Drug Ratings for COPAXONEAverage Rating: 3.5 (272 Ratings)
Compare COPAXONE with similar: |
Results are sorted by Satisfaction from lowest to highest Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR COPAXONE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 4 | MS | burning and itching with redness to site which lasts for about 10-15 min. Except when I inject my thighs they last all day with soreness. My Blood Pressure has been running very low 74/42 and I dont know if thats because of the copaxone But I believe it is. | I woke up last year 02/2011 and collapsed and I couldn't see , double vision , walking side ways and had a severe migraine with nausea that lasted for 2 weeeks. The ER said it was a migraine. I had a MRI done and the first neurologist I went to said, You have a migraine take this", He gave me topamax and said I'll see you in 6 months. I went to the next nuerologist and besides having chronic migraines since I was 16, they ran all kinds of tests to rule out everything,and they even did a spinal tap that was negative. But my MRI had signs of new progressive lesions growing in my head from 6 months ago and had been since 2003. So, they monotoired me and I got worse around christmas,woke up and had leg spasms from the groin down to my ankles and it felt like charlie horses and I couldn't walk. I had trouble with my urine. My doctor finally said you need to come in for some chemo/IV infusion therapy. I have had that twice in two months and it sucks. I was diagnoised with MS in 01/2012. Before that I was working as a nurse and had to quit my job. My symptoms vary day by day but pretty much are vertigo, paroxymal hemicranial headaches, leg spasms, cannot stand for no longer than 30 min at a time and low blood pressure which makes me dizzy, lightheaded, and tired which I am battling everyday right now. Does it get any better? I cant tell if the shots will help but my legs do feel better. | F | 33 | 2 weeks 20 mg 1X D | 2/15/2012 | 4 | RRMS | Large swollen lumps that are hot, red and itchy. Last about a week and then fade to ghost bruising that doesn't go away. Im taking Zyrtek nightly and using cold pack before and after. I also tape on a cotton swab with Lanacane after injecting manually. During the day I put on topical Benadryl. Does anyone have any other "tricks" that might help me? I would love to get some relief from the side effects. | F | 45 | 30 days 20 mg 1X D | 8/29/2011 | 4 | MS | Bee sting, lump, itchiness | F | 32 | 4 months 20 mg 1X D | 8/12/2011 | 4 | MS | Copaxone was great for the first 1.5 yrars. Then one evening right after the injection I started feeling hot and got a bitter taste in my month, my chest felt heavy and I could bearly breath I got bad stomach cramps and had to go to the bathroom I was terrified went to the ER and they told me it was a reaction to the medication. not another reaction for a year then it just happend again last night, I called my Neurologist and she said that other patients on that medication have been passing out, and told me to stop taking it. I go see her next week hopefully we can find something else to keep my relapse remittin MS in check. | F | 47 | 4 years 1X D | 8/1/2011 | 4 | RRMS | I get the usual injection site reactions, a hive sometimes, and the ghost bruises that stay for awhile. My main concern right now is that I feel I am immunosuppressed. Every three to four weeks I am coming down with a cold that often requires the use of antibiotics (azithromycin) to get rid of. This has been going on for the last 7 months and I don't know how to live a productive life like this. My doctors cannot figure it out, and their only answer is that it is likely the copaxone which I am quite reluctant to stop. Is anyone else experiencing this? | I have not had a relapse in exactly one year. I think copaxone is an excellent treatment for MS and the injection site reactions are really quite negligible (for me personally) given that I would much rather have a hive than optic neuritis or another such relapse. | F | 29 | 1.5 years 20mg 1X D | 7/15/2011 | 4 | RR | Bee sting, lil knots at injection site and weight gain. The weight gain is the biggest problem. I am having such a hard time getting it off. I want to stop the injections. I have tried Avonex but ended up in the Er with an allergic reaction, wasn't a fun weekend. I'm tired of having MS & I'm tired of doing these injection. Sick & tired of being sick & tired... | Copaxone is a good medication. I would want to do any other drug for MS unless they finally got oral drugs for MS… | F | 46 | 8 years 1X D | 2/24/2011 | 4 | RRMS | I've had the bee sting effect early on but after 15 months, it is much diminished. I have been very happy with this drug. I was DXed when I was 45, but looking back had symptoms for about a decade. I had the welts early on, and itching, but all that went away after the first few month. I rarely see any site reactions now. | Every person reacts