Glucosamine and Chondroitin Dosage

There are currently some general recommendations available for taking your dosage of glucosamine and chondroitin. The usual recommended glucosamine dose for treating arthritis is 1500 mg daily, and clinical studies have used a chondroitin dose of 200 to 400 mg two or three times daily. These separate dosage recommendations may be helpful for determining appropriate dosing guidelines for this combination supplement.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Supplements

An Introduction to Glucosamine and Chondroitin Dosages

Glucosamine and chondroitin is a dietary supplement most often taken for arthritis treatment. Unlike for most dietary supplements, there are actually fairly established dosing guidelines for glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation (at least for treating arthritis).

Dosing for Arthritis

For the treatment of arthritis, a glucosamine dose of 1500 mg once daily (or 500 mg three times daily) taken by mouth is usually recommended. A chondroitin dose of 200 to 400 mg two or three times daily has been used in clinical studies. Some studies used a single daily dose of chondroitin -- 1000 to 1200 mg once daily.

It is not clear if glucosamine and chondroitin products with additional active ingredients (such as MSM) provide any additional benefits. Also, it is not clear if there are any important differences between the different types of glucosamine (glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, or N-acetyl glucosamine) used in these products.

Keep in mind that studies suggest that it may take four to eight weeks (or longer) before significant benefit is seen.

General Information on Dosing With Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Some considerations for people taking this supplement include:

Since the manufacturing of supplements (such as glucosamine and chondroitin) is not closely regulated, it is important to choose a trustworthy manufacturer for supplements. Your pharmacist can help you find a supplement from a good manufacturer. It is a good idea to look for glucosamine and chondroitin products that are USP verified (which means the products have met certain manufacturing, purity, dissolution, and content specifications).
If you have any chronic health problems or take any prescription medications, it is probably a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before taking glucosamine and chondroitin.
If you are unsure about anything related to your dosage or glucosamine and chondroitin dosing in general, please talk with your healthcare provider.