Copaxone reactions

[haley818]

I was diagnosed in April 2010, and started taking Copaxone in November. I haven't had any of the tightness in my chest or rapid heart beats or anything, but at the injection sites I have been having massive swelling. I understand that there will be a reaction, but it is lasting for days, feels on fire through my pants, and is about the size of both of my fists put together and the patches are rock hard! Why?? Is anyone having any kind of reaction like that? I have rotated the hot/cold packs and neither way is making it better! If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it so much.

[Lulu54]

Hi Haley, and welcome to the forum.  Your body should be settled into the routing with the copaxone since you have been on it over 9 minths.  I went through a stretch of the shots not bothering me at all.  Then I hit a stretch last summer/fall where each one stung and I had hard welts.  Now since early winter all of that has stopped.  Go figure!  And I have been on copaxone for over 2 years.  

Be sure to let your doctors know that you have these significant welts - small ones are different than the ones you describe.

good luck and welcome again,
Lulu

[HVAC]

Copaxone is a foreign substance and sometimes the body reacts against it. With some people you have reactions at the beginning. It sounds like you might be one of those folks whose body can't get used to it. If you have not contacted your Neurologist you need to. Sometimes they can give you allergy drugs to help or have other suggestions.

The second week I was on it all my injection sites blew up like you describe. I took benadryl and used benadry creme. It never happened after those few days. I could not tell where I injected the next day. I did take zyrtec twice a day for other allergies. They did a study where people took zyrtec at the same time as giving the Copaxone injection but it was inconclusive.

Alex