242 patient evaluations for Glatiramer acetate

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Aug 18, 2008 (Started Dec 08, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Doing the injections manually (rather than using the autoject) results in less site reactions. Read the included information, and make sure you are aware of the symptoms of the "reaction" that some experience immediately after injecting. It can be really scary when it happens if you don't know what it is. It happened to me once, after being on Copaxone for over 1.5 years.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps
  • 17 helpful marks

Feb 10, 2005 (Started Sep 15, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Ice down your injection site to help with the redness. I also found that self injecting prevented the welts I would get from the autoinjector.
Cost: $25-49 monthly
Side effects: injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps
  • 3 helpful marks

Apr 9, 2016 (Started Feb 02, 2016)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Benedryl to get help with itching at site of injection`
  • 2 helpful marks

Jan 1, 2005 (Started Jun 02, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for Other)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage:
Advice & Tips: Take the medication out of the refrigerator a couple of hours before you inject it. Ice the injection site approximately 5 minutes before you inject (place an ice cube in a washcloth and hold it against the skin). Also, take a couple of ibuprofen approximately 20 minutes before you inject as this will help with the pain from the injection. In addition, if using an auto injector, don't press the injector to hard against the skin as this will cause a welt to develop because the medication has nowhere to go. Lastly, use the palm of your hand to massage the area after you inject so as to help disperse the medication.
Side effects: injection site reaction, redness, lumps and bumps
  • 2 helpful marks

May 30, 2009 (Started Apr 18, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (bruising, injection site reaction, lumps and bumps, immediate post injection reaction (IPIR), injection site pain)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Use it as your daily reminder of keeping yourself healthy. Be patient. It takes some time to get used to the pain. I thought it was incredibly painful in the beginninng, but the pain isn't that bad after you get used to shooting yourself with a needle.
Side effects: injection site reaction, lumps and bumps, immediate post injection reaction (IPIR), bruising, injection site pain
  • 1 helpful mark

May 21, 2010 (Started Apr 04, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (injection site bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Take it before bed so you can sleep through any injection site discomfort.It is the very last thing I do before I get into bed at night. Do not use ice on the site prior to injection, it prevents the medicine from spreading out which will leave you with a knot and then a dent. If you cannot afford this drug, it costs $2748 per month, then apply for assistance through NORD.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: injection site bruising
  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 15, 2010 (Started Nov 23, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (flushing)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Apply the cold and hot compresses as advised by your copaxone advocates- alo, be sure to rotate the injection areas and avoid any areas with visable veins, et cetera. I have found that I am a VERY veiny person, and it's hard to do so, but when I bleed after an injection, I will have the 'Flush' side effect, which is very unpleasant. Except for my aversion to injecting something into myself, this isn't a huge hassel, unless I forget if I've taken it or not. I frequently get 'knots' at the site which are red and swollen.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flushing
  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 21, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (redness, rashes (redness, swelling), injection site bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: The lipolysis has slowed down. It could be because I'm snacking more...I have temporarily stopped taking the treatment as of 10-19-10, until 11-01-10. I have a QTC appointment on November 1st, so the VA can examine my symptoms, and I'd like the doctor to see the symptoms as they are. With the Copaxone, he won't be able to see the symptoms.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Sep 25, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (redness, rashes (redness, swelling), injection site bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Fat loss from the Copaxone has slowed, but maybe because I'm snacking more lately. It is still doing well at controlling my ambulatory problems. I can still walk without a cane. I have noticed lately that I have fallen off my bicycle about 4 times in the last two months, and that's WITH the Copaxone. I RARELY used to fall off my bicycle. It does seem to be balance-oriented and weakness in dismount leg (left). It almost always happens on a dismount. I'm wondering if soon I may have to change to an adult tricycle, if I want to keep biking, which I do.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Sep 4, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (redness, rashes (redness, swelling), injection site bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: The last two weeks or so I've noticed that when I inject on the left side of my stomach above the navel, it leaves a hard bump inside that doesn't go away (or at least not for weeks). It doesn't do this at any other injection site. I don't know what causes this and I was wondering if anyone else experiences this. I have also noticed that the acne problem I had at first, with the pimples on my forearms turning into sores that don't heal well, has mostly gone away.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Aug 29, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (redness, rashes (redness, swelling), injection site bruising)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I have, in the last few weeks, experienced itchy redness and some minor bruising at some of the injection sites. The redness actually stays around for at least a week. One injection even left a lump under the bruise that has not completely gone away. On the positive side, I noticed that Copaxone is lipolytic - helps get rid of my belly fat! In fact, my pants have started sliding down in front because the "fat roll" that normally holds them up in front is going away. This is a GOOD thing, to me.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Aug 10, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • 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: As an update from my last entry, I wanted to add that although the Copaxone has been able to eliminate most of my ambulatory attacks (and lessen the strength of those few that still occur), it has not been able to have an effect on the spasms in my right hand/arm or on the dizzy spells that accompany them. However, this is minor enough that I'm satisfied that it has had a positive effect on my walking, enough that I no longer need to use the cane. On another note, I don't know why so many people complain about the lipolysis that occurs at the injection site after prolonged use. I would LOVE to have a medication that would have a side effect of destroying my spare tires, even if it was patchy.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Aug 3, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • 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 have been on Copaxone for the last two weeks and there had been no change in my attacks (I would get about 15-20 attacks per day on my right side, which had me walking with a cane for stability) until yesterday, when I noticed at work that I hadn't had any attacks all day, even after walking the distance from my work station to the break room and back, which is about 1/4 mile each way. Today I decided to leave my cane in the car, and I did just fine without it. I didn't have any more attacks today either. I think this stuff is finally starting to kick in! Today I received my Vitamin D supplement from the VA, and took my first dose of that. The frequency of the dosage is actually once a week, but the drop-down menu for my Vitamin D under "Treatments" did not have a "weekly" option, so I had to choose "every other week".
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Jul 30, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (redness, rashes (redness, swelling))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Have noticed an increase in acne since taking the medicine, especially on forearms. The pimples then become sores that don't heal very well.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Jul 26, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I wanted to add on the previous evaluation that although the shot itself didn't hurt at all, some mild soreness did come AFTER giving the shot due to the large bolus of medicine I just put in there. The soreness would dissipate after about 5 minutes as the medicine began to redistribute itself. I have been taking this for 5 days now and so far, there has been no change. The frequency and strength of the attacks (about 15-20 per day) are the same as before treatment.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising

Jul 25, 2010 (Started Jul 22, 2010)

  • 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: Originally I was afraid of giving myself daily shots, but to my surprise, it didn't hurt at all! I couldn't even feel the needle! Not even a pinch!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: rashes (redness, swelling), redness, injection site bruising
  • 1 helpful mark

Nov 4, 2010 (Started Feb 01, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (injection site reaction)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: The only real side effect is injecton site reaction, including swelling and itching. Because I'm unemployed, with no medical insurance, I called the Patient Assistance Program and was able to get the drug for free. Praise God!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: injection site reaction
  • 1 helpful mark

Mar 20, 2009 (Started Mar 02, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Don't know)
  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (stiffness/spasticity, nausea, fever/chills, stomach pain, headaches, abdominal pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 20 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Side effects were so bad, I had to stop using it.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: abdominal pain, nausea, fever/chills, stiffness/spasticity, stomach pain, headaches
  • 1 helpful mark
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