differently, but I recommend trying Copaxone to see if it works for you. | M | 47 | 438 days 40 1X D | 2/22/2011 | 4 | Ms | 1or 2x/year - violent rigors, severe pain around kidneys. These reactions tend to occur if I have given the injection IV instead of S/C. I chk carefully there is no blood in the cannula of the syringe B4 I inject now. I'm a nurse. | F | 54 | 10 years 1X D | 12/24/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Some stinging and redness @ the injection site that dissapates in a few hours. | I am a Registered Nurse but have been symptomatic for 2 years but was only officially diagnosed last month. This is my first med attempt. The informational session with the RN from Shared Solutions helped as I had already begun injections when the med. arrived and she could not meet with me until the following weekend. Warm pack before injections helps. I do not use the ice pack afterward (too cold). I have not seen a change in any of my symptoms but my memory is terrible. I don't know if it is a side effect of the medication or progression of this disease but I can't think or concentrate, short term memory loss and difficulty finding the right words. I f/u with neuro. in Jan. and will revisit the topic then...If I can remember to. | F | 44 | 23 days 20mg 1X D | 12/10/2010 | 4 | MS | It feels like a bee-sting and I get a pretty nasty welt after, which lasts a few days. Nonetheless, I have to say it beats injecting into the muscle! | F | 36 | 8 days 1X D | 12/8/2010 | 4 | DIAGNOSED WITH MS | Bee sting feeling after injection despite using warm packs, cold packs, etc. (everything that the nurse told me to use); next day I have severe itching and swelling around the sites, using benadryl cream but does not help. | F | 55 | 1 months 20MG 1X D | 12/1/2010 | 4 | ms | burning itching redness sore | I have been taking Copaxone for only 12 days, the pain is pretty bad, it actually hurts tp put my pants on because of my thigh, hip, and stomach injection spots. They are all sore even a week after injection. My arm was so bad the other day I couldn't sleep on my side. But despite all of this, I am feeling better (obviously only mentally since it's only been 12 days) but I have an answer for whats wrong with me and this will help me. I am too young to let a disease slow me down, I havent even had a chance to have kids so Copaxone is very imporatant to me. | F | 23 | 12 days 20 1X D | 11/29/2010 | 4 | ms | 58 | 20MG 1X D | 11/24/2010 History | 4 | ms | I take copaxone once a week - could only tolerate injecting once a week. First five years, I injected two to three times a week. After 6 years, went off medicine for 3 weeks and had an attack. Went back on the medicine and ms improved. Believe this drug has helped me. Have bumps on my thighs from all the injections and still feels like a bee sting for 24 hours after injection. Numbing area with an icepack helps. Will continue to take this drug - ms has improved and stabilized. | F | 54 | 12 years 1X W | 10/30/2010 | 4 | Relapse/Remitting MS | common injection site reactions...lump, redness, stinging, itching. Also had 4 extremely bad reactions. Heart palpatations, shortness of breath, pain up and down my spine followed by at least 1 hour of severe tremors and shaking. | I was relieved to read that others have experienced the severe shaking after having a reaction to an injections. Several had told me that the shaking had nothing to do with the injection and was extremely rare. I have learned that if the injection is unusually painful going in it is likely I will have a severe reaction. I always take my injection at night so that if I have a reaction, I am home and able to ride it out. The benefits of Copaxone out weigh the few bad reactions so I will continue to take it. | F | 61 | 4 years 1ml 1X D | 10/13/2010 | 4 | MS | For over 11 years I just had the usual injection site reaction,raised red egg-shaped area, warm to the touch. Then this year I have had 2 extreme reactions to Copaxone. | The first was in January and the second was in Oct. where I was extremely hot (a dry hot like I felt I was going to combust) and racing heart, feeling faint and sick which lasted for about an hour then I was freezing cold. I was shaking all over. Put socks on, my robe any my husband made me some hot tea but he had to give it to me because I was shaking so badly that I couldn't hold the cup. It finally subsided but still didn't feel very well the next day. | F | 55 | 12 years 30 mg 1X D | 10/11/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Itching, lumps, swelling, sometimes bruising | I really appreciate everyone's shares and suggestion. I was dx 2009 and on copaxone 2 mo's. I feel less fatigued, but perhaps that's my imagination. I don't want another relapse, that keeps me motivated to inject. It's not bad, right before I auto-inject I tell myself "it doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt!" My worst spot is my