COPAXONE Reviews (GLATIRAMER ACETATE)Average Rating: 3.5 (300 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare COPAXONE with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on COPAXONE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR COPAXONE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | RRMS | The usual. Itching at the injection site. | I was diagnosed in March, 2009 after two exascerbations in 5 months. After the diagnosis, I started an all-out assault: Copaxone & LDN, along with a Low-fat/No Gluten diet. I'm glad to say that I have had no relapses in almost a year and the number of enhancing lesions on my MRI has went from 19 to 2. | M | 43 | 300 days | 1/27/2010 | 5 | M.S. | Stinging after injection was very bad at first..actually, horrible. But now, after nearly 2 months of being on it, the stinging only lasts a few mins and is much less intense | Seems like it is working well | M | 24 | 20mg 1X day | 4/29/2010 | 5 | rrms | nothing major in 5 years. little swelling at site. because of thin arms hated arm shots. dr said skip this. if it aint broke dont fix it! | no relapses but worried if rest of my innmune system is ok. had kidney stones 2 years ago, and am in midst of prostate scare. | M | 55 | 5 years 20 1X day | 3/26/2011 | 5 | MS | None | M | 27 | 5 days 20 1X day | 3/21/2012 | 5 | MS | none | been working great | M | 50 | 7 years 20mg 1X day | 8/27/2012 | 5 | RRMS | Redness, flushing, fevers every once in a while. For fever times I take a Benadryl and it seems to help. Had one episode 13 years ago none since, I will defiantly stay on copaxone even with some lousy side effects | M | 50 | 10 years 20mg | 1/10/2013 | 5 | MS | occasional injection site reaction. | I took Rebif for 7 months, and the side effects were intolerable. Copaxone seems so far to have good efficacy with no side effects.......I am very pleased. | M | 38 | 2 months | 6/11/2007 | 5 | RRMS | I have had the common things like Bumps and Swelling and Site Pain and Redness, but it's all fine. My most unusual one is of Hyper Emotional Sensitivity. I would 'Cry' after something like standing on an ant. Incredible. This subsided very quickly after I started taking my Zoloft with my Copaxone at night before sleep. | I was diagnosed with RRMS after a near complete shutdown of my body. When I did not die of the Stroke or Tumor that I was “suffering” from, an MRI and other tests found the MS. Seems that I have had it for over 20 years, just undiagnosed. I have the normal symptoms like fatigue, weakness, shaking and loss of muscle control, They wax and wane. BUT - My main symptoms have been not so much to do with the physical as the mental side of life. From the bad Depression to the bad Memory, from the change in Personality to the Mood Swings and Impatience, the list can go on and on. I can only say that MS can be very insidious. Since I started treatment with the Copaxone, many if not most, of my symptoms have diminished to a very noticeable and acceptable stage. I actually look forward to what the future holds, and I really do put it down to the Copaxone, Because I have done nothing else different. And hey, the walking stick makes me look distinguished. | M | 46 | 10.5 days | 11/27/2007 | 5 | MS disabled | Have lumps from injections. twice I have had severe reation with extreme pain, vomiting, sweating, loss of continence. Symptoms subsided after several hours. I think I injected into a vein. | Has helped me tremendously. Initial diagnosis during 4 days in hospital, unable to walk or stand. Steroids gave me energy to go home. I had difficulty speaking, doing math and walking. Copaxone has enabled me to work full time and enjoy a normal existance. The NORD program has provided grants so I can continue to have this effective treatment | M | 57 | 2 years | 1/3/2008 | 5 | RPMS (Relapsing Progressive) | Lumps, Welts, periodic itching at injection site. Piece of cake as far as I'm concerned compared to heavy flu-like symptoms for 36 to 48 hours every week for 4 years! It's important to bring the Copaxone to room temperature BEFORE injecting, I take 5 doses out of the fridge at a time (1 card) when I have two left from the card I take out the next card of 5. Heat to injection site BEFORE injecting, then ice AFTER if needed. I don't use heat or ice any longer, because it's not necessary. Stinging might happen the first minute or two following injection, but not often. Lumps can be massaged away 24 hours after injection. The only time that I had the problem with breathing was the day I definitely dumped the entire injection directly into a vein. Scarier than Halloween and Freddy Kruger combined, but it does pass, you just have to remember to keep telling yourself to breath slowly and deeply. Easier said than done, but if you panic you hyperventilate. Don't put your head between your knees | After 4 years on Avonex, being sick 2 days out of 7 and still progressing in disability, having to take 4 Advil at 2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m. to inject at 9 p.m. then 4 more Advil at 10 p.m. just to cut the flu-like symptoms down to those 24 to 48 hours (otherwise I had symptoms for 6 days following the injection)I will stop taking Copaxone when they pry it out of my cold dead hands. I'm so enthusiastic about Copaxone because I felt it start working the very first injection, and have been on a fairly uphill trend since then. It's not necessary to use my cane, unless I've been exposed to high temperatures for more than 2 hours. I've been able to return to work part-time and today I baked a cake AND cooked dinner as well.. Things I haven't been able to do for more than several years. | M | 49 | 1.5 years | 4/4/2008 | 5 | MS | stinging at site...usually goes away within an hour. Have had 1 "site reaction"... scariest thing I've ever experienced...I'm pretty sure I injected it into a vein...am now more careful with how I inject...no more quickly hitting areas outside of known safe spots. The shortness of breath, locking up of back muscles, bowel and bladder spasticness...I thought I was dying...actually called 911 before calling the DR. It went away after approx. 