These two compounds have gained widespread use for the treatment of arthritic conditions. Though initially skeptical of "homeopathic" natural remedies, our patients have swayed our thinking by reporting excellent symptomatic relief, comparable to any non-steroidal (NSAID) drug.

The dosage that appears to be effective is 1500 mg of Glucosamine plus 1200 mg of Chondroitin sulfate. The pills can be taken once a day. We have attached the references in the literature below.

A warning however:

Also See:
Glucosamine Index
Glucosamine Update
The Use of Glucosamine Sulfate in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine References
Glucosamine Links

Other Links:
Glucosamine for Arthritis. The Medical Letter 1997.

Questions & Answers: NIH Study on Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate for Knee Osteoarthritis. National Instititutes of Health September 15, 1999.
*Note: It is anticipated that a total of 1,124 patients will be recruited for the study. Patient recruitment is expected to begin in February 2000.

References:

McCarty F. The neglect of glucosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Med Hypotheses 1994;42(5):323-27.

Vidal y Plana RR, Karzel K. Glucosamine: Its importance for the metabolism of articular cartilage. Fortschr Med 1980;98(21):801-6.

McCarty F. The neglect of gluscosamine as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Med Hypotheses 1994;42(5):323-27.

Lopez Vaz A. Double blind clinical evaluation of the relative efficacy of ibupro fen and glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthrosis of the knee in out-patients. Curr Med Res Opin 1982;8(3):145-49.

Noack W, et al. Glucosamnine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2:51-59.

Reichelt A, et al. Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. Arzneimittelforschung 1994;44(1):75-80 [In German].

D'Ambrosio E, et al. Glucosarnine sulphate: A controlled clinical investigation in arthrosis. Pharmatherapeutica 1981;2(8):504-8 [In Italian].

Vajaradul Y. Double-blind clinical evaluation of intra-articular glucosamine in outpatients with gonarthritis. Clin Ther 1981;3(5):336-43.

Puljate JM, et al. Double blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulfate in the basic treatement of osteoarthrosis. Curr Med Opin 1980;7(2):110-14.

Rovati LC, et al. A large, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of glucosamnine sulfate vs. piroxicam and vs. their association, on the kinetics of the symptomatic effect in knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2(supplement 1):56.

Crolle G, D'Este E. Glucosamine sulphate for the management of arthrosis: A controlled clinical investigation. Curr Med Res Opin 1980;7(2):104-9.

Muller-Fassbender H, et al. Glucosamine sulfate compared to ibuprofen in osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2(1):61-69.

Dovanti A, Bignamini AA, Rovati AL. Therapeutic activity of oral glucosamine sulphate in osteoathrosis: A placebo-controlled double blind investigation. Clin Ther 1980;3(4):266-72.

Caps JC, et al. Hexosamine metabolism. I. The absorption and metabolism in vivo of orally administered D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine in the rat. Biochem Biophys Acta 1966;127:194-204.

Kohn P, et al. Metabolism of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine in intact rat. J Biol Chem 1962;237(2):304-8.

Tesoriere G, et al. Intestinal abosorption of glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine. Experientia 1972;28:770-771.

Qiu G., Gao S., Setnikar I. Efficacy and Safety of Glucosamine Sulfate vs. Ibuprofen in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:60, 1997

Ronca G. Antiinflammatory Activity of Chondrontin Sulfate. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:69, 1997

Bourgeois P., Chales G., Dehais J., Delcambre B., Dreyfus P., Kuntz, J., Rosenberg S. Efficacy and Tolerability of Chondroitin Sulfate 1200 MG/DIE vs. Chondroitin Sulfate 3x400 MG/DIE vs. Placebo. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:69, 1997

Bucsi L., Poor G. Efficacy and Tolerability of 2x400 MG Oral Chondroitin Sulfate as a Single Dose in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:69, 1997

Jimenez S., Dodge G. The Effects of Glucosamine Sulfate (GSO₄) on Human Chondrocyte Gene Expression. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:72, 1997

Rovati LC. The Clinical Profile of Glucosamine Sulfate as a Selective Symptom Modifying Drug in Osteoarthritis: Current Data and Perspective. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 5:72, 1997

Reichelt A., Forster K., Fischer M., Rovati L., Setniker I. Efficacy and Safety of Intramuscular Glucosamine Sulfate in Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Arzneimittel-Forschung 44 (1) 75-80, 1994

Setnikar I., Giaccheti C., Zanolo G. Pharmacokinetics of Glucosamine in the Dog and Man. Arzneimittel-Forschung 36 (4) 729-735, 1986

Muller-Fassbender H., Bach G., Haase W., Rovati L., Setnikar I. Glucosamine Sulfate Compared to Ibuprofen in Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage (United Kingdom) 2/1 (61-69), 1994

Noack W., Fischer M., Forster K., Rovati L., Setnikar I. Glucosamine Sulfate in Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage (United Kingdom) 2/1 (51-59), 1994