Aa
Copaxone?
Anyone out here using Copaxone? And if so for how long. I think I am going to try it, and was interested in some first hand information. shots, side effects, if you think it is working, etc. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
J
J
Hi McB
I probably should have tried the amantadine, it would have been
a lower co pay. If provigil dosnt work, I may request that later.
I will keep ya posted on it as soon as I get it started
Gollie
I probably should have tried the amantadine, it would have been
a lower co pay. If provigil dosnt work, I may request that later.
I will keep ya posted on it as soon as I get it started
Gollie
Hi All
Just wanted to update everybody on the copaxone auto injector
and the injection site problems that I have had the past
several days.
I had posted on some problems with the injection sites,
and had also noticed that the syringe needle did not seem
to be centered in my auto injector. and led me to believe
the the needle was going in slanted. I told this to the
copaxone nursed over the phone and they sent my visiting
nurse here tonight.
Well guess what, first off I have to use a level 4 setting for all
sites, she says Im too skinny lol.
Second and more importantly, I was right, the auto injector
is defective. the nurse brought hers and we tryed syringes
in both hers and mine and she couldnt believe what she was
seeing. the needle in mine would not center but it did in hers.
she said no wonder you have brusies and lumps. The needle
is supposed to go straight in and straight out.
but when mine would go into the skin (being the the needle
was not center in the injector) it would go into the skin and
bend abit. I think they thought I was nuts, till the nurse
saw it for herself. She said, I cant believe you notice that.
thank goodness you did.
she called my other nurse at the copaxone Co, and they are
sending a new one rush mail. they took the manufacture #
from the one I have now and are going to trace it back to the
stock somehow to check the rest of the batch that was made
with that one.
Gollie
Just wanted to update everybody on the copaxone auto injector
and the injection site problems that I have had the past
several days.
I had posted on some problems with the injection sites,
and had also noticed that the syringe needle did not seem
to be centered in my auto injector. and led me to believe
the the needle was going in slanted. I told this to the
copaxone nursed over the phone and they sent my visiting
nurse here tonight.
Well guess what, first off I have to use a level 4 setting for all
sites, she says Im too skinny lol.
Second and more importantly, I was right, the auto injector
is defective. the nurse brought hers and we tryed syringes
in both hers and mine and she couldnt believe what she was
seeing. the needle in mine would not center but it did in hers.
she said no wonder you have brusies and lumps. The needle
is supposed to go straight in and straight out.
but when mine would go into the skin (being the the needle
was not center in the injector) it would go into the skin and
bend abit. I think they thought I was nuts, till the nurse
saw it for herself. She said, I cant believe you notice that.
thank goodness you did.
she called my other nurse at the copaxone Co, and they are
sending a new one rush mail. they took the manufacture #
from the one I have now and are going to trace it back to the
stock somehow to check the rest of the batch that was made
with that one.
Gollie
Hey there. I started Copaxone about 3 months ago. I think it is going ok other then a weight gain of 5 lbs in the 3 months I have been on it. I guess that is common in about 7% of the folks on it. The Copaxone people are real nice and available with any problems and questions. I was just diagnosed in December and am battling fatigue. No big flare ups so far. Hang in there.
Keep me informed on your reaction to the provigil. My doc presribed amantadine. I thought it might work from what others have said. But, it does. I was leary of provigil, seemed like it might be more than my mabolism would care for.
Hi McB
Thank you, I will certianly keep the Mirapex in mind,
Im so new to MS Im still learning, about all the symptoms
and what other meds are used for them, thank you for that
tid bit. Maybe i can ask my doc about it.
I just found out about the provigil from other members here
and my doc perscribed it for me for the horrible fatigue.
I will be starting that in a few days. Sure hope it helps.
Gollie Oh and the Copaxone Nurse is comming back today
to check on my injection sites. I will put in an update on this thread, so all can view
Thank you, I will certianly keep the Mirapex in mind,
Im so new to MS Im still learning, about all the symptoms
and what other meds are used for them, thank you for that
tid bit. Maybe i can ask my doc about it.
I just found out about the provigil from other members here
and my doc perscribed it for me for the horrible fatigue.
I will be starting that in a few days. Sure hope it helps.
Gollie Oh and the Copaxone Nurse is comming back today
to check on my injection sites. I will put in an update on this thread, so all can view
I have jecking in my extremties. Fortunately, Mirapex handles most of the problem.
Sometimes my jerk outward as if I am trying to his someone. The Mirapex keeps most of that from happening I think.
Sometimes my jerk outward as if I am trying to his someone. The Mirapex keeps most of that from happening I think.
