Sneaky Sneaky :-)

[sherma57]

Been a naughty girl and been poking about my old Universities website, that has access to stuff we cannot get hold of normally.  It's been a colaboration between myself and my Son.  I never got to the stage of being a Doc of Chem just a master, but my Son is a Doc of Chem so he has more info than me.  Anyway getting to the point here, it appears that Copaxone is the cheapest form of drug - it CAN give flu like symtpoms, but Teva will not list it in side effects - reason unknown, but I guess we can all take a good idea why.  Anorexia is also listed.  I spoke to a rep from Teva and she put me through to a Doctor (yeh yeh) and after much pushing and shoving she also admitted that the symtoms mentioned are applicable - albeit rare.  The Pharma's should list all possible side effects as we know - but when your up against Teva Aventis, no chance.  Copaxone does not effect vital organs like some of the other ABC's, but at the end of the day not listing this just doesn't cut it - I know that here in France all Neuros give out Copaxone as their first choice of therapy.  There is another forum that I am with too, and many people there are on Copaxone and have had the same sypmtoms, but have just plodded along with it, they may have this episode once or twice in a year also they have reported this to their Neuros.  It makes you wonder what is going on.  I am sure glad thatI never opted for the tablet form - I figured that if I was going to have a s/e then it would be quicker that having a pill disolving in my stomach LOL  what's left of it.

Oh PS anyone ever get a craving for certain foods???  Normally I hate chocolate unless it's that time of the month, but I am eating chocolate all the time (sitting here typing away thinking of chocolate cookies lol)

Anyway it was just to answer a few questions, anyone got a prob with their garden I did my PhD in that  LOL  Gotta keep a sense of humour around you - even when your falling down !!

[Momzilla]

Oh, Sherma, don't you remember ~~ You're French.  You can eat the chocolate cookies and always stay slim!  (Perhaps this is only an American joke!) You look lovely, anyway!  Your sidekick, too!

Thanks for the inside information!

Momzilla*

[Heather3418]

Oh don't apologize.  You were only reporting to us what you knew about Copaxone.  You owe me NO apology.  I am just reporting that now I am scared.  This only makes me do more research before starting the drug on Friday.

The forum ALWAYS welcomes others opinions and advice.  That's what the forum is for.

Thank you for bringing up this information, so we can get go further information to know exactly what we are getting into.

Nothing to forgive, honey, okay?

Big ((((HUGS))))))

Heather

[sherma57]

I'm really sorry, I really didn't mean to do that to you or Amyloo - it's just what my Son found out about the pharma's.  They don't tell you everything, but these side effects MAY only MAY happen to you.  It takes 3 or 4 mths to get into your system anyway - there are many people with MS that take Copaxone and have no s/e whatsoever.  So please don't worry - you'll be fine - trust me.  It just made me so angry when my Son found this info out he works for GSK so he was able to access certain information.  It's just me panicking as ususual - but I most certainly did not want to pass this over to anyone else who is just about start Copaxone - but evidently it did, and once again I apologise.  I have lived with MS for over 10 years 7 years dx and I am not one to frighten or scare anyone.  They give you a list of possible s/e and they omit certain bits which should not be allowed.  Please forgive me.

Debs

[Heather3418]

You have just scared the h e l l out of me....I am due to start the drug for the first time on Friday.

I am serious...you have really scared me.  I am now going to spend the next hour finding out everything I can about this drug.  I took Avonex several years ago and just couldn't tolerate the flu feelings for 4-5 days after my shot, so after 3 years, I gave up on it.  I know that many people find these side ffects subside after a few months on the drug, so I am not discouraging a single soul from using Avonex.  It kept the MS at bay for three years...it does work.

Thanks "cardinal" for the webiste to the FDA, where I can look up what i need to know about Copaxone.  Two of us here on the forum are due to start this drug and I promised the other member I know who will be starting it, that we will go through this together.  So if she is reading this...honey we will STILL go through this together.  I understand that Copaxone has the least side effects of any of the ABC's.  I am been have assured by my Neuro, even today at my appointment, that this is true.  And I trust this Neuro....I fought insurance company BIG BS, to make sure they approved visits with her.  She is that GOOD!

Heather

[cardinal65]

No need to be sneaky finding out that information. You want to know all about the medication try one of these 2 easy ways: webmd.com go to the bottom where they tell about medications and type in the name of the drug - this drug is on there with a long list of side effects. Other way to see the entire approved durg label (what the doc and pharm would read) FDA.gov try accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/ . Sometimes there are just tooooo many side effects to list on the patient label.

[Amyloo]

Hi Sherma,

I do find this interesting; I am starting Copaxone within the week.  If you find anything else out do tell, do tell!  Amy