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Herbs & Supplements
2-Amino-2-Deoxyglucose
Scientific Name: Glucosamine
Other Names: Chitosamine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Glucosamine Sulfate, N-acetyl Glucosamine
What interactions should I watch for?
Recently, one case was reported of a tendency toward excessive bleeding in an individual taking both warfarin and a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. Warfarin is an anticoagulant drug taken to prevent blood clots by "thinning the blood". Although this possible interaction has not been confirmed, individuals who take anticoagulants or a related group of drugs known as antiplatelet agents should not take glucosamine.
- Anticoagulants include heparin and warfarin
- Antiplatelets include clopidogrel and Ticlid
Oral glucosamine is not believed to affect blood sugar. However, injected glucosamine may interfere with insulin and oral drugs for diabetes, such as:
- acarbose
- Avandia
- glimepiride
- glipizide
- glyburide
- Glyset
- metformin
- Prandin
Because injected glucosamine may increase blood sugar levels, using it with herbal products that lower blood sugar may have a very slight risk of resulting in blood sugar that is too high or too low. Herbals that may reduce blood sugar include:
- Eleuthero
- Fenugreek
- Ginger (in high amounts)
- Kudzu
- Panax Ginseng
Although no cases of interactions with other herbal anticoagulants have been reported with glucosamine, it is possible that the risk of excessive or uncontrolled bleeding may be slightly higher if glucosamine is used with other herbs that may decrease blood clotting. Some of the most common herbal products that might inhibit blood clotting are:
- Danshen
- Devil's Claw
- Eleuthero
- Garlic
- Ginger (in high amounts)
- Ginkgo
- Horse Chestnut
- Panax Ginseng
- Papain
- Red Clover
- Saw Palmetto
Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how glucosamine interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.
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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
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What interactions should I watch for?
