Glucosamine Question

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Bill W - 13 Aug 2005 01:40 GMT

I have been living with Osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee for about a
year. My Doctor had prescribed Bextra, which proved very effective in
controlling the pain. However, with all the information coming out about
Bextra and Celebrex, I discontinued its use. I then started taking
glucosamine about six months ago and found it to be very effective to the
point that I no longer use Advil that I had been taking in lieu of Bextra.
My question is concerning the quality of glucosamine available, in that it
is not regulated by the FDA. Can anyone recommend a brand or brands due to
their quality and combination of ingredients and its effectiveness as
opposed to other brands? I have seen that chondrotin in combination with
glucosamine can be effective. Is there a percentage of chondrotin that
should be taken in combination with glucosamine? I prefer to purchase the
glucosamine in a local drug store or even one of the vitamin shops found in
the area malls. Any help is appreciated.

Regards,
Bill

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Brad Clarke - 13 Aug 2005 04:01 GMT

>>My question is concerning the quality of glucosamine available, in that it
>>is not regulated by the FDA. Can anyone recommend a brand or brands due to
>>their quality and combination of ingredients and its effectiveness as
>>opposed to other brands?

I take Glucosamine Sulfate made by Webber Naturals, but I don't know if
it's available in the US.

Swiss brand is another reliable brand.

>>I have seen that chondrotin in combination with
>>glucosamine can be effective. Is there a percentage of chondrotin that
>>should be taken in combination with glucosamine?

When I buy Glucosamine Sulfate with Chondroitin, I get the 500/400
combination.

Brad

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spodosaurus - 13 Aug 2005 05:46 GMT

> I have been living with Osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee for about a
> year. My Doctor had prescribed Bextra, which proved very effective in
> controlling the pain. However, with all the information coming out about
> Bextra and Celebrex, I discontinued its use.

Why? The 'information' you're referring to is mostly misinformation
being spread by journalists who don't understand what they're reading in
the published studies but like to make everyone feel they have to be
'afraid, very afraid!'. As long as you're not taking megadoses of
Celebrex as part of a cancer treatment trial, then you have nothing to
worry about. Even Vioxx is safer than the other NSAIDS which kill and/or
maim thousands every year through stomach and intestinal injuries.
You're safer taking Vioxx than you would be taking the old drugs, but
the media completely ignored that in favour of their headline grabbing
fear campaign.

> I then started taking
> glucosamine about six months ago and found it to be very effective to the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> opposed to other brands? I have seen that chondrotin in combination with
> glucosamine can be effective.

Not so much, at least I haven't seen anything published in peer reviewed
journals indicating to me that it's more effective than glucosamine
alone. This doesn't mean such papers don't exist, only that I haven't
seen them yet.

> Is there a percentage of chondrotin that
> should be taken in combination with glucosamine? I prefer to purchase the
> glucosamine in a local drug store or even one of the vitamin shops found in
> the area malls. Any help is appreciated.

Just make sure you're consistently taking it, each day, and that if you
switch brands you're taking the same dose. Different brands vary the
amount of glucosamine (hydrochloride or sulphate) in each tablet.

Cheers,

Ari

> Regards,
> Bill

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Joan Carter - 13 Aug 2005 18:36 GMT

>Not so much, at least I haven't seen anything published in peer reviewed
>journals indicating to me that it's more effective than glucosamine
>alone. This doesn't mean such papers don't exist, only that I haven't
>seen them yet.

I asked my RD about a glucosamine/chondroitin duo and he said just to take the
glucosamine and there wasn't much proof that the latter works.
---
Joan

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Gary Z - 15 Aug 2005 13:58 GMT

>I have been living with Osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee for about
>a year. My Doctor had prescribed Bextra, which proved very effective in
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Regards,
> Bill

Hi Bill,
http://www.drtheo.com/

There is a section here where they publish test results lot-by-lot of a few
national brands of glucosamine.
GaryZ

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