thighs, big swelled lumps. Not much fat there. Lasts 3-5 days. I bought 2 heat packs and yesterday, at work, sat them on my thights at my desk most of the day. Today I'm icing them. Nurse suggested massaging lumps with fingertips to "break up" lumps. | F | 46 | 2 months 1X D | 9/16/2010 | 4 | I have M.S | Minor swelling at injection site and stinging for about 5 minutes | I was so afraid of the side affects that I cried before my first injection. I was fine and was pleasantly surprise that I had the strength to inject myself with the auto injet. No where near the trama I had thought Copaxone injections would be. | M | 42 | 2 days 1X D | 9/4/2010 | 4 | MS | I was Dx with MS in March 2010. I have been on Copaxone for 2 months. I use Auto injecter.I take 6 shots out of ref. a week and put in my Copaxone bag. I take my shot at 8:00 pm every night. My shots are room temp. I replace with 6 more shots when I use them up. I think the copaxone being room temp. makes a big difference. I am walking better since I started Copaxone, I still use a walker, but not as much as before the shots. | F | 50 | 2 months 30mg 1X D | 8/19/2010 | 4 | RR MS | Early days but mild side effects such as redness, delayed itching and lumps etc. I had no side effects for the first week, my ms nurse said this was due to steriods still being in my system | I have no long term disabilities after many relapses (one severe) prior to copaxone. It's too early to say if it will prevent attacks but fatigue wise I'm feeling better than I have for years. | F | 35 | 2 months 20 1X D | 8/1/2010 | 4 | Relapsing remitting MS | Swelling at site and itchiness for a few days after | At first, Copaxone was my Waterloo. I was covered in hard lumps and red patches and the itching and swelling just did not seem to dissipate. But I have now perfected my technique and all is good and happy - no more lumps and only minor itching. Have a bath before injecting, keep the injection out of the fridge the night before and stick a small plaster on the site straight after injecting. Move around after injecting to increase circulation and do not wear clothes that will rub the site for 24 hrs. This is possible by having a strict rota for injection sites. There are a total of 10 injection sites and this will give each site enough time for recovery. | F | 41 | 180 days 20 1X D | 7/17/2010 | 4 | RR Multiple Sclerosis | I was diagnosed with MS last year after I started having tingling in my legs, they thought it was a herniated disk until they did some tests and found the 4 leisons in my brain and spinal cord. By the time I found the right doctor to run the right tests and diagnose the problem I could hardly use my legs and was in intense pain. They sent me to a place where I had steroids infused into me for a few hours a day, after a few days I regained the feeling in my legs and after I came down off the high levels of steroids I was much better. My neurologist and I went over a variety of MS drugs and although I did not want to do a daily injection, I couldn't imagion having the flu all the time, which is a common symptom of other drugs like Rebif and Avonex. Copaxone has worked well for me this past year, I have not had a relapse and have very few symptoms from the medication. The only issues I have are the lumps and swelling at the injection site and occassional pain during injection. The last se | To those who are just getting diagnosis, having a diagnosis alone can be a huge weight off your shoulders if you let it, for the first time in 7 years I feel good because I know what is wrong with me and I know that I am not crazy. I've leard to embrace my illness and not let it embrace me. | F | 23 | 1 years 1X D | 6/13/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Bee sting, burning, itching at injection site. Itching and welts seem to last several days. | I was diagnosed in February 2010. I have been on Copxone for 11 weeks which seems to be working great so far for me. I have no tingling in my arms and legs, no more pain in my shoulders and neck and my walking and energy level has improved. I am hoping to get more active and shed the 20 lbs. I gained the last few years, not knowing that all my aches and pains were from MS. The shots are becoming more routine, wish they did not have to hurt everytime but I am glad to know that it is helping. | F | 50 | 11 weeks 20 1X D | 4/21/2010 | 4 | MS Therapy | Bee Sting sesation lasting about 2-3 minutes. New to this medication and I will update any additional side effects in the event that they occur. | I had periodic symptoms from mild to severe since 1989 and I was definitively diagnosed with MS in 1995. Began Therapy (Betaseron)in 2001. Minor to no flare ups--almost asymptomatic. Follow-up MRI revealed numerous-active lesions, indicating that Therapy was no longer effective. Blood Test confirmed that I had developed Anti-Bodies to Betaseron. Copaxone was my next line of defense. Initially, I was