Get Informed: Copaxone
Active Ingredient(s)
Glatiramer Acetate
What does it do?
This product is used to reduce the frequency of relapses in Multiple Sclerosis. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown, however it is known to be an immunomodulator.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-05 2:46 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-07 8:28 AM
Other Names
- Copaxone
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 20 Dec 1996
- Est US Patients*
- 283,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Copaxone or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Copaxone
There have been no alerts regarding Copaxone during the past year.
Copaxone Safety Report
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What is Copaxone used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 1,600 patients that use Copaxone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Sclerosis | 100% | 
|
How well does Copaxone work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 1,600 users taking Copaxone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 96%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Copaxone outweigh the bad things.
- 9%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Copaxone.
Common Side Effects of Copaxone
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 1,600 users taking Copaxone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
57% of patients experience side-effects on Copaxone
3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Copaxone
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Skin/Nail Problems
-
Injection Site Reactions
-
Elevated Heart Rate
-
Hot Flushes
-
FLU-Like Symptoms
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have had M.S. since 1986-I have 5 children. In the beginning it crushed me inside and out. I later on started the Copaxone in 2006, only by begging my doctor, to please give me a chance. I have learned, over the many times giving myself the shots, that the benefit have so out-weighed the minor discomforts, such as redness in site areas, heart acting odd or differant, extreme heat in areas, tiny headaches, and the ping in the chest area. But you cannot even tell that I have the M.S. at all. I am now 51 and so grateful that someone studied in school, and then to college, to learn how to create such a medication. Life will always give us ups & downs, how we take them is what deems how we are as a person. #1-Relax when taking your shot. #2-Rub the area real good (before) #3-Keep your mind focused on good things only! #4-Be glad you have the chance to do somethig for yourself---It'll be o.k.
51 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-21 14:40:03
Question/Comment:
I was just diagnosed in June with MS after searching for a diagnosis for 10+ years. I tried to begin copaxone--the first injection went okay (it was in my numb leg), but the second was excruciating. I was in severe pain for several hours. The pain eventually lessened, but never went completely away. Now, every other day or so, I get stabbing pain in the two injection sites. Haven't been able to get in to see my doctor and haven't been able to re-start the injections. It's been over 3 weeks...is this normal???? I'm really new to this and may have other issues besides MS because I have had severe muscle pain for 10 years. I'm a 46 year old male.
46 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-17 20:30:52
Answer/Reply:
If you are using an autojector make sure that your needle length is set correctly Copaxone is a subcue shot that is horribly painful if accidently injected im...as I well know from experience! I thought I was having a massive allergic reaction and had a huge knot there for about a month. The nurses at Shared Solutions (The Copaxone support folks)can tell you about pinching fat to make sure how to set your "jector Talk to them They are very helpful and supportive.Good luck I have been on Copaxone for 18 months now ..I hope things work out for you
51 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-28 12:37:40
Question/Comment:
Used Copaxone 1x; horrific injection site reaction; welt; limb swelling; joint pain; headaches. This lasted to 3 DAYS! Even though I DID NOT inject again. Could not reach Dr. for 3 days. Now I HAVE TO see him beginning of next week.to discuss other treatment options. Few options open to me because I took Interferon drug & drug resistent antibodies against these drugs now. I also was on Steroids (oral then IV then oral) for OVER 3 months. No longer on them but I developed full blown diabetes. Now on meds for that. I AM NOT a happy camper.
I have Relapsing/ Remitting MS for 24 years! Currently having MAJOR EXACERBATION.
Female Age 47
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-29 02:26:42
Answer/Reply:
I have been living with R & R M.S. for over 35 yrs.and have been using Copaxone for over the last 5 yrs. The only side effect has been an occasional injection site reaction of itching or tingling that would last only a few minutes. That is the problem with M.S., no one drug or treatment works for everyone. Just among the small M.S. Connection Group to which I belong, we have people on 8 or 9 different treatment programs.
I am a 66 year old male
67 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-16 16:37:30
Answer/Reply:
I am sorry to hear about your reactions. I have had R/R MS for 27 years. My twin being on interferon saved me that ordeal. I have been on Copaxone for about 5 yrs now & doing great. The first 3 months were torture with swelling & sensitivity, but now I just deal with minor site injection swelling, bruising & slight occasional bleeding. My twin is on nothing. I read about a new oral drug that is in trials. Hopefully it may hold promise for people with your difficulty. I have benefited from being on a vegetarian diet that focuses on raw foods. It would probably help your diabetes as well. Take a look at hacres.com & give it some consideration. Taking the Udo's Oil that is part of the diet has helped me a lot with the MS & other related issues. My neurologist highly endorses the Omega 3's. Good luck.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-20 14:58:05
Answer/Reply:
The symptoms you describe after one injection of Copaxone are the usual side affects listed for this drug. I take Copaxone. My RRMS diagnosis was made within the last 16months. I have experienced many of the side affects you have described, but they usually go away after 48hrs. My experience, although new, is that MS is a highly individual illness. My doctor gave me a choice bewtween 3 drugs that he felt were options. I compared Avonex, Rebif and Copaxone before I made a choice. I actually chose Copaxone because it's side affects were not flu-like symptoms. I have not developed any additional illnesses due to taking the Copaxone. Although I am not convinced that the Copaxone is doing what it is suppose to do, I will give it a year to do it's thing. Then, take a look to see if it did indeed do it's job. My only dislike - daily injections, which I now detest!
59 year old Female
Posted: 2009-04-27 11:36:37
Answer/Reply:
copaxone really bothers me if I inject in my arms or legs. If I inject in my stomach, no problems with injection site issues at all. It always stings, but it last only 10 minutes or so. I also take it at night and sleep through the worst. I had joint pain and headaches at first, but they went away after about 2 weeks.
42 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-03 11:23:15
Question/Comment:
I had horrific site reactions at first but now I use a cordran patch on each site for 12 hours after the injection and take Zyrtec and the site reactions are down to the size of a mosquito bite. I haven't had an MRI since I started the med in July so I don't know how well it is working yet.
30 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-22 20:56:24
Question/Comment:
I really hate that I have to inject everyday, but it is working. One of my lesions was no longer visible althoughI had a new one in different spot. I feel pretty good, I was diagnosed in December 2007 and have been on Copaxone since Jan 2008. I just keep thinking it could have been worse, and although there is no cure right now........I will stay on copaxone and take this diagnosis one day at time.
26 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-12 08:32:22
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27
Patient Comments about
Copaxone