Glucosamine Sulfate

Glucosamine Sulfate            Are there any interactions with medications?

Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating: Major Do not take this combination.

"Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to reduce blood clotting. There are several reports showing that taking glucosamine sulfate with or without chondroitin increases the "effect of warfarin (Coumadin), making clots more slowly. This may lead to bruising and which can be severe. Do not take glucosamine sulfate if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Many natural medicines can interact with warfarin (Coumadin).

Medicines to treat cancer (anti-mitotic chemotherapy)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk to your doctor.

Some medications for cancer work by decreasing how fast the cancer cells can replicate itself. Some researchers believe that glucosamine sulfate may increase how fast the tumor cells can replicate itself. Taking glucosamine sulfate along with some medicines for cancer can decrease the effectiveness of these medications for cancer. Any person receiving chemotherapy should talk with their health provider before taking glucosamine sulfate.

Some of these drugs are etoposide (VP16, Vepesid), Teniposide (VM26), and doxorubicin (Adriamycin).

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.
Talk to your doctor.

There is some concern that taking glucosamine sulfate and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) together can affect how well the individual works. However, more information is needed to know whether this interaction is a major concern. For now, say most experts, is it okay to use both together.

Medicines for diabetes (diabetes medication)
Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.
Talk to your doctor.

There have been concerns that glucosamine sulfate may increase blood sugar in people with diabetes. There was also concern that glucosamine sulfate may decrease how well diabetes medicines work. But research now shows that glucosamine sulfate probably does not increase blood sugar in people with diabetes. Therefore, glucosamine sulphate is unlikely to interfere with diabetes medications. To be careful if you take glucosamine sulfate and have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely.

Some drugs used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Dosing considerations for glucosamine sulfate.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

By mouth:

    Osteoarthritis: 1500 mg once daily or 500 mg three times daily.
    Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis: 500 mg three times daily.