aprehensive about starting Copaxone after researching the side affects. I have been taking the Copaxone shots for the past 8 days and have seemed to tolerate the therapy without any problems to this point. I am hoping for the best for myself and all of you who have been touched by this disease. Best of luck and God Bless. | M | 51 | 8 days 20 MG 1X D | 4/11/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Burning, itching, swelling, redness, bruising at injection site. Lower right back pain and throbbing after an injection. Anxiety after an injection. | I have also been given Clonazepam to take as needed when I do my self injection. This really helps to avoid any anxiety attacks or breathing issues related to that. I have a heightened sensitivity to fragrance and flourescent lighting. I wear my sunglasses to drive even on a cloudy day. I get very fatigued and achey most days at around the same late afternoon time of day. I don't have brain fog that I am aware of because my job involes a lot of recording of information, observation and conversation. To lessen the effect of the injection, I mostly use an ice pack for ten mins before and ten mins after. I take the shot before I go to sleep, that way I am not bothered by the aftereffects as much. Rotation of sites is really important and I do not do my arms because they simply bruise too much. I am too chicken to do the self administer without the autoject 2; I am worried that it will hurt more. The autoject goes in quickly, I count to 17 and I am done! That said, I would rather take a pill than a needle any day. | F | 47 | 11 months 30 mg 1X D | 3/27/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Bee Sting lasts a minute or two. Itching lasts 2 minutes. That is all. It goes away then no other effects | I leave my shot out over night. My shot is taken in the morning when I am active to move it into my system. I noticed a rash under my injection site so gravity must drag the drug down. I raise the injection site like the arm to stop the stinging. Lay on opposite side from shot site for stomach or hips. Works for me. I have no lesions but abnormal white matter. I was undiagnosed for 12 years until I had bad heat sensitivity, unsteadiness and intentional tremor forcing me to get a MRI. Before I had optic neuritis, fatigue and numbness. I was finally confirmed with a pos.spinal tap | M | 42 | 3 weeks 20MG 1X D | 3/26/2010 | 4 | Mostly slight burning. Had on very bad side effect. First the shallow breathing started, then weird numbness in head, then numbness in left arm, then chest pain, and severe anxiety. My mom called ambulance because I thought I was having a heart attack. It was just that rare side effect from the medication. It was the scariest day of my life. I do believe I can handle that reaction if it happened again but I know the medication will help me so much more with the MS. I have had MS since I was 17 and was on Rebif for 7 years but had to stop because of liver problems. | It was easy to adjust to the everyday schedule of giving the medication. | F | 25 | 46 days 1X D | 3/21/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Stinging, Burning, Itching, Pain, Redness, Swelling, Huge Bruising At Location Sites That Are There For A Few Days | I'm not really loving this treatment....but I guess if it works then that's good. I was diagnosed at 17 in 08 and I have numbness in feet and then optic neuritis. They found a little lesion and so I'm on this. I take the shot at night and this morning I woke up and my Tummy was bruised really bad..it's just scary having to look at all the nasty side affects. Also on my arms people look at them and tell me it looks like someone grabbed me real hard. Hmm so far I'm just not too much of a fan... | F | 18 | 1 months 1X D | 3/9/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Only "classic" injection site reactions -- redness for a day post-injection, itching the next day (worst for the stomach injections), hard lump for the next 5-7 days. Injections on my thighs cause bruise-like discolorations that take about a month to completely fade, and some old ones have never faded. I haven't had a "bad" reaction (trouble breathing, anxiety, heart racing, etc.) yet, but I'm sure I will sooner or later, and I'm not worried. | Since beginning therapy, I've had no exacerbations (my primary symptom is numbness in legs/feet, and that has almost totally gone away). My one-year MRI showed no new lesions and no progression. I'm not delighted with the side effects, or the daily shot, but they're a small price to pay if I continue to feel well (which I definitely do). One gripe: when Shared Solutions calls periodically to check on me, they always express huge surprise that I have any side effects (site reactions) at all, and then lecture me about correct injection technique, letting the medicine get to room temp, etc. (all of which I do), and basically tell me that I'm doing something wrong