copaxone 40mg reaction

[myalyn]

Hi--I am a new member and just started MS meds a week ago for the first time. I was put on copaxone 40mg 3x week and this weekend I experienced a weird reaction approx 4 hours after injection. Luckily I was home when I got a fever with intense chills and bad headache--lasted a few hours and I passed out. Anyone experience this? Could my body be in shock since I never took the 20mg and just started with the 40mg? Did anyone else start with the 40mg?  I plan to call my doctor but wonder if anyone has heard of this. Thanks for your input!

[ofessard]

I do not have an answer, but wanted to let anyone interested know that I, too, had 3+ hours of intense chills and about 12 hours of fever with flu-like aches and severe headache after my 4th injection of Copaxone. This followed an unusually strong day, but became weak and lost balance four at least 24 hours, at which time I am writing this. Do not yet know if I am going into a flare-up or not. Since it is the weekend, I have not spoken with my MS doc yet.

[me_also]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought it may be useful to others if I posted my similar experience with 40mg Copaxone.

On my fourth injection, I had exactly the fever symptoms described in the original post. Since my wife had some bug earlier in the week I wrote it off. On the fifth injection, same symptoms on the same schedule.  I surfed the web like mad and found others had had this same fever/chills reaction. All within the first 5 injections.  2 folks said that it stopped as their bodies became used to the drug. One said they were able to prevent a fever by taking ibuprofen an hour before their shot.

The next morning I called Shared Solutions and my doctor. Shared Solutions stated that fever was a known, rare (2%), side effect. Other than that, they were no help. My doctor had never had a patient with this reaction, but allowed me to take ibuprofen prior to my next injections to staunch the fever/chills. This seemed to work.  After 2 weeks, I weaned myself off the ibuprofen and have not had a fever in the 8 months since.

[HVAC]

You might want to post your own question . This post is two years old. Are you having problems with Copaxone?

Alex

[Lulu54]

Welcome.  even though you want to talk with your doctor about this problem/quesiton- I urge you to call Shared Solutions to report this side effect - especially you JaimeNG, since it has happened to you more than once.  Alex is right about them following a script, but they are required to take notice of any patient complaints.

It is important that these possible side effects be noted.I hate that you both have had this problem and perhaps you are among the people who are allergic to this forulation and will need to try something else? I have talked to a few people who are on the 40mg dosage and they love it, and not having to do the daily injections.

You may need to try this new formula for a few more doses to see if this is just an adjustment in your body or if it really is a reaction because of something else.  Either way, be sure to contact your neuro's office.

[HVAC]

It is normal to have a reaction to Copaxone in the first few weeks. It is your body saying hay I don't make this stuff. It continues you need to let your Doctor know and try something else. On my eight day every injection site turned into a peach size knot and itched like mad. It took benadryl. They went away in a day or two and never came back. Share Solutions has to read from a script literally so they may be of little help it is best to contact a nurse at your doctor's office.

Alex

[JaimeNG]

Hi-I don't have any advice for you, but I'm hoping you have some advice for me.  I had something very similar happen to me this past week.  I am newly diagnosed and I started Copaxone 40 mg last week.  After my 4th injection I woke from sleep 5 hours later with chills-cold temperature-could have had a fever?-throbbing head ache-neck and back pain.  The following day I was very lethargic and my body ached.  I also had a throbbing headache on and off.  Advil seemed to help.  I contacted my doctor and she didn't seem concerned.  Last night, it happened again 4 hours after my infection.  Are you still the 40 mg?  Was your doctor concerned?

Thanks! I hope to hear back from you!

[ErinE111]

Hello JaimeNG. I hope you are doing better now. If you don't mind, could you please let me know if you were able to stay on the 40 mg Copaxone three times a week? It could be very helpful to me. Thank you very much if you see this and  don't mind responding. If I can offer you an answer to any questions based on my experiences I definitely will.

[ErinE111]

Hello JaimeNG. I hope you are doing better now. If you don't mind, could you please let me know if you were able to stay on the 40 mg Copaxone three times a week? It could be very helpful to me. Thank you very much if you see this and  don't mind responding.