30 minutes. | Take a shot daily...never miss it...told the company to stop calling...they keep checking up on me...I explained that I will never miss my copaxone shot. Has helped trmendously. The biggest help for me...for two years of MS symptoms, having absolutely no libido was the hardest thing with which to deal...and understand. I'm sure the wife thought I was messing around on her. But, honestly, had absolutely no libido....after having a kid, and a cold wind getting me excited...seriously, nada. A naked woman could have walked up in front of me and done bent over at the waist...I would have blown her off. Since the copaxone, the libido has clicked back on...it's amazing...I will never miss my shot of copaxone. Frankly, I'm back to being a pig again...I'm sure there are times when the wife would like to hide the Copaxone!! The ten doctors I had seen before finding a cure all told me that I was getting old, too fat, etc... However, I knew something was wrong. :) | M | 44 | 5.5 months | 12/10/2008 | 5 | RRMS | Intense pain, burning, and stinging, severe itching & welts the next day that lasts for weeks, and skin discoloration that seems to take forever to fade. | The Copaxone injections were unbearable when I first started them, but now the shots are relatively painless and the side effects I was experiencing have pretty much resolved with the exception of the skin discoloration, but those are "battle scars" I can live with. Having watched my dad lose an eight year battle with PPMS, I'm very happy on Copaxone. Just had my first MRI since starting the medication a year ago and everything is stable with no relapses! | M | 29 | 1 years | 10/30/2009 | 4 | Was on Avonex hated flu symtoms | It seems to work great just my skin itches on hands legs arms differnt places it looks like hives or small blisters but they itch so much sometimes I scratch until I break the skin. | No relapse in three years taking copaxone I guess I will deal with the itching. | M | 42 | 4 years | 9/13/2009 | 4 | MS | One episode of rapid heart palpitations, perhaps injected into a vein. Pain at injection site for 20 minutes at bedtime, thigh sites are the most painful. | Taking it with Avonex in Mayo Clinical Study, side effects are OK compared with the Avonex injection, which are flu like and make Mondays a challenge after a Sunday nite injection. Trial is very encouraging for combining the two drugs, though. | M | 60 | 21 months | 3/30/2009 | 4 | MS | Rebif landed me in the hospital in serious condition. My Neuro thinks I may have issues with interferons so we decided on Copaxone. All I can say is the side effects of Copaxone dont even compare to Rebif. My biggest complaint about Copaxone is it feels like someone punched me where I injected the medicine and the pain lasts for about an hour. I was worried about anxiety because I read about that possible side effect due to my diagnosis years ago of having GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) but I take Cymbalta for that and think all is OK. Its just the Injection site reaction that I hate but its just temporary. I am so happy I dont feel like I am going to die like I did on Rebif. | New to the drug but I am hopeful. | M | 41 | 2 weeks | 7/9/2008 | 4 | RRMS | Nothing for the first two months except twice after injecting in my right arm, I had extreme pain in that arm for about 4 hours. I stopped injecting in that location and everything was great for 3 months (I did not use the auto-injector). after starting my 4th month ( started using the auto injector because it is easier) and I started getting red welts at the injection sites which would itch two days later (strange). Somedays I get EXTREME fatigue, but I'm not sure it this is Copaxone related. | I will be switching to the 3x a week 40 MG next week. Although I have only been on the medication for a short time, I do think that it helps, I feel better overall. | M | 47 | 4 months 20 MG 1X day | 5/14/2014 | 4 | RRMS | Redness, stinging of injection site but barable | Lost sight in both eye's for 2 months due too RRMS Had several small spots & one really large one on my brain haven't had a follow up MRI only been on copaxone for 6 months my vision fades but ain't lost it completely since taken copaxone. Since sight is better i'll keep using copaxone. Injection site trouble ain't nothing compaired to not seeing. | M | 39 | 6 months | 2/12/2008 | 4 | MS | I have mass bruising at injection site; I believe this is due to the auto injector. I am a very thin man with a massive needle phobia. The bruising is subcutaneous thus it is not absorbed through the muscle. The blood of the bruise pushes through the skin leaving me with a US quarter size open wound that takes 2 months to heal in the form of a scare. Does anyone else use the Auto Injector? Does anyone else have bruising? I know some folks find scares sexy but this is looking more like I am a Dalmatian. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. | M | 40 | 7 years | 6/8/2007 | 4 | Multiple Sclerosis | When I do the injection I get a stinging like a bee sting that lasts for about fifteen minutes. I have welt marks esp on the thighs. | I have had this happen two times where I got really dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. | M | 51 | 40 days | 8/8/2007 | 4 | ms | I started on Rebif but hamered my white blood cell count (2.7) so I switched to Copaxone. When I first started it hurt like heck, but I found I was injecting too deep. Once I got that right, it was limited to some swelling, itchiness, and redness. | M | 36 | 2.5 years | 2/4/2007 |
COPAXONE (GLATIRAMER ACETATE): This medication is used to treat a certain type of multiple sclerosis (relapsing multiple sclerosis-MS). It is a protein that is thought to work by preventing your immune system from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This effect can decrease the number of periods of disease worsening (relapses) and prevent or delay disability. It is not a cure for MS. FDA Approval Date: 2014-01-28 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)