and that if I was just a better user, I wouldn't have any effects at all. This really pisses me off -- the product literature specifically states that the side effects I have are common and usual side effects of the medicine. I resent the implication that somehow we're responsible for effects that Teva itself acknowledges are going to occur. Every time I get off the phone with those people, I'm irate about it. SS, stop blaming us for a known issue! Your medicine has flaws -- but I plan to stick with it daily, nonetheless. | F | 44 | 14 months | 1/11/2010 | 4 | RRMS | I have the typical redness and swelling. Some injection sites ich more than others but it's manageable. I don't have much body fat so the sites with less fat seems to itch more. | I started using Copaxone after three years of avoiding any modification therapy. MRI's showed that the demyelinations was spreading even though I wasn't having any major attacks so I decided I'd better do something. I like the auto-jector, it makes taking control of my treatment easier. I use a topical antihystamine to aleviate the itching-doesn't take it away completely but it does help. I have found that a cold-pack helps more than heat to lessen the pain after the injection. I don't freeze the cold-pack, I just keep it in the fridge. I've only been on the medication for a few months so until I have another MRI I won't really know if Copaxone has slowed/halted the progress of MS. I'm very active and I don't have time for the side-effects that come with other available therapies. | F | 43 | 3 months | 1/11/2010 | 4 | RRMS | Moderate swelling at injection site. I only use tummy and "saddlebags" as other locations were not good. Upper thigh had large white "bee-sting" patch; have hit vein in arms too many times to even want to try there again. I REALLY need to know if anyone has experienced heightened allergies or sensitivities since being on thid drug. | PLEASE post any increased allergies/sensitivity info. I am a middle school teacher. Last year, I started having reactions to fragrances. One student was using a very fragrant hair oil, and when I asked him not to his mother decided that my reaction was based in racism and filed charges against me (even though I was reacting ANYONE'S fragrance). In fighting this case, I'm looking for reasons why I might have developed this sudden fragrance allergy. My lungs burn, my eyes water, I cough to the point of not being able to catch my breath, I get a headache. Since Copaxone is a group of amino acids, could it be that the immune system recognizes it as a foreign protein? As such (or even as an MS patient) is my immune system always active(my neuro calls it "frisky") and easily tipped into allergic reaction? Please help me!! The stress of this situation has my symptoms flaring. | F | 50 | 5 years | 12/12/2009 | 4 | RRMS | Some stinging & redness, lumps, occasional itchiness | I have been on Copaxone for almost 4 months and have found it very manageable. I do get the injection site reactions most people have listed here, but it depends on what area of my body I am injecting. For example, my thighs produce the ovoid lumps but do not get itchy. My stomach does not produce obvious lumps but DOES get itchy. My arms get red spots but produce no lumps and only occasional itchiness. All have lessened since first beginning treatment. Overall I have been satisfied with this medication and feel that is has noticeably improved my fatigue. I was diagnosed with MS in 1999 and in the first 2 years had an attack about every 6 months. My neurologist recommended that I start taking Betaseron but I opted not to because of the side effects. My condition stabilized on it's own and I went about 5 years without another flare-up. I started Copaxone based on the results of my last MRI and because the side effects sounded much less severe than the other medications available. I'm happy that I made the decision to start treatment and feel that the minor inconvenience of lumps or itchiness far outweighs the alternative. I have a follow-up MRI in February so my fingers are crossed! | F | 28 | 3 months | 11/4/2009 | 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 | I have only very recently started copaxone as of last week. My MS was caught in the very early stages, and since starting this treatment it has really lessened my fatigue and I feel great after a dose. I get the bee stinging reaction but it fades quickly. I had one red bump but it faded within 15 minutes and has not returned. After reading a lot of the reactions, I am horrified at the side effects that it can cause for others. I do not use the auto injector, but instead do it manually as much as I hate needles. | F | 29 | 4 days | 8/25/2009 | 4 | Diagnosed with RRMS | Usual bee sting-style, red itchy lumps. Cannot inject in my arms or legs because I am thin and it just hurts like hell, so my stomach and back have become a dimpled mess. Have had a couple of