Copaxone reaction

[gypcwmn]

Hi everyone. I wanted to ask if this is normal. I tave been taking opaxone for a month. The first 3 weeks were fine a little redness and soreness at injection site                                                                                                        But for the last week to 10 days I have a huge lump at every injection site and it itches like crazy. Is it possible i am allergic to copaxone. It is weird i had no reaction for the 1st 3 weeks Any advice?  Linda                                                                                                          

[gypcwmn]

Thank you all for your advice. This is a wonderful community! Im hangin in there. Not gonna let it beat me.

[HVAC]

Linda,
  What it is is the bodies recognition the Copaxone is not made by your body. All my areas blew up like lemons on the the eigth day then it went away in a few days and I had no problem after that. Oh and my only other problem was once I did not check the depth on the autoinject and I shot deep it my arm and hit the ulnar nerve. Worse than hitting your funny bone.

   Alex

[twopack]

I went to a Life LInes sponsored seminar recently.  The nurse who was there said the reactions are mostly to the perservative rather than to the drug itself.  That's why the meds you mix yourself just before injecting don't cause as much local reaction.

I had a big itch problem and large, long lasting lumps for a few weeks.  Benadryl cream helped the itch.  I generally set the auto-injector on six.  I found that injecting deeper increased the problems for me.

Now I'm back to the sting being the b*tch.  A cold compress helps that.  Try a few things to see what works best for you.

Mary

[meg321]

Hi Linda,

The itching and bumps are normal and they get better for most people in time.

I have been on Copaxone for a year now and my body still reacts with redness, itching, bumps..but not all the time and not necessarily every time.  But then I also have hives, which are better now  and I do have a lot of allergies, that may be a factor like Lulu mentioned, who knows, we are all different.

BUT, it has helped me and I rarely have relapses now.

good luck ,

meg

[Lulu54]

Hi Linda, I have been on copax since Sept. 08 and have not had that problem, but I also don't have allergies or sensitivies to exposures of soaps, perfumes, meds, etc. so tht may be a factor.  I think the recurrent theme with everyone is to stick with it - this is your body reacting to the copax and eventually it will be better.  In the meantime, please call your doctor and get the official recommendation of what to take for the itch.

good luck, Lu

[LoveMyBostons]

I also experienced insane itching after being on Copaxone for a couple of months. My neuro wrote me a presciption for an allergy pill. The itching did subside after a couple of weeks. I know it's annoying and tiring but it DOES go away. Good luck!!

[twopack]

This doesn't appear to be an uncommon reaction Linda.  A few of us here experienced the same type of thing recently and also brought our questions to the forum membership.  

Here's a link to one of our recent discussions.  Maybe it will give you some ideas to try.  Just don't give up.  It gets better - usually.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Copaxone-reaction-help/show/1225955?personal_page_id=887341#post_5652126

Mary

[rendean]

Hi,
I believe HVAC had this problem and was told to take Benadryl until things settled down.
Here is a link to one of the discussions regarding a similar problem:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Copaxone-reaction-help/show/1225955

Hope this helps.

Ren