Rebif vs Copaxone

[The_Lorelei]

Hi all!  I was just wondering if anyone's tried both Rebif and Copaxone.  I've been on Rebif since about October and my pain shortly after my injection and the following day is VERY substantial.  I can't bear to be touched because my skin feels like it's been burned (upper arms, upper legs, upper chest and back) and my spinal pain is just beyond the level of holy ow!  Even when I'm not taking the Rebif I have those pains but not quite as bad.  My doctor is going to be switching me to Copaxone soon in the hopes that my pains won't be as severe.  Do any of you have experience with both of those drugs?  How has it worked out for you?  I know that I'm not looking forward to the daily injections, were the injections less painful with the Copaxone or the same?  

[JessienUtah]

I have been on both Rebif and Copaxone.  I was on Rebif for about 5 years, and I have been on Copaxone for two.  I didn't have any problems with the Rebif except for the high liver functions.  That is why I am on Copaxone.  I think there is no difference in the injection pain.  They both were very minimal.  My worst pain was in my arms for some reason.  The daily injections aren't bad, especially since you don't get sick.
JessienUtah

[doublevision1]

I tried Rebif but had to discontinue after a couple of months due to persistent elevated liver enzymes.  I only made it as high as the half dose.  I had no other side effects, no injection site pain.  I switched to Copaxone and have been on it for the past 18 months or so.  The first several weeks the shots were pretty painful, the stinging and burning lasted a long time and the big red dollar size welts were pretty bad.  After a while all of this diminished greatly and I only occasionally feel a mild burning a few minutes after my shot.  The site reaction is minimal now and I often can't even feel or see where I injected the day before.  Some members here have experienced itching so bad they had to discontinue, fortunately for me I haven't had this problem.  Since starting Copaxone my MS seems to have quieted down a lot, only one relapse about 5 months after going on it, and it was a very brief bout of ON that was over in a matter of days with the help of Solumedrol.  So for me, the switch was positive and the med seems to be helping.  I guess time will tell.
BTW the daily injections are fine once you get used to it.  In fact, easier for me since I don't have to remember or check if I inject today or tomorrow?  It's part of my bedtime routine and is over in about 20 seconds.
Good luck.