those scary bouts of breathlessness, hot flushing where you feel like you're going to keel over and pass out. | After almost seven years of being on Copaxone, my symptoms are worsening--now bladder and bowel issues and more spasms and neck and back pain--but I am still walking and the last MRI showed no new lesions, so I do feel it's working. Honestly though, I am so sick of taking the shots and hate the reactions so much that I have skipped them for weeks at a time, then make myself get back on again. My neurologist referred to this as "shot fatigue" and suggested switching to Avonex, but I am afraid to try it, as I have heard too many horror stories about its flu-like side effects. | F | 45 | 7 years | 6/30/2009 | 4 | MS | Raised skin with itching @ injection site last for a day or so. I use an anti itch cream such as Extra Strength Benadryl to help lesson the itch. I have been taking Copaxone for 13 months and have only experienced a flushing shotness of breath twice. | As of right now Copaxone has helped my MS. I have no new lesions and am sympton free. I pray the manufacturer comes out with a oral form, one day soon! | F | 47 | 13 months | 5/13/2009 | 4 | rrms | I have been on Copaxone for over 1 year and Last Night was the most scariest times of our Life.I take my shot at night before I go to bed. I got myself settled and I gave my shot in my upper Left arm and when I injected I felt this extreme burning and numbness go down my arm, up to my neck and face up to my top lips I thought I was having a heart attack. I called to my husband but nothing came out so I try to walk out of our bedroom to get my husband to call 911..I couldn't breathe nor talk...I felt like everything was swelling and my heart was coming out of my chest. I ended up collapsing on the floor.I have never had any problems with Copaxone in fact this medication has actually helped me a lot. I ended up going 911 and they thought I had a allergic reaction or I possibly hit a vein.They told me if this ever happens to take 25mg of Benadryl. After 4 hrs in the ER/hospital I was told this is a normal reaction for some people who take Copaxone. The Hospital called a Poison Center to s | I have RRMS with Idiopathic transverse myelitis. This medicine and Steroid fusions have saved my life. Dr's told me I wouldn't be walking in 6 months and that was a year ago.I still have a lot of small issues with walking,weakness and fatigue. But I still work full time and I try to stay as active as I can without it I would probably be in a wheelchair. | F | 46 | 15 months | 5/3/2009 | 4 | RRMS | Bee-sting sensation at injection site, lumps and/or bruises at injection site, indentation of skin at injection site, weight gain. | I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in the summer of 2003 after having optic neuritis. Started Copaxone in the fall of 2003. Been on it ever since! I have gained weight over the years which I do attribute somewhat to the Copaxone, and I do have lumpy, indented skin in my thighs and hips from the injections, but I do believe the Copaxone has kept any serious flare-ups from occurring. I will continue to use it! | F | 43 | 6 years | 5/2/2009 | 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 | RRMS | The usual site reactions. | I've been on Copaxone since my diagnosis (2003). Over the past year I developed a slouch and my c-spine seems "gnarly". Occasionally my neck hurts. I mentioned this to my primary care doc and he said it's a side effect of Copaxone. Anyone experiencing this? | F | 47 | 6 years | 3/7/2009 | 4 | MS | I have been on copaxone for 2 months with little or no site injection problems. The only thing I notice is that my hands and feet and sometimes thights feels stiff. | I was diagnosed with MS but had very little if any symptons, I guess you could call me asymptomatic, the only symtom was a weak leg when I walked fast for more than half an hour. My neurologist suggested I start copaxone so I will hopefully stay asymtomatic. But since starting I have this stiffness in my hands, ankles and thighs and sometimes a burning sensations that moves around my body. Does anyone else have these symptoms? | F | 53 | 2 months | 2/8/2009 | 4 | Multiple Sclerosis | After the first month, I basically had NO side effects besides a minor lump or redness at the injection site. | They have made this drug UNAFFORDABLE for anyone not on assistance or even with insurance. The cost seems to keep going up. I was paying over $2000.00 a month and no longer could afford it. | F | 50 | 2 years | 1/4/2009 | 4 | RRMS | JUST GET INJECTION SITE STINGING. IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO AVONEX SICKNESS. I TOOK IT FOR 10 YEARS EVERY FRIDAY AND GOT SICK EVERY FRIDAY. THE COPAXONE IS AMAZING SO FAR. AVONEX WORKED UNTIL RECENTLY. MRI SUGGESTED SPINAL LESIONS SO WE SWITCHED. I AM CROSSING MY FINGERS FOR A GOOD RESULT. I WOULDN'T CARE IF I GET LITTLE PURPLE SORE SPOTS EVERYWHERE AS LONG