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 Satisfaction highest to lowest. 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 | 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 | Some itching, burning at injection site. Fat atrophy on top of thighs. One episode of chest tightness, wheezing and flushing-lasted only few minutes but frightening. | MS nurse specialist suggested Zyrtec 10 mg at bedtime daily to help with injection rx's-has helped tremendously!! Take at bedtime as can make you sleepy. I have not had a relapse since the one that gave me a diagnosis-as far as I'm concerned there are no other drugs! No longer have to have yearly MRI-my scans improved steadily for several years and now show no new progression | F | 45 | 7 years 20mg 1X day | 2/25/2011 | 5 | RRMS | Some swelling at injection site. Stinging/burning after some shots. Tenderness. Sometimes minor brusing. | I have found that gently pressing on the injection site w a cotton ball right after the shot for 1 full minute helps with keeping the lumps and bruising to a minimum. Apply cold pack after. Keep 5 syringes at a time in a room temp bag so I don't have to wait to inject. Thank goodness there is a drug on the market that is not an interferon. No relapses since on it. Hope to be on it for decades or until a cure. This drug is to lengthen time between relapses and lessen bad effects from relapses. Not meant to treat current symtoms or even help with fatigue. | F | 48 | 4 months 20 mg 1X day | 1/3/2011 | 5 | MS | Injection site "Bee Sting" but this seems to be less severe each time. Some redness and a lump (again less severe each time). Overall I'm actually excited with this treatment. | Dx 2003, I tried Avonex for first 2 1/2 yrs. Hated side effects. Was on Tysabri 3 years and had shingles twice now trying Copaxone. I have to say I'm very happy. I don't have to rely on my husband for Avonex injections (I couldn't give myself the IM injection) and don't have to rely on an Infusion center for Tysabri. The needles don't hurt and my hopes are the site reactions will be minimal after some time. | F | 47 | 21 days 20 1X day | 12/30/2010 | 5 | RRMS | Mild burning, sometimes raised welt but disappears by morning, also sometimes bruising but doesn't hurt. | This is a relatively safe drug to take. For those of us who are trying to do everything we can to stave off another relapse, it is a lifesaver. It has stabilized my MS and has given me more energy (or less fatigue). While I am not crazy about giving myself shots everyday for the rest of my life, the mild site injection challenges are a small price to pay for the chance at slowing down this disease. All in all the autoinjector is a fantastic way to inject yourself if you can't seem to do it manually. | F | 48 | 3 weeks 1 ml 1X day | 9/19/2010 | 5 | MS | I haven't had any of the horrible side effects I have heard about. I do have lumps, but I rotate injections religiously and haven't had any issues with my tissue. :) | Taking Copaxone is a non-event for me. My thighs are the worst - not much fat. But, everything else is easy. I use the autoinjector, don't use heat or cold, just make sure it's room temperature and shoot! :) I take mine at night, right before bed. | F | 39 | 1.5 years 1X day | 9/17/2010 | 5 | RRMS | Stinging, some lumps, some itching, some bruising | I was very nervous about the stinging and itching before starting copaxone, but I have found both to be very tolerable. My hubby gives me my injections daily with the Autoject. I've actually given myself a few shots when time did not allow my hubby to do it. Sometimes I don't feel anything, sometimes the shot hurts (mostly for me in the thighs). I make sure to allow the shot to warm to room temp, rotate the sites faithfully, and always use an ice pack after. If you're a newby, please don't be afraid of the shots. I'm a total wimp and I can totally deal with them daily. | F | 38 | 90 days 20 mg 1X day | 9/14/2010 | 5 | ms | Pain, Swelling, Itching | At first I had pain, but you have to numb the area with an ice pack 10 to 15 min before and after the shot. My Dr. also said to take Tylenol ½ hr before taking the shot. That helps with pain. I also had itching. My MS specialist told me to take Claritin for the itching and it WORKED WONDERS for me. I tried cortisone cream everything and nothing worked. After my body acclimated to the Copaxone I had less swelling and pain. Now all I do is take my shot out in the morning and take it as is in the afternoon. I no longer have to ice the area, nor take the Claritin etc. Nor do I have pain. It took awhile to get to that stage but that’s what worked for me. Hope it helps someone. | F | 42 | 8 years 1X day | 8/11/2010 | 5 | RRMS | Stinging, temporary hives in some site locations, itching | It's me, the Laurel and Hardy video lady checking back in. It's now been 8 months, and I've got to say not much has changed from the first time I left feedback 90 days into Copaxone therapy. Still haven't had any of the panic attacks or heart attack-type symptoms. But as I said before, not everybody gets that. Maybe someday I will, but I'm not afraid of it; to me, it still beats seeing double or going to the hospital daily for Pred infusions - or worse. Will