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Glad you are doing well on Copaxone again. I didn't know that it could affect your platelet count. Or was it affected by something else? Curious to know since I started Copaxone a couple of months ago.
Have a GREAT DAY!
Heather
Do you know how to use MedHelp's "Private Messaging?" If you don't know how, just go to the top of your page and click "My MedHelp." You can private message anyone you want from there.
Glad you are doing well on Copaxone again. I didn't know that it could affect your platelet count. Or was it affected by something else? Curious to know since I started Copaxone a couple of months ago.
Have a GREAT DAY!
Heather
I have been on Copaxone for approx 5 + years. I recently had to go off for 3 months due to surgery and platelet count.......I really noticed a difference being off the meds. When I went back on Copaxone I really noticed a big difference. I orginally started with Rebif but I have depression and it worsened with the first dose of Rebif.
I just inject manually and have no problems except for itchy sometimes. If you have any questions feel free to email me at ***@****.
Good Luck !!
I just inject manually and have no problems except for itchy sometimes. If you have any questions feel free to email me at ***@****.
Good Luck !!
Copaxone seems to be working for me. I had one large flare before Copaxone, and three small ones afterward. (I think I'm having one right now, but I won't know for sure until it's gone!)
The site reactions were a real itch. I still have red marks on my skin where i scratched in my sleep, and bruised myself.
Day to day symptoms have not been relieved. I still feel crummy about two weeks out of four. But at least it's not the Copaxone making me feel crummy...
The site reactions were a real itch. I still have red marks on my skin where i scratched in my sleep, and bruised myself.
Day to day symptoms have not been relieved. I still feel crummy about two weeks out of four. But at least it's not the Copaxone making me feel crummy...
Hi Mcbcon
yea I would have her teach me that but the reason I
use the auto inject, is because I often have tremors in hands,
and muscle spasms. not all the time but often enough that
I do not have good fine cordination. And would not be able to inject.
I also would have a terrible time trying to get the backs of my
hips, do to loss of motion with the lower back surgery, I can
barley turn enough to use the auto injector.
Unfortunley I have no one here right now to do them for me.
So keep your fingers crossed for me that the nurse can help
me resolve this issue. I'll keep ya's posted on it.
Gollie
yea I would have her teach me that but the reason I
use the auto inject, is because I often have tremors in hands,
and muscle spasms. not all the time but often enough that
I do not have good fine cordination. And would not be able to inject.
I also would have a terrible time trying to get the backs of my
hips, do to loss of motion with the lower back surgery, I can
barley turn enough to use the auto injector.
Unfortunley I have no one here right now to do them for me.
So keep your fingers crossed for me that the nurse can help
me resolve this issue. I'll keep ya's posted on it.
Gollie
You avoid the muscle, number one because the needle is very small and pinching up as much fat as you can as you inject. Some people of course have very little fat, but most people have at least an inch of skin somewhere, where they can pinch up to prevent getting into any muscle. Like the arms. Go for the back "mud flap" as I call mine, which is the back part or side where I have extra skin.
Michael probably has alot more muscle, as men often do, than women. He's right about folding up the skin, to make sure you only go into skin. The home health nurse with Shared Solutions can guide you on all the tricks.
I have yet to hit a muscle, cause after the over 100 pound weight loss, my muscles are pretty buried from all the extra skin left over from the huge weight loss. So my body is a needle playground...LOL One word of advice...ROTATION. Never inject in the same area within 7 days of that last injection there. ROTATION is the key...
Heather
Michael probably has alot more muscle, as men often do, than women. He's right about folding up the skin, to make sure you only go into skin. The home health nurse with Shared Solutions can guide you on all the tricks.
I have yet to hit a muscle, cause after the over 100 pound weight loss, my muscles are pretty buried from all the extra skin left over from the huge weight loss. So my body is a needle playground...LOL One word of advice...ROTATION. Never inject in the same area within 7 days of that last injection there. ROTATION is the key...
Heather
You inject in a way that the end of the needle goes in between the muscle an the space under the skin. It is easier to do this where there more fat. Doing my arms or legs are really tough without it hurting. But, if the skin is folded some it eaiser to find a place between the skin and muscle.
How do you avoid the muscle? Do you always inject the needle in all the way? Do you sometimes inject at an angle?
Still learning.
Deb
Still learning.
Deb
I started Copaxone the 3rd week in January. I had alot of injection site reactions at first, but they are slowly diminishing. I occasionally get some burning after injection, but it only last a few seconds, instead of several minutes.
The only place where I seem to get little welts, is my thighs. That may be a direct result of all those years I took Avonex, which can only be injected into the thigh muscle. At least with Copaxone, it's just under the skin. No long needles.