AS IT WORKS. I'M NOT VAIN ABOUT IT. I JUST WANT RESULTS. | F | 53 | 30 days | 11/23/2008 | 4 | RRMS | burning, stinging at injection. tight, large lumps and terrible itching at injection site for about four days post-injection. some sites worse than others. | aside form the injection site reactions, which im hopeful will ease with time, i have not had any side effects so far. i have an infant daughter so i cannot afford to have the interferon side effects getting in my way on a day-to-day basis. so far copaxone seems to be working, but i truly hope that the itching and lumps go away eventually, as they are uncomfortable, distracting and sometimes painful. | F | 33 | 1 months | 11/12/2008 | 4 | MS | Feeling like I'd be stung by a Bee!!! Ow! if I ice the area its bearable but if I don't it is excruitiating. The pain goes away in about an hour, not nice at all though | Despite the hour of pain, it beats constant flu like symptoms caused by Betaferon. I was sick 24 hours a day 7 days a weak, aching bones aching skin! So one hour of intense pain is definitely better than this. | F | 29 | 4 weeks | 10/27/2008 | 4 | rrms | Initially the injections BURNED for about 10-15 min. That subsided after a few weeks. Now I hardly notice the injection itself. I do have some itching and occasional bruising, but that is about it, | After s/w several ladies that I know, who have MS, they did not advise the interferons. All were sick 1-2 days per week, even after YEARS of the therapy. So far the only symptom that I have had is the Optic Neuritis. I run and walk 3-4 times a week and have a 2 year old, so I have to be able to be active!! That was why I chose Copaxone. So far, so good. My faith lies in God!! | F | 35 | 4 months | 10/15/2008 | 4 | RRMS | I have experienced every side effect possible. I have pain at injection site, itching, bruising, bleeding, welts and necrosis of the skin. I have also experienced the chest pain and flushing several times. It only lasts for a short time, but it can be scary. | The autoject has made giving the shot an easier experience, however, it doesn't allow me to adjust the depth at the time of the shot. I am thin, so sometimes even set at 5 goes too deep. I have been on Copaxone since 2000 - diagnosed in 1989 and am currently not experiencing any symptoms with my MS. | F | 42 | 8 years | 9/20/2008 | 4 | rrms | very concerned about the ugly dents i now have in my thighs, smaller 'dimples' in my tummy, discoloration above my hips and the loss of back fat which should be good only i don't know how to take more shots there anymore. regarding the thighs, i've started taking the shots in my saddlebags because if it's going to eat my muscle and fat tissue, then i'd much rather get rid of the saddlebags and it is working even though i'm sure i'll get ugly dents there too eventually. has anyone taken shots in unadvised sites, e.g. further back behind the hips? also, some tolerable side effects: bee sting effect; some sites have lumps underneath skin; occasional bruising. no weight gain but major lean muscle loss - not sure if that's a side effect. | i cannot take the other drugs due to one freak bout of hyperthyroiditis. i would love to hear from anyone who has used tysibri and whether that is an option for me. | F | 41 | 3 years | 9/19/2008 | 4 | RRMS | Very painful injections, leading to permanent lumpy scar tissue. I look very freaky now. Can't wear shorts or bathing suit. I use heat before injection/cold after but it doesn't seem to make any difference. | Nobody on this site mentions the egg-sized lumps. I know it's trivial compared with the disability but it's so depressing. I always fantasized that I could get some function back with medical advances, but I know I'll be stuck looking bizarre forever because scar tissue is permanent. Hate to look at myself. Am I the only one with this trouble?? | F | 47 | 5 years | 9/18/2008 | 4 | RRMS | Flu like symptoms | I have had 0 relapses since starting copaxone | F | 45 | 6 years | 9/12/2008 | 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 | Itching, which can get bad at times. Most creams have not helped including fairly strong prescrptions. Site pain quite manageable and I often have 'bonus days' where there is no pain. Overall quite happy. Of course I would rather not take any of the meds. but it really is not bad considering the alternative. | Fairly quick diagnosis following sudden onset leg and groin numbness. Some optic neuritis and past memory of rt. hand weakness (realised it was the first exacerbation that I recall). Since I began the med. no further episodes and no changes on a recent MRI. Let's hope it stays that way!!! | F | 47 | 1.5 years | 7/4/2008 | 4 | MS | Irritation at injection site, redness, itching, swelling that usually last 3-5 days. Although many of the very painful ms symptoms I was having prior to starting coxapone have gone away such as numbness in my face, left arm and leg, eyeball pain, "ms