[Use of glucosamine does not reduce the need for other pain-relieving drugs].
BACKGROUND
Since 2004, glucosamine has been available as a prescription drug for symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to characterize glucosamine utilization patterns, and patients' concomitant use of other analgesics, as well as the prescribers' medical specialty.


METHODS
We searched the Norwegian Prescription Database for all glucosamine prescriptions dispensed during the years 2004, 2005 and 2006, and prescriptions for analgesics with codeine, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reimbursed for arthrosis for the same patients.


RESULTS
In the three-year period, 91,107 patients received 297,558 prescriptions for glucosamine-corresponding to a total cost for patients of 70 mill. NOK. 86 % of patients were more than 50 years old, 69 % were women. Among physicians with a known specialty, 84 % of prescribers were specialists in general practice. 33.3 % of patients used glucosamine all three years. Among the patients who used glucosamine regularly 19 % were prescribed NSAIDs, while 22 % of them used analgesics containing codeine. Patients who started taking glucosamine did not reduce their use of analgetics containing codeine. A positive correlation was seen between use of glucosamine and use of NSAIDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Glucosamine use is not associated with use of less other pain-relieving drugs. This may reflect insufficient clinical effect of glucosamine.
Berge
Hilde Moseby
HM
Allmennmedisinsk forskningsenhet, Seksjon for allmennmedisin, Institutt for helse og samfunn, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1130 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway. hilde.moseby.berge@nih.no
Gjelstad
Svein
S
Furu
Kari
K
Straand
Jørund
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D005944:Glucosamine