Read This if You Take Glucosamine or Celebrex

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You have probably heard that glucosamine-chondroitin beat Celebrex in relieving moderate to severe knee pain in a major new National Institutes of Health study of over 1300 osteoarthritis sufferers.

Final Score:  A combination of 1500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride and 1200 mg chondroitin sulfate relieved serious pain in 80% of patients, Celebrex in 69%.

But that’s not all you need to know about the new NIH study findings and the differences between the two remedies. Glucosamine-chondroitin is superior to the prescription anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex in any number of surprising ways, says Jason Theodosakis, M.D., University of Arizona College of Medicine, author of the best-selling The Arthritis Cure, and a member of the NIH oversight committee for the new study.

Here are other reasons to choose glucosamine-chondroitin over Celebrex, Dr. Theodosakis told Jean Carper in a recent radio interview.

• Glucosamine-chondroitin is very safe  It has never caused a death.  Anti-inflammatory drugs, including Celebrex, cause over 16,500 deaths yearly, conservatively.
• Glucosamine-chondroitin does not cause high blood pressure, bleeding ulcers, kidney/liver damage and it is safe for diabetics because it does not raise blood sugar, contrary to popular belief. Celebrex causes all the above side effects and can be used only with caution in diabetics.
• Glucosamine-chondroitin benefits cartilage. Celebrex damages it.
• Glucosamine-chondroitin can be safely taken by people who are allergic to sulfa drugs. Celebrex cannot.
• Glucosamine-chondroitin does not interact with other drugs. It can be taken with acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory drugs. Celebrex cannot be taken with other drugs because of interactions.
• Glucosamine-chondroitin is much less expensive. It costs 75 cents to $1.25 a day. Celebrex, $2.50-$7.20 when you factor in the cost of a doctor’s visit to get a prescription for Celebrex. Glucosamine-chondroitin does not require one.

Important tip: Take the entire daily dose of glucosamine-chondroitin at one time–it matters not whether it is morning, noon or night. New research, says Dr. Theodosakis, finds that the single large daily dose is more effective than two or three smaller doses throughout the day.

This EatSmart column is reprinted from USAWEEKEND Magazine and is copyrighted by Jean Carper. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Jean Carper.

Tags: anti-in, arthritis, glucosamine