Vilma's advice is well taken. I do not buy a generic. The Cosamin DS for humans that I buy for my dogs is manufactured by the same company that manufactures Cosequin DS for veterinary use -- Nutramax. The human version claims to be "the only G/C sulfate brand proven effective in controlled U.S. published studies to reduce joint pain and protect cartilage." Not that I believe everything that advertisers say, but I have stayed with the identical manufacturer of the vet prescribed G/C and use the human version, assuming that the human formulation is at least equal to or better than the veterinary one. I could be wrong, but given that I will use a G/C product this seemed to be my wisest choice.
Nancy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 6:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Glucosamine/Chondroitin--brand name vs generic In a message dated 1/3/2003 8:44:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I should go to the COSTCO and buy the > human formulation of Cosequin DS. It was much cheaper and is identical in > formulation. Maybe. Maybe not. Generic over the counter products may or may not contain what the label claims they do. No one actually checks on them. Especially when you are talking about "nutraceuticals" and herbal type products that are produced and sold w/out the supervision of the FDA, you just never really know what you are getting. You know nothing about product purity or dosing. I was at a medical conference recently where a group of researchers actually bought 10 different brands of a common herbal product (I forget whether it was ginsing or black cohosh....something like that) and analysed the products. All the companies had labeling that claimed the same dosage of the same product. The range of what WAS actually in the pills they were selling was amazing....from NONE of the "active ingredient" at all to several times the dose listed. Buyer beware! If you are buying a product not under FDA regulation, I would go w/ a well recognised brand name w/ a repuation to protect. Vilma Briggs, MD Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CGC and Ted
