Glucosamine

Hi, Jeff Carson here, Compounding Pharmacist and chief of staff of Oakdell Pharmacy. Millions of Americans suffer from joint pain whether it is in their hands, knees, or shoulders. Many of them seek out non-prescription over-the-counter medications or herbals and nutritional supplements without the help of a trained healthcare practitioner. With proper education and product knowledge this can be dangerous or simply a waste of money. Because of FDA rules and regulations, much of the necessary information needed to use one of these non-prescription options is not printed on the label or packaging leaving the user to decide how they are going to use it. For example, many patients ask me about using Glucosamine or MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane). I think this is a simple and cost effective treatment. But the brand you buy can determine how well it works. It is also important to know that it takes on average, 3 months of consistent use before optimal effect is achieved. So many people use it for a few days and stop because they think it isn’t helping. If you want to use a non-prescription alternative for joint pain, ask a compounding pharmacist today about the choices that are available to you and how to use them properly.