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| Q. I recently had surgery on my knees and the results weren't good. I have little cartilage, and the Dr. put me on Glucosamine to help until my knee replacement in the (hopefully distant) future. I have been taking 500mg a day for about 3 weeks now. After going to my doctor for a check-up for various symptoms, I have tested positive for diabetes. Where I have always been hypoglycemic. Could the glucosamine have alter the blood test? Is it okay to continue the glucosamine? A. It is unlikely that the glucosamine altered the blood test. However, I have heard anecdotal reports that glucosamine may slightly interfere with the activity of insulin. I can't give any definitive answers on this topic until more is known. Q.Do you know of any intereaction with Vasotec and Glucosamine? I called my pharmacist and she suggested I contact you. A. I'm not aware of any interactions with glucosamine and blood pressure pills. Q. Recently, I started taking glucosamine because when the weather started getting bad - a front coming in, storms on the way, etc. my joints began to hurt, knees, back, shoulders, elbow, etc. After one day of taking the glucosamine both knees began to swell like baseballs and hurt, I stopped for a day and they went back to normal, tried another brand and now have a terrible swollen tmj joint and can hardly open my mouth- the pain is clearly coming from the joint. Am I allergic to glucosamine? My age is 49, and back in my 20's I had a bout with some form of arthitis after a daughter was born and had to take several experimental arthitis drugs -which did stop the pain and swelling. A. A small percentage of individuals are allergic to glucosamine, especially those allergic to shellfish, and hence this nutrient may not be appropriate for you. Q. In March of this year I had a Patella Tendon Graft surgery performed to repair a torn ACL in my knee. I am an athlete and have heard that taking glucosamine helps to build joint integrity and also helps in the rehabilitation process. Is this true and can it have any side effects? A. Glucosamine has been almost exclusively tested in patients with osteoarthritis who have loss of cartilage tissue. Since your problem does not seem to involve the cartilage deterioration of the knee, I doubt if glucosamine would be helpful. Rare individuals have an allergic response to glucosamine, otherwise, it is a safe supplement. Q. I am in my 70's and have osteoporosis as well as arthritis. Otherwise I am a strong and healthy individual and am doing my best to remain active in outdoor sports (tennis, walking and skiing). However, I do have a lot of pain after exercise, and am wondering if Glucosamine would be helpful. I am taking Fosomax on a daily basis and extra calcium for the Osteporosis condition. Would the Glucosamine interfere with the Fosomax? A. It's possible glucosamine could help with the osteoarthritis. Glucosamine should not interfere with fosomax. Q. My physician has suggested that I take glucosamine for pain in my shoulder and elbow. However, I am a vegetarian and, I believe, glucosamine is derived from animal products. Is this actually the case? If so, are there any forms of glucosamine that are suitable for use by vegetarians? A. Glucosamine is derived from the skeleton of shellfish. If you have a strict definition of vegetarian, then the skeleton of shellfish could be included in this category. But since glucosamine is not coming from the flesh of shellfish, a looser definition would not suggest glucosamine is from an animal product. I am not aware of glucosamine products from vegetables or non shellfish sources. Q. In your book Glucosamine and Chondroitin, you indicate that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a different mechanism. The implication I get is that glucosamine would not work for RA. Have you ever tried (or heard of studies) on glucosamine for RA? Is it worth a try? I also read your book on 5HTP. (I'm a chronic insomniac) I found it to be the best written of all the other books on the subject. . .because you gave dosage info and info on studies, and you explained each malady separately in terms of dosage, etc. I can see that you really care about people, in the way your books are concise and very affordably priced. A. I doubt if glucosamine works for rheumatoid arthritis since the mechanism of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are completely different. Thank you for the compliment. Yes, I do care about people and their health and I hope that my writings encourage more patients and doctors learn about the potential benefits of natural supplements. Q. I am allergic to shellfish. Is their an alternative to Glcosamine? A. You can try chondroitin which could work well. Also see this website for additional information http://www.drtheo.com/qa_past.html Nov 2000 Three-year study confirms benefits of glucosamine on joint health Results of a clinical trial on the effects of glucosamine sulfate were presented in November, 2000 at the 64th American College of Rheumatology meeting in Philadelphia. In a three-year, randomized placebo-controlled trial recently completed at the Prague Institute of Rheumatology, glucosamine decreased the progression of knee osteoarthritis. In the study 202 patients with osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to treatment with 1500 mg of oral glucosamine sulfate once a day or a placebo, for three years. An x-ray of each weight-bearing, knee was taken upon enrollment into the study and at the completion of the study three years later. Results showed patients had less knee pain or stiffness, and less difficulty in performing daily activities. Their maximum walking capacity improved and the x-rays showed less narrowing of joint spaces. Dr. Sahelian comments: Although glucosamine does not help everyone with osteoarthritis, recent research seems to confirm its benefits. The dosage is 1500 mg per day, and most individuals notice a decrease in pain and improved ranged of mobility within two months of use. Arthritis Rheum 2000; 43 (Suppl.): 1908.) Nov 1999 Glucosamine eases osteoarthritis symptoms A study released on November 15th, 1999 at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology showed the over-the-counter dietary supplement glucosamine to slow the progression of osteoarthritis in the knee. More than 30 million Americans are known to suffer from osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. This condition is due to the deterioration of cartilage that cushions bones in the joints. The most common joints involved are knees, hips, and the distal joints of fingers. A Belgian study released in Boston compared disease symptoms and the average widths of joint space in 106 patients taking 1,500 milligrams once a day of glucosamine sulfate and 106 patients taking a placebo. The study was conducted over a three-year period. Researchers found that symptoms, including a narrowing of the joint space width, worsened for patients taking the placebo. Those taking glucosamine experienced no joint space width narrowing, while other symptoms showed improvement. The knees were x-rayed after one and three years. Los Angeles physician Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Glucosamine: Nature's Arthritis Remedy, says, "Most patients generally notice improvement in their symptoms after two months of starting glucosamine. Often initial higher dosages, such as 1,000 mg three times a day, lead to a quicker response. No significant side effects have yet been reported with this nutrient. Glucosamine is a safe and effective nutrient, and a great alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen." |
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