Glucosamine

Common Side Effects of Glucosamine

Most people who take glucosamine tolerate it well.

Rare Side Effects of Glucosamine

Some people have constipation or diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, headache, fatigue, or skin irritation after taking glucosamine.

This is not a complete list of Glucosaminedrug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

You should not use this product if you are allergic to glucosamine.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:

• diabetes;

• high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);

• cancer;

• liver disease;

• asthma or other breathing disorder;

• if you are allergic to shellfish; or

• if you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

It is not known whether glucosamine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant.

Glucosamine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use glucosamine, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Do not use different formulations of glucosamine at the same time without medical advice. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of glucosamine.

This medicine can cause unusual results with a blood glucose (sugar) test. Do not use this product without a doctor's advice if you are diabetic.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using glucosamine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

It may take up to 8 weeks before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using glucosamine as directed.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using glucosamine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;

• diarrhea, constipation; or

• heartburn.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In clinical studies of arthritis, glucosamine dosage has typically been 1.5 g/day, as a single dose or in divided doses.

Mutagenicity studies are limited and conflicting.

Glucosamine is a component of mucopolysaccharides, mucoproteins, and chitin. Chitin is found in yeasts, fungi, arthropods, and various marine invertebrates as a major structural component of the exoskeleton. It also occurs in other animals and members of the plant kingdom. 1