Glucosamine any good?

If you are in the early stages of osteoarthritis, it may help. Generally, I have read if you do not notice improvement after 3 months, stop. I had more success with turmeric extract for 9 months, at the mild stage.

I have taken glucosamine for many years. I take 2 doses a day of 1000 mg. each. I take a supplement which is a powder in a capsule, not a solid tablet, and always have it with food. Have never had any problems with it, but I have by mistake bought the tablets and find them impossible to swallow, so never actually found out if they were hard on the digestion! You do need the higher dose for it to be effective. it is also a long term medication. It will not relieve pain, but what it will do is help keep the cartilage healthier and probably slows down progression of the osteoarthritis.

Avoid NSAIDS (including aspirin) because they actually interfere with cartilage regeneration.

I was first diagnosed with OA when I was 40. I am now 71. There has been very little progression of the OA in terms of symptoms, but in fact x-rays show OA in hands and feet (actually you can see that!) in my lumber and cervical spine and starting in my knees. So I have quite an extensive amount of OA and have had it for more than 30 years. So perhpas the glucosamine has helped. That and keeping weight down and exercising to maintain range of motion and keep supporting muscles strong.

I suspect that studies which claim it is not effective have not gone on for long enough.