hug"; I still feel extremely tired and weak. Also, since starting coxapone (5 months ago) I have gained 25 + pounds! Has anyone else had problems with weight gain? | F | 32 | 5 months | 6/26/2008 | 4 | RRMS | Stinging that is intermittent during the injection; Lump at injection site within 24 hrs, lasting 2 wks; 3 brief episodes of rapid heart beat, shortness of breath severe back pain starting about 1 min post injection lasting about 10 minutes with symptoms worse in the first couple of minutes of onset and taping to near nothing within 10-15 minutes. Last episode made me feel less myself that day with general weakness. | I live a normal life with only about 3 exacerbations. Optic neuritis was the first mention of MS in 1987 when no drug were available for treatment of MS. In 1999 had severe attack that made it very difficulty to walk but over 3-4 week period I returned to my base line function (many lesions noted on MRI at that time). Was started on Copaxone September 1999 and may have had one milder exacerbation since on this medication (but also not sure if this is the result of nerve damages of Sept 1999. My walking abilities has gone from a 2 miles tolerable walk to 0.5 mile walk with some difficulties of a stable left leg (weakness/lack of support) at the end of this walk. I have noted that I need a good 2 hr rest post walk to start another walk. Hope this is helpful to anyone who is considering this form of treatment. Compliance to treatment is not always 100% due to difficulty finding a soft injections site with daily injections. Overall I feel it has worked well for me. | F | 55 | 9 years | 6/5/2008 | 4 | MS | Injection site biurning and occasional itching that was severe at first but has subsided with time | Compared to Avonex, this is a GODSEND. I would much rather take a small shot daily with no side effects than once a week and feel like I am dying. I have two small children and can notbe down for 24 hours with flu like symptoms. Not sure how well it is working, but in my opinion it is the easiest therapy out there. | F | 31 | 1 years | 4/14/2008 | 4 | Secondary Progressive MS | Compared to the continual weekly 36 hr. flu-like symptoms I was still getting from Avonex 9 1/2 years later, the Copaxone has been a dream come true. I do get the injection site reactions, which interestingly happen about 2 days after on each site, with swelling and a hard lump. Otherwise, there have been nothing but good effects from this medication. I do NOT get sick each week for 36 hours, which is a real plus for me and makes my life so much more pleasant! | I have only been on this medication for 5 months. It definitely has NOT cured my symptoms, but it has made my life more livable because I do not get the weekly sickness from a shot. Time will tell if it really slows down disability associated with my MS. So far, so good is what I have to say about this drug. Stay tuned.... | F | 52 | 5 months | 3/20/2008 | 4 | MS | Severe injection site reactions-swelling, pain, lumps that last for up to 2 weeks. Occasionally hit a nerve or vein which causes muscle spasms, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. Scarring from long term use has caused depressions in some areas and has made it difficult to inject in those areas. | I was having increasingly severe exacerbations appromately every 2 to 4 months. I noticed a marked decrease in both the severity and frequency of relapses after about 6 months. Recent MRIs show a decrease in the size and number of lesions on my brain. I have had severe swelling at the base of my neck which sometimes extends to my underarms and chest. It causes a number of other painful symptoms such as severe headaches, hoarseness, rapid heartbeat, nightsweats and difficulty breathing. I have been to a number of specialists, including my neurologist, and no one can diagnose the cause. The same things that exacerbate my MS exacerbate the neck swelling. I was wondering if anyone else taking Copaxone had these symptions? | F | 50 | 10 years | 2/17/2008 | 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 | The sting after the injections in the thighs are awful, warm packs did help some. I must take a pain pill before I inject. | I have only been using this med for 20 dyas, I just hope it help. I was just Dx'd on 12/26/07, and started the injections 1/2/08 | F | 50 | 20 days | 1/25/2008 | 4 | RRMS | SITE REACTION, WELTS, BRUISING | I ALSO AGREE THAT THE PAIN IS NOTHING LIKE A BEE STING - WORSE. IT SEEMS TO HELP IF I BUSY MYSELF AFTER THE INJECTION. I WALK AROUND THE HOUSE OR GO OUTSIDE AND GET FRESH AIR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES THAT I HAVE CRIED FROM THE PAIN. I AM DEATHLY AFRAID OF NEEDLES AND THE AUTO-INJECT IN MY BOOK IS A GOD SEND. EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LIKE GIVING MY SELF AN INJECTION DAILY, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE MY LIFE AS IT IS. | F | 1 months | 1/25/2008 |