get an MRI in January, this will tell the story on whether or not RRMS is worsening, or (as I suspect) I'm holding my own. To the newbies out there just diagnosed or starting on Copaxone, take some comfort in knowing you are not alone by a long shot. I mentioned before a cure in the works; Google Dr. Paolo Zamboni. Think we're about to see the end of MS. | F | 49 | 8 months 20 1X day | 8/9/2010 | 5 | MS | Injections sites would sting at the time, and then be itchy for days afterwards. Witch hazel gel helped. But this only lasted for the first few months. Occasionally get a stinger now, but it's rare. Always warm the syringe in the palm of your hand for a few minutes so that the liquid is at body temperature before injecting! A couple of times have experienced the "panic attack" symptons they warn about. Went very hot (to the extent of having to strip off - couldn't cope with anything touching me) and felt a bit sick. However, this resolved within an hour. | No relapse or progression (that I know about anyway) since I started. The neuro says this is because my MS is mild (two relapses 1 and 5 months before starting). Who knows, and who cares? Not about to risk it! | F | 41 | 4.5 years 1 1X day | 6/12/2010 | 5 | MS | Lumps, itching, bruising, burning. When I first started using Copaxone the needle would slip right into my skin, now it takes some pushing to get it in at certain places. I'm wondering if this is in my head or if my skin is becoming tough from repeated injections (I rotate injection sites like I'm supposed to). | I don't know if it's helping or not. I've only had two episodes of symptoms in my life. June 2008 and Jan 2010. Copaxone is the first therapy I've used. I like that it has few side effects and that 80% of users are still mobile after many years of living with the disease. I take my copaxone every day because I do NOT ever want to be in a wheelchair. Going to have my MRIs redone soon so I guess I'll find out if it's working! | F | 26 | 2 months 20mg 1X day | 5/19/2010 | 5 | M.S | The general swelling, itching, and bruising | Ditch the auto injector if you can. It does not hurt nearly as badly if your not getting punched with the auto injector daily. This medication works great for me only one relapse in 3 years. | F | 28 | 3 years 1X day | 5/18/2010 | 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 | Site sting, itch, some areas a small goose egg. | Never thought I'd have to take a daily shot. Had 2 episodes of optical neuritis 7 years apart, and MRI came back showing 3 brain lesions this trip. After learning about drug options, Copaxone was a no-brainer for me (no pun intended); very nice Shared Solutions Instructor came to my house and I learned that even nervous newbies can self-administer easily with the AutoJect. Providing, that is, they remain calm and don't get rattled or have a spaz attack over burning, itching or skin indentations. You have to be honest with yourself as to which you'd rather deal with; burning, itching, dents and maybe a bad 15 minute episode - or MS progression and possibly more lesions. I haven't have any of the serious side effects, and may never experience them at all. Not everybody does. But if I do, I'll know what the deal is and have Laurel and Hardy ready to watch to pass the time. :) I don't mean to come off like I have all the answers, I sure don't; if I did, MS and RRMS would be a thing of the distant past. I'm fairly confident they soon will be anyway. But being as honest as I can, remaining calm before a shot and being careful to avoid veins at all cost may make all the difference (using a flashlight at close range can help you see veins that normal household lighting might hide). I'm staying with Copaxone - only complaint I'd have is my monthly cycle goofed up right after I started on it; but I'm also "at that age", so could be the big M setting | F | 48 | 90 days 20 MG 1X day | 2/19/2010 | 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 | MS | Injection site lumps redness, short lasting. Permanant scars yuck | Have been using Copaxone since diagnoses Macrh 2000 10 years. No real MS issues, it's toss up between menopause and MS | F | 50 | 10 years | 1/23/2010 | 5 | MS | I've been on Copaxone for almost 4 years and have pretty much been symptom free for that entire time. I do get tired every now and then but I truly believe that my symptoms would be worse if I wasn't on it. Sometimes the shot hurts more than others. I like that it doesn't make me feel sick like I've heard the others can. I've never tried any other treatment and I see no reason to. | F | 39 | 4.5 years | 11/27/2009 | 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! | F | 30 | 13 months | 11/14/2009 | 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 | 5 | RRMS | Injection site reactions - redness, lumps, itching. Some mild hair loss after about 2 months, which lasted about 2 months. All side effects cleared up after time. | I started Copaxone after having 2 relapses in 2 months. I have now been on it for a year and have had no relapses. The injection site reactions are much less noticeable, but still present in milder forms - if you hang in there for a couple months they will likely clear up too. | F | 29 | 1 years | 8/5/2009 |