• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (burning sensation, injection site swelling)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (injection site swelling, stinging sensation)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I have found using heat before the shot and cold right after greatly reduces the size of the welt and any site discomfort except the stinging from the meds. But it has stopped the site / welt from hurting. The sting is really minor, I take the shot as I start making dinner, so I'm busy and don't have time to think about it stinging :)

Cost: $50-99 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (chest tightness)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I developed lumps/knots under my skin that may not have been related to the Copaxone. After ultra-sound and MRI, no conclusive diagnoses for the knots. I was so tired of the daily shots and the sudden development of the knots I decided to stop the treatment.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Major (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I get tired of taking this shot every day, however, I have had no major flare ups since beginning this medication. Very soon after I began this medication I lost 15 pounds and that was an unexpected benefit. In the beginning and for six or eight months the injection site itched and nearly drove me nuts. I ignored the itching and one day realized the itching had stopped.

• Effectiveness

  Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for multiple sclerosis)
• Effectiveness

  None (for fatigue)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (rigors, hair loss, decreased appetite)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Every other day

Advice & Tips: I decided the side effects were not worth the unseen bebefits in 6 mo. of taking the drug and discontinued

• Effectiveness

  None (for fatigue)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (rigors, hair loss, decreased appetite)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Every other day

Advice & Tips: So far I have only been getting the side effects. I get golfball sized painful lumps at the injectino sites which are red and hot to the touch for up to 4 days following the injection. The lumps have yet to go away or lessen in size. I have been told, "this happens" and I can "rub them to minimize the size". Okay......NOT WORKING!!! Then I had what they called 'seepage' the last injection. Once the needle was remove my body basically spit the solution out. Not drip, drip, but a steady flow until just about all of it was gone. Again, I got "this can happen". These do not sound like normal reactions, nor positive things ones body should be going through to me. Just saying.

• Effectiveness

  Major (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (occasional panic attacks (breathing), Copaxone flush, cold chills, nausea and vomiting)
• Adherence

  Usually
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I had experienced one rare episode of having shortness of breath, anxiety, warm flushing, shaking and subsequent chills. The episode lasted for about 20-30 minutes.I feel the Copaxone is helping lengthen the time between exacerbations.

Cost: $25-49 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for Other)
• Side effects

  Severe (for Overall) (back pain, Tremendous backpain)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I injected myself with this treatment every morning. I did suffer excruciating back-pain but was unaware of Copaxone being the cause of my pain until I was removed from SSI then after two months of being drug free, my back-pain all but disappeared. Now I am on "The MS Recovery Diet by Anne D. Sawyer and Judith E. Bachrach," and feel even better! I didn't know that just a change in diet and exercise could change my life for the better! My advice is to buy the book and follow the instructions in diet. Almond or Soy milk and Almond cheese also Lactose-free cream cheese and other dairy-free even Gluten-free can be purchased at Smith's Grocery. The recovery from disabilities and other happens individually and does happen depending on the person and how committed they are about the diet. www.msrecoverydiet.com

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

• Effectiveness

  Major (for multiple sclerosis)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Sometimes
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 20 Daily