The over-the-counter supplement glucosamine and chondroitin may provide the same amount of relief as a prescription pain reliever for osteoarthritis of the knees. Three doses per day of chondroitin and glucosamine provided relief similar to that of 200 milligrams of celecoxib (Celebrex), according to a study conducted in Europe.
The multicenter study involved 606 patients over age 40 with moderate to severe knee pain from osteoarthritis. The patients lived in France, Germany, Poland, and Spain. Osteoarthritis is the type of joint damage caused by general wear and tear.
They were randomly assigned to take either 400 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate plus 500 milligrams of glucosamine hydrochloride three times a day or a single 200 milligram dose of celecoxib every day for 6 months.
The researchers were mainly focused on how much pain the patients had, and also whether the treatments helped with stiffness, function, joint swelling, and the need to take an additional pain reliever during the day. They found that both the glucosamine and chondroitin treatment and the celecoxib reduced pain by about 50% after 6 months. Both treatments reduced joint swelling by about half also. Neither group had many adverse reactions to either treatment.
Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are available without a prescription in the United States and are available combined into one tablet. As a supplement, they are not subject to close scrutiny for quality or to ensure that the tablets contain the amounts of active ingredient they should. In Europe, glucosamine and chondroitin are prescription medications and are regulated.
Cost can be an issue with both treatments. A month's supply of celecoxib costs about $130 a month, according to Consumer Reports. But because it is a prescription drug, most health insurance companies will cover it after the patient's copay. A three-month supply of glucosamine and chondroitin costs about $30.
The study was published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.