Extensive use and research in veterinary medicine has indicated a significant improvement in hip mobility in dogs with arthritis. Mechanistically, this is believed to represent an increase in the synovial components that help cushion joints and thus delay the progress of the arthritis. Early clinical trials in humans have also indicated some benefit in administration of glucosamine. Side effects associated with glucosamine in humans include constipation, diarrh a, drowsiness, GI pain, headache, and rash. There is evidence to support benefit of glucosamine for the treatment of arthritis, especially early in the disease, but additional human studies need to be conducted to fully document efficacy, safety, and potential toxicity.
Individuals report initial pain with subsequent analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions.
The mechanism of analgesic action is a depletion of this substance P from the neurone, especially from the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord. It has been theorised that the methoxyphenol portion of the molecule may also decrease LOX and COX activity. The mechanism of this interaction is not know. This regimen will allow sustained analgesia, but patients should be counselled that the onset of analgesia is relatively slow.