By Gwen on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:12 pm:

Has anyone tried these dietary supplements? What do you think of them? Does anyone know if there have been independent studies of their effects or any reports
other than anecdotal ones from consumers?

By JAS on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:12 pm:

It works for me. My Chiropractor told me to take it and he said there were clinical trials that show very positive results.

I have just started taking Quercetin in a small spray bottle. you spray it under your tongue. I haven't needed Motrin since!

Jas

By Andrea on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:12 pm:

Dear Gwen

I am taking Glucosamine Sulphate with Chondroitin Sulphate. Glucosamine Sulphate helps with the manufacture on collagen which is the protein that makes up
connective tissue. Chondroitin acts as a magnet, sweeping nutrients into the cartilage. It therefore protects existing cartilage from premature breakdown. Both
substances are already consumed and produced in minute quantities in our bodies, and they have therefore no side effects (which stands in stark contrast to
non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and cortisone). Both substances help the body to repair damaged cartilage.

I found out this information from the Fibromyalgia Society in Northern Ireland under their infomation on diet and supplements... purely by accident. But since I
suffer from secondary Fibromyalgia as well as HMS it certainly makes sense to try it out. I have been taking GS with CS now for two months and I cannot tell yet
whether it makes a difference, but I am prepared to give it a year. However, since I was in such a mess at the beginning of the year I am perhaps not a very good
reference anyway! Anyone else out there with more experience on these substances?

Regards - Andrea

By Melissa on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:13 pm:

There is a review article in this week's (March 15, 2000) JAMA about Glucosamine and chondroitin. It was pretty interesting.

By Barbara on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:13 pm:

My father read the book, "The Arthritis Cure" by Dr. Theodasakis. He believed it would work based on the information in the book. He has tried it and is very
pleased with the results. A link to Dr Theodasakis home page appears below.

The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) published a review of Glucosamine and Chondroitin in the recent issue of Arthritis Today (Jan/Feb 2000 I think). I
highly recommend reading both Dr. Theodasakis book and the Arthritis Today article as well as consulting with your physician before trying this treatment.

Dr. Theodasakis Home Page.

By Ian on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 01:14 pm:

You can get information and I copy:

Dr. Theo's Comments: There are over 80 products claiming to contain glucosamine and or chondroitin. Some do and some don't, despite what their label states. I
am concerned about those companies that attempt to mislead customers by having false label claims and are producing an inferior product.

I have products independently tested for potency, purity, dissolveability, and bacterial contamination. In my practice I see people fail when taking inferior products
and find success when they switch to one of the recommended brands.

The URL is: http://www.drtheo.com/index.html

By Debbe on Thursday, November 30, 2000 - 08:07 am:

Does anyone know if it is safe to take
Glucosamine and Chondroitin when you are pregnant?

By Ed on Thursday, December 21, 2000 - 07:03 pm:

Is anyone familiar with a product from Schiff called Joint Free Plus. It's a powder that contains hydrolyzed collagen (10 grams), glucosamine hydrochloride (1500 mg), and chondroitin sulfate (500 mg). I have been taking it for about 9 months to stregthen ligaments and tendons, but have yet to see any results.

By Gwen on Friday, December 22, 2000 - 11:08 am:

Sorry I can't remember which site it's on but it's one of the EDS or HMS ones (Maybe the British EDS site) a doctor has a letter about clinical tests he has done using glucosamine and chondroitin. He said that he was unable to publish results at that time because they have to be peer reviewed before he can go public with them. What he did say however was that at this stage he wouldn't recommend anyone give up the medication they are already taking so sounds as if G & C may be a lemon.

By Cheryl Morgan on Monday, February 26, 2001 - 07:07 pm:

I have been taking Cosamin DS for about a year and a half now. I have noticed a big difference. Most of my muscle aches have relaxed out and I haven't felt much better in years. It is expensive but it works. Cosamine DS is glucosamine, chondriton, ascorbate and manganese which is supposed to help with collagen regeneration and since eds is a collagen deficiancy, I figured there was nothing to lose but a few pain free days. It took about amonth or two before I really noticed a bg difference. Now if I forget to take it for a couple of days it reminds me why I take it.
Thanks,
Cheryl Morgan
riggerette@hotmail.com

By Rosemary Small on Tuesday, August 28, 2001 - 08:47 am:

I hace an EDSIII type connective tissue disorder and am prone to dislocations head to toe. I have been taking Thompson Gluco-pro 900 for eleven months now. This is a brand recommmended by Dr. Theo of the Arthritis Cure book and is the most reasonable in price of the four brands he recommends. I can only purchase this brand at an internet site. Twice I did not have a supply for a week or more. I noticed that the connective tissues in my hips, knees and ankles became painful and inflexible, like a long slow very hard and knotted cramp. Acupressure and massage therapy could only partially alleviate the cramp effect. Vicodin didn't alleviate the pain. The tendons above my knees were so stiff and bonelike, they trembled when I put weight on them. Twenty four hours after my first dose of glucosamine chondrotin I was back to "normal", which is bearable. I also take 10mg of pregnenolone (dissolved slowly in the mouth) once a day. This has really reduced the anthralgia in my hands and feet. Since I began taking these two supplements my use of prescription pain killer has gone down from once or twice a day to once or twice a week. That's good.

By heather on Saturday, September 01, 2001 - 01:04 pm:

i also use a glucosamine gel on the actual joint that is aching or painful or whatever. i keep it in the fridge and use it after a warm bath. if i'm really lucky my husband massages it in- heaven!!