Glucosamine: When to Take It & How to Track It

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a building block of cartilage, the tissue that cushions joints. Supplements, often combined with chondroitin, are widely taken for osteoarthritis. NCCIH says it is still uncertain whether they help with knee osteoarthritis, and medical guidelines disagree: some recommend against glucosamine, while one lists it as possibly helpful for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. For hip osteoarthritis it was no better than placebo. Large studies have not found major safety problems, but glucosamine may affect blood sugar and bleeding risk with warfarin, so a record of when you take it is useful.

When to take Glucosamine: general timing information

• Evidence for knee osteoarthritis is uncertain and guidelines conflict. For hip osteoarthritis, glucosamine sulfate was no better than placebo. [1]

• Glucosamine and chondroitin have been linked to a higher risk of bleeding in people taking warfarin. [1]

• Glucosamine may raise blood sugar in some people, which matters if you have diabetes. [1]

• Little is known about its safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding. [1]

How to set a Glucosamine reminder in Pillzy

1. 1

   Tap + in Pillzy and add your glucosamine product with the dose on the label.

2. 2

   Choose the frequency on the label and a time you will keep.

3. 3

   If you have diabetes or take warfarin, add a note so you remember to mention it.

4. 4

   Use dose notes to record joint pain on a simple scale, so you can judge after a few months whether it helps you.