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DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPY
Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
These insights are based on 17,848 comments about Copaxone from MyMSTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.
Copaxone works by changing certain immune processes, which are part of the body’s defense system. The exact way it works is not fully known.
These changes to the immune process may affect immune activity linked to damage in nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. By helping calm immune responses believed to be linked to relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, Copaxone may help treat relapsing forms of this condition.
Doctors prescribe Copaxone to adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. The medication is given as an injection under the skin on a regular schedule, either once a day or three times a week, depending on the dose prescribed by your doctor. It can be given at home after a healthcare provider shows you how to use it.
These insights are based on 17,848 comments about Copaxone from MyMSTeam members.Members who use Copaxone often talk about building routines around injections, watching for skin reactions, and staying in close contact with their neurologist if anything changes. Many also mention practical ways to make treatment more manageable, including using support programs and keeping expectations realistic about what the medication can and cannot do.
Rotate injection sites and pay attention to injection technique.
“Make sure your settings are properly set for the fat on your body. Log in your book the time and place you took your shot because you don’t want to shoot near the same area or in the same spot.”
Use simple steps to ease injection-site pain and swelling.
“I have been on this medication for about five months now. For me the only real issue I have is the site reactions. It swells up a bit and stings, but heat or a cold compress sometimes helps. Massaging it the day after helps work the knot out of it.”
Tell your doctor about reactions that feel unusual or severe.
“I did have the ‘strange’ side effect they tell you about one time only. Thankfully I was told it could happen and not to freak out, so I didn’t call 911 for heart attack symptoms. If you haven’t been told, it’s a weird flushing, panicky, short-of-breath feeling.”
Keep up with MRI scans and discuss whether Copaxone is working.
“I’ve been on Copaxone for almost 10 years, and my recent MRI showed no new lesions. It tells me that it’s working.”
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In clinical studies of Copaxone for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults, the most common side effects occurred in about 13 percent to 43 percent of people. These side effects were reported more often with Copaxone than with placebo (an inactive treatment). The most common side effects included:
Copaxone can cause serious side effects that require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Teva Neuroscience, the manufacturer of Copaxone, offers Copaxone Co-Pay Solutions. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0.
To learn more, visit Copaxone Co-Pay Solutions.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to glatiramer acetate or any ingredients in Copaxone (including mannitol). Do not take Copaxone if you have had a serious allergic reaction to glatiramer acetate or mannitol.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Copaxone, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Copaxone?
In studies of adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis, 20 milligrams of Copaxone taken daily lowered the number of relapses compared with placebo (an inactive treatment). In one two-year study, people taking Copaxone had about 0.6 relapses on average, compared with 2.4 relapses with placebo, while the median time to the first relapse was also longer. It was more than 700 days with Copaxone, compared with about 150 days with placebo.
In a large 12-month study of Copaxone 40 milligrams taken three times weekly, it reduced the number of relapses compared with placebo at 12 months by 34 percent. MRI results also showed significantly fewer new or enlarging lesions at six and 12 months.
How long does Copaxone take to work for multiple sclerosis?
In general, people taking Copaxone may see results after several months to one year. In one study of the 40 milligram dose taken three times a week, MRI changes were checked at six months and 12 months. Relapses were also measured over about 12 months. In another study, people were followed for up to three years to see how long it took for a second relapse to happen.
What side effects can happen right after a Copaxone injection for multiple sclerosis?
Copaxone can cause an immediate post-injection reaction within seconds to minutes after an injection, and most symptoms happen within one hour. Symptoms can include flushing, chest pain, palpitations, fast heartbeat, anxiety, shortness of breath, throat tightness, and hives. These reactions are generally temporary and go away on their own, but some symptoms can overlap with a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can be life-threatening and needs emergency care.
Can Copaxone cause injection site problems?
Yes. Common injection site reactions include pain, itching, swelling, redness or discoloration, inflammation, lumps, and hypersensitivity at the injection site. Localized lipoatrophy, which is loss of