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Adverse Effects of Glucosamine Chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin is a combination supplement made from materials found in the joints and cartilage of humans and animals. Despite its effectiveness for the treatment of osteoarthritis, glucosamine chondroitin poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

  1. Types of Side Effects

    • Both glucosamine and chondroitin have the potential to cause nausea, diarrhea,= and constipation. Possible side effects of glucosamine are heartburn, drowsiness, skin rashes and headaches, while chondroitin causes swelling of the legs or eyelids, hair loss and irregular heartbeat in some patients.

    Drug Interactions

    • Both glucosamine and chondroitin increase your risk of deveoping uncontrollable bleeding when taken with blood thinners like Warfarin.

    Concerns About Sources

    • Crabs and lobster are common sources of glucosamine, posing a risk for severe allergic reactions in people allergic to shellfish. Because manufacturers frequently obtain chondroitin from cows, there is some concern that supplements produced from animals infected with mad cow disease may become contaminated and dangerous for humans, reports RxList. There have been no reported cases of Mad Cow contamination in humans due to chondroitin, however.

    Risks

    • Infrequently, glucosamine causes increased blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. It is also possible for glucosamine to reduce the effectiveness of medications used to treat diabetes, such as Metformin, Actos and insulin.

    Considerations

    • Because there is not enough research about its effects on fetal development, avoid taking glucosamine chondroitin while pregnant. If you have a history of asthma or prostate cancer, you should not take glucosamine chondroitin due to potential complications to your condition.

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