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Arthritis  (Expert Forum)
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Glucosamine Chondroitin - Increasing Dosing
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding arthritis issues such as: Arthritis, Autoimmune Disease, Bursitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Myositis, Neuralgia, Osteoarthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Tendinitis, Vasculitis.

Glucosamine Chondroitin - Increasing Dosing

by Barbarino, May 08, 2005 12:00AM
Hey Doc-

I'm a 47 year old female with a LONG (25 years) history of mild to moderate arthritis & bursitis.  I've been sucessfully treated with 2 courses of Synvisc in both knees with a wonderful result (No more pain!) But developed transient in terms of location, but sometimes persistent muscle & joint pain almost every where else - most painfull & continous in both feet (temp resolution with cortizone injections).  I was taking Viox before it was taken off the market - it was like a wonder drug - totally pain with no fatigue at 25mg.

Since its removal I have have tried every thing from high doses of asprin (killed my stomach), Iboproan (sp? - made me feel weird) to emu oil.  I have gotten fairly comparble pain relief to the Vioxx with Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate.  I started at 1.5g & 1.2g respectively. But now require 4X that dose to get even mild relief.  And if for any reason I forget to take it the next day I am almost unable to walk I am in such pain everywhere and it will take 3-5 days of dosing at above the 4x level to recover.  Can I be developing or building a tolerance?  How much of this stuff can you safely take?  And is the any truth to the MSM/Emu Oil claim? And I'm tired ALL the time.

by Kevin Pho, MD, May 11, 2005 12:00AM
There is no clear data that I am aware of regarding MSM or Emu oil.  



Regarding the glucosamine, most of the data for this suggestes improvement within 6 months.  The data is less clear for use longer than 6 months.  



With the chondroitin, there is no evidence of a dose response relationship.  Doses a 800mg and 1200mg per day were similarly effective.  



The typical dose of the studies are 1500mg of glucosamine and 800mg or 1200mg of chondroitin.  



You may want to discuss this with your personal physician or rheumatologist.



Followup with your personal physician is essential.



This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.



Kevin, M.D.

Medical Weblog:

kevinmd_b
Member Comments

by sparker, Oct 12, 2005 12:00AM
Visit the following site:

http://www.flexforceworks.com



Wear and tear is not just a result of aging. Simple, everyday activities like walking, gardening, lifting weights, and even typing or sitting for long periods of time can be hard on your joints!



Flex-Force is a dietary supplement for people of all ages and walks of life - a safe, natural approach for healthy joints.



A one-of-a-kind dietary support formulation of easily assimilated small molecule nutrients comparable to the active ingredients of Chondroitin, Glucosamine and MSM along with Hyaluronic Acid (HA), that collectively go to work quickly and effectively helping to fuel the body's natural synthesizing process, thus promoting healthy well lubricated cartilage.
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