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 | MS | Just a little soreness at injection site which goes away fairly rapidly. | Don't know if it's working. | F | 55 | 3 months | 2/7/2009 | 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 | MS - changed from betaferon | Palpitation and shallow breathing in first three months. Sore lumps and immediate swelling, hot site for a few hours, tender site usually for 2 - 3 days, extreme immediate site itching, occassional bruising. | I find warming in hand to body temperature minimises pain. V happy with drug as have not had a major exacerbation since starting it, and I am a bit slack sometimes. Open to any suggestions of any supplements that might help. FYI since starting B12 injections, I have improved in this area dramatically. | F | 44 | 30 months | 10/5/2008 | 5 | Multiple Sclerosis | Skin hardening at injection spots slightly, some bruising | For folks just starting - let me assure you that it gets easier! I've been on it since August 2002 (6 years as I write this). The injection barely stings anymore. I've never had one of those bad reactions. Inject only where they advise it. | F | 52 | 6 years | 7/12/2008 | 5 | ms | no side effects at all. sometimes, rarely a slight stinging at injection site. i believe this is when i don't give the alcohol time to dry before injecting. | i love it- have been on it for 10 years. yes, i am a bit worse, but how worse would i be if i was not on it?? | F | 48 | 10 years | 6/25/2008 | 5 | RRMS for 2 years | Usual itching and red welp at injection site. The longer I used it, the less and less it itches. Try anti itching cream the next day after injection, it will help. Just don't apply the same day. | I was diagnosed when I could not see, hardly walk and had no strength to get up out of a chair. Took about a month 1/2 for a diagnosis, but soon as I started on the Copaxone, my eyesite came back in about a week. Still have the usual MS symptoms, but my MRI is stable! | F | 33 | 2 years | 5/27/2008 | 5 | rrms | Itching and redness at injection site | Great medicine. i would recommend to anyone with rrms. | F | 27 | 6 years | 4/10/2008 | 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 | secondary progressive ms | Diagnosed and began treatment of Copaxone injections daily December 29, 2007. I would take them 4 times a day or more if I had to. They do help!!!! Take a weeks worth out of the fridge and place a weeks worth in a dark place. (Don't let the sunlight damage the medication) Look at the liquid before injecting. If the sunlight damages it, it will be yellow or cloudy. If the med it cold and it enters your warm body, you will get severe redness, itching, pain. I went through it. You still may get a little but nothing like before. I was having severe attacks weekly. Lesion developments leaving severe damage. I thank GOD for COPAXONE development!! Take it! Don't miss a day! Lesions develop even when you aren't aware. My first MRI in Nov. showed more than 20. It's too late for me. Don't let it be for you! | F | 41 | 2 months | 2/24/2008 | 5 | RRMS | Aside from the usual sting burning itching and red welt no other obvious side effects. It is very important to rotate injection sites. Scar tissue develops and can hamper the ability to inject.I am wandering tho' if anyone else has experienced memory loss and weight gain with prolonged use. | I have been using copaxone for 10 years. Despite the fact that I do have the occasional pity party--you know the why me thing happening I am so thankful and grateful the copaxone is helping.Before I started on it,every aspect of life was a real trial. Just getting out of bed and dressing was an effort. Even speaking took too much energy. Fatigue was a major problem. Now with modifications at work for me(thanks to a very understanding boss)I am able to continue my full-time employment ans because of copaxone am able to lead a full life. | F | 57 | 10 days | 2/16/2008 | 5 | CIS (probable MS) | My first injection with the nurse was a peice of cake. I chose to do it manually because the autoinject was more intimidating. I used to have a fear of needles but I'm fine now. I like the control of doing it manually. I have had no side effects other than a little redness in abdomen spot on first try in that site. Lasted less than an hour. It's probably because I'm still getting used to poking my skin firmly enough. I'm happy that it's going so well. Much better than I anticipated. | My M.S. nurse taught me to do my injections. She told me to warm them up under my arm beforehand so they are body temp. The Shared Solutions nurse argued that they want it room temp. I am taking my nurse's word for it since I have had no reactions. Also, my nurse told me not to use ice and the S.S. nurse contradicted this. I think my nurse is right. Ice constricts and then the med needs to find the path of least resistance. Maybe it makes the med pool up in the area longer creating a site reaction. Who knows. I am fine without it though. The S.S. nurse also is pushing the autoinject. I am starting to wonder what their agenda is. I trust my nurse who deals with people with MS face to face over someone who sits at a desk with a script. | F | 34 | 4 days | 2/15/2008 | 5 | RRMS | Slight sting when needle goes in. After the injection sometimes it hurts slightly and other times it doesn't. | I am very happy to be on this treatment! I was experiencing severe exacerbations and now the symptoms are so mild I hardly notice. I am curious about my next MRI to see if my leasions have stayed the same. I almost feel like my old self. | F | 51 | 8 months | 1/14/2008 | 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 | 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 | RRMS | Daily warm, red, welt at injection site. Occasional itching. Slight stinging sensation for 15 min or so after injection. Mind over matter works for me. I do some mentally and physically challenging work every day immediately after the injection. I immediately forget about the sensations and that's it until the next day. | Site rotation is crucial to injection success. I've never given an injection in the same spot more than once a year. All seven of my areas are as clear and healthy as they were 4 1/2 years ago when I started Copaxone. Good grief, if you're suffering from site problems, call Shared Solutions and have them send one of their nurses to your house to figure out what's going on! God bless us all. | F | 53 | 4.5 years | 10/22/2007 | 5 | Multiple Sclerosis | I set my auto injector on 6 1/2 and it doesn't bruise or leave indent's anymore. After I attended a conference the Rep for Copaxone said all it has to do is get in the fat under the skin and if you're bruising your needle is to deep so I went from 6 to 6 1/2 and it's been GREAT. I only experience a bee sting experience it gets worse before it gets better and I definitely don't mess with the sight because my Nurse said don't touch it for 24 hours after the injection. I was scared to death at first but it's been an easy adjustment I worried to much about. I've only been on it for 5 months I was diagnosed with RRMS in April 2007 and I'm 41. I hope this medicine works. I don't want to have flu like symptom's that the other drugs give you. | F | 41 | 5 months | 8/9/2007 | 5 | MS | Sometimes a bump at injection site. No others except for tonite when I hit a muscle on my arm. Owie! But there are no side effects to this drug for me. | I believe this combined with Pilates has made me clear minded and physicially strong and coordinated. About six months ago I noticed an drastic change - I had not felt this good for years. | F | 23 months | 7/6/2007 | 5 | MS | Insect like stinging and lump for abour 15mins. Lump lasts about 4 days. Now experiencing dipping in areas where I inject. Feeling of being choked, difficulty in breathing after 1-2 mins of injecting. Itchy skin, tiredness. | I was very lucky to trial the drug back in 1998 and have taken the drug ever since. The drug had great benefits to me and reduced the severity of my relapses and also went alot longer between relapses. Recently all my injection site areas have started to dip, making injecting very painful. Would love to hear from anyone with similar symptoms. | F | 44 | 9 years | 7/4/2007 | 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 | MS | Swelling and stinging at the injection sight but it subsides after an hour or so. I am now having some problems with my taste buds - I can't taste my food like I use to but that is it. | F | 40 | 11 days | 6/8/2007 |