And NO side effects like I had with the Interferons. No flu like side effects, no pre-medicating, etc. I believe that Copaxone is something I can stick with. Will it totally stop MS in it's tracks, NO. But I feel that by taking an active role in doing everything I can to fight this disease, I have to take what is available to hopefully reduce brain atrophy and further severe attacks.
Heather
The only place where I seem to get little welts, is my thighs. That may be a direct result of all those years I took Avonex, which can only be injected into the thigh muscle. At least with Copaxone, it's just under the skin. No long needles.
And NO side effects like I had with the Interferons. No flu like side effects, no pre-medicating, etc. I believe that Copaxone is something I can stick with. Will it totally stop MS in it's tracks, NO. But I feel that by taking an active role in doing everything I can to fight this disease, I have to take what is available to hopefully reduce brain atrophy and further severe attacks.
Heather
I get site reactions, usually just stinging and some aching for a while. Occasionally I'll get a welt, but it's always on the thigh area. My legs are kind of muscular, so maybe that's why. In any case I prefer Copaxone to getting the flu every week, which some do. Not everyone, of course. Injections aren't fun but they sure beat the alternative.
ess
ess
For me the auto-injector does not work as well as simply doing the injection by hand.
I is easier to know that the needle is not going into muscle tissue. You might consider having this nurse teach how to not use the auto-injector.
I is easier to know that the needle is not going into muscle tissue. You might consider having this nurse teach how to not use the auto-injector.
Hi J:
I have just recently started on copaxone. (appx. 2 weeks)
I use the auto injector with it. Its very easy to use. The first
6 days worked out great,
On the 7th day i did start to get the site injection side effects.
swelling with the lump. the visiting nurse is comming back
tomorrow night to check my injection sites and to be sure I am
doing this right.
As I am pretty thin, she told me to use the 4
setting on the injector. (she thinks the 5 and 6 ) setting is going
to deep. other than that, I have been fine with it. and not willing
to give up the ease of use, due to site injection swelling. Im sure
this will improve with time.
I have had no other side effects at all. I am so glad to hear your
going to start the DMD med.
Gollie
I have just recently started on copaxone. (appx. 2 weeks)
I use the auto injector with it. Its very easy to use. The first
6 days worked out great,
On the 7th day i did start to get the site injection side effects.
swelling with the lump. the visiting nurse is comming back
tomorrow night to check my injection sites and to be sure I am
doing this right.
As I am pretty thin, she told me to use the 4
setting on the injector. (she thinks the 5 and 6 ) setting is going
to deep. other than that, I have been fine with it. and not willing
to give up the ease of use, due to site injection swelling. Im sure
this will improve with time.
I have had no other side effects at all. I am so glad to hear your
going to start the DMD med.
Gollie
I have been on Copaxone for about two years. For me there are no apparent side effects. Injections are daily and do not seem to cause any bruising as di Rebif.
The important thing about avoiding pain is to make sure not to inject into muscle tissue. If you happen to inject into the muscle tissue, it is not an issue really, it hurts for up about 20 minutes.
Even though I have been on Copaxone there has been lesions forming on my spinal cord.
The important thing about avoiding pain is to make sure not to inject into muscle tissue. If you happen to inject into the muscle tissue, it is not an issue really, it hurts for up about 20 minutes.
Even though I have been on Copaxone there has been lesions forming on my spinal cord.
I just started taking Copaxone, last Friday. The injection site reactions are the biggest side effects with Copaxone. I've had no other side effects other than a little bit of anxiety after a shot was given and a feeling of something being different--which has gone away.
The injection site reactions looked pretty impressionable, at first. The first five days they were about the size of a baseball of red area with about a half-dollar sized fluid-filled middle area. This started to go away when I started injected manually, controlling the amount of medicine that went in.
The medicine does hurt after about 20 seconds for about 10 minutes. I understand that this does get better, however. It also is much better in my stomach and back of my hips (rear end).
So far, I think I've made the right choice with Copaxone because of its tolerability. I hope that my future MRIs show that it was a good choice.
Deb
The injection site reactions looked pretty impressionable, at first. The first five days they were about the size of a baseball of red area with about a half-dollar sized fluid-filled middle area. This started to go away when I started injected manually, controlling the amount of medicine that went in.
The medicine does hurt after about 20 seconds for about 10 minutes. I understand that this does get better, however. It also is much better in my stomach and back of my hips (rear end).
So far, I think I've made the right choice with Copaxone because of its tolerability. I hope that my future MRIs show that it was a good choice.
Deb
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