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 Date added. 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 |
| 3 | MS | I've experienced every side effect that others have listed. Yes, I've gained weight but no memory loss. | I've had MS since 1993. I wasn't officially diagnosed until 2006. My main problem is burning pain on the entire right side of my body (worse in the face and neck) with numb spots on my legs and upper back. I also have extreme fatigue. Copaxone has not helped with any of this at all. The burning pain has remained constant since 1993. My sight, mobility, memory are fine. My arms are tingly, numb, and very weak. My lesions are mainly in my neck and spinal cord. My doctor states this is why I have so much constant pain in my neck. Has Copaxone helped anyone with their pain? Pain meds don't work for me at all (have tried most everything including Celebrex, Oxycontin). Xanax helps keep me calm with the pain is too much to handle some days. | F | 43 | 3 years | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 3 | Multiple Sclerosis = 4 years | usual injection site lumps, soreness, itchiness, pain. | I've noticed that when I begin my menstrual cycle, then do my injection, I have adverse reactions. Last night my chest tightened up, it felt like I couldn't breathe, felt nausea and began to throw up,began to have diarrhea, then uncontrollable shaking, like I was hypothermic. My fiance said I was warm to the touch, but I felt extremely cold. My whole body shaking for over an hour, totally exhausted, my jaw shaking so bad, I couldn't control it. Not sure if I can stay on this. | F | 43 | 4 years | 5/4/2008 | 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 | 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 | 2 | MS | Still had symptoms the whole year i took it. I need to know if anyone has stopped taking the med.???? | F | 48 | 1 days | 3/26/2008 | 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 | 3 | MS | Injection site reaction: painful itching, redness & swelling | I am hoping this drug works, although its too early to tell. The only side effects I've had are itching & swelling at injection sites, which I'm told may go away when my body gets used to the drug. Applying benedryl cream and/or aloe vera gel helps. I also started to get a strange intermittent sound in one ear, like a soft pinging. I think this is called a "sound phosphene". Has anyone else experienced this on copax? | F | 58 | 1 months | 3/16/2008 | 3 | MS medication options | Some redness at injection site, some soreness at injection site, but all in all it wasn't bad | I can't say that this is the "miracle" drug as I still have some MS symptoms, and some get added intermittantly but I'm doing what I can.... | M | 35 | 2 years | 2/25/2008 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 3 | RRMS | stinging after injection - about 15 minutes | My question is to anyone taking copaxone 1 year or longer. I starting to have a lot of aching in my hips and legs. I do yoga, pilates, walk and see a chiropractor but it's there almost every day and I'm not sure what to attribute it to. My doc hasn't addressed it. | F | 52 | 1 years | 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 | 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 |