. If your current doctor is not able to determine the cause, perhaps your doctor can refer you to a specialist.
Posted: 2010-01-12 22:57:27
Question/Comment:
I started taking glucosamine 2 years ago at age 50. I could not pick up very small objects (like small pills) in the morning without trying a few times because my fingers were stiff. I no longer even think about it. The problem is gone. The biggest problem with it is trying to find Glucosamine capsules that are not the size of a golf ball. (The pills are Very Big.)
53 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-03-25 12:20:48
Answer/Reply:
I have the same problem. Walmart has a orange creme chewable Glucosamine. It taste good and not hard to chew or swallow. It is like a piece of candy.
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-04-21 12:38:26
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Glucosamine Sulfate for over 10 years with great results. I buy it in the capsule form which gets into your system better than the hard tablets. I have tried the hard tablets and they were not as effective. I started taking 1000mg per day but now take it twice per day. I have shoulder pain and almost went through surgery but have avoided surgery so far by taking Glucosamine combined with shoulder exercise.
74 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-01-22 16:16:26
Answer/Reply:
I started to take Glucosamine about 7 years ago after being on a variety of NSAIs for osteoarthritis with unacceptable side effects. I noticed no untoward reaction to the Glucosamine but would check, every 18 months or so whether it was doing any good. Each time I stopped taking it, the arthritic pain returned within a week or 10 days, then it would take 3 to 4 weeks for the Glucosamne to kick in again when I resumed. Since suffering a M.I. 10 weeks ago and having a stent inserted in my R. coronary artery, I have been prescribed the usual range of blood thinners, statins,beta-blockers etc and am a bit anxious about possible interactions.
81 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-02-16 11:25:53
Question/Comment:
I take the multi-vitamin and mineral (calcium and salmon oil) and no side-effects either...:-)
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-01-14 14:36:13
Question/Comment:
It does take about 30 days to feel any results. My knees used to 'click' when I walked. Now I can jog.
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2008-12-31 02:20:44
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
36
Patient Comments about
Glucosamine