Copaxone Reaction

[starryeyes1]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had reactions to Copaxone? I have been taking it for over 5 months and one night after taking it in the thigh, I experienced the tightness of the chest, difficulty breathing, and my face turned bright red and felt like it was going to split apart. My DR said to reduce it to 1/2 a shot the next night and I didn't have another problem for 3 more weeks when it happened again. Coincidently, both times it occured when the injection was in the thigh .I am worried I won't be able to continue this if it keeps happening. I don't want to switch. Any suggestions? I don't inject into my legs now to see if it makes a difference.

[tonyad]

   Like Lulu, this post also caught my attention.
I just had a follow up neuro appt and he too told me that even after months of taking
the Copaxone injections, the side effect that you described is still a very
real possibility even though it had not happened yet.

   That scarred the (beep) out of me. That is the sx that I feared the most!!!!
I thought that if it had not happened yet, that it would not. Well he enlightened me
by saying that it still could very well happen.  If I remember right, I think he
told me that like 25-30% of his patients on Copaxone have this happen.
He just wanted to fore- warn me.

    I hope that it will not happen to you anymore, but.......it may.  I think that you should probably call both your Neuro and Teva just to give them a heads up!  Escpecially since it had happened more than once.

Take Care,
~Tonya

  

[Lulu54]

Hi and welcome.  Your post caught my attention - and Ess and Quix took care of the important stuff in their answers to you.  I know all of the printed material that comes with the copaxone patient education things includes the warning about the physical reaction that some have with copaxone.

I am also on copaxone, and you are the first person I have heard of being told to take a half dose.  That's an interesting approach to this problem.

Heather, a long time member here, had this chest tightness, could it be a heart attack, reaction this spring and her neuro immediately took her off copaxone and put her through a battery of cardio tests.  She was off a dmd for three months or so if I am remembering the timing, waiting to find out if it was safe to take.  

If you continue to have this problem, you could always switch to a different DMD.  

Welcome again - I hope to see you around.

be well,
Lulu

[Quixotic1]

Hi, and welcome to the forum from me.  ess is correct.  What you have had is called the Immediate post-injection reaction.  They know all about it and assure us that it is not serious.  However, the company downplays the reaction and I don't think everyone is told about it's possibility.  That is just a little less than ethical I think.  Besides, if people knew about it before hand, many wouldn't freak and quit the meds and refuse others (as some have).

The reaction is most likely to occur after the first few months of taking Copaxone.  About 13% of users will have it occur.  It is usually just once, but may recur.  As far as I know it is not injection-site specific, but may be related to injecting into an small blood vessel.  It is not just a vaso-vagal reaction that one thinks of causing near-fainting.

The reaction can be quite frightening and consists of flushing and feeling hot, brief difficulty breathing, heart pounding, chest pressure, severe anxiety and such that it can feel like a heart attack.  It's typically lasts less than 15 minutes.  I have not read anything about it that says you should stop the med if it recurs.  Some neurologists have stopped the med because of it, but it is unclear why except for patient fear.

If you look into the patient pamphlet you can read about it.  If you weren't educated about its possibility, I would complain to Teva and Shared Solutions.  People should be advised about it, and there would be less anxiety over it.

Hope this helps.

quix

[essdipity]

Hi, Starryeyes. This sounds to me like a problem that happens randomly with Copaxone. People describe it as feeling like a heartg attack is taking place, and it's a very scary thing.

Have you checked the Copaxone web site? You'll find reference to this, downplaying it, of course. It can occur even after years of Copaxone use, and may never happen again. I really don't think the injection site has anything to do with it.

You might want to call Shared Solutions, and also let your neuro know about this. Actually it isn't dangerous, but you need reassurance.

Sending good wishes,
ess

[starryeyes1]

OMG...Thank you for replying so quickly. I had taken it towards the inner area both times. I am hopeful it won't happen anywhere else. I like this medication. Thanks!

[jensequitur]

Hey, it sounds like you're hitting a vein or artery.  The reaction you describe is called a vagus reaction.  Pay very close attention to the injection site map they give you for Copaxone.  When they say the top of the thigh, they mean it!  Always inject into the fat areas and never into an area that might have a blood vessel.

I decided to stray from the top of the thigh and went a little inside, and had the same exact reaction you're talking about.  Felt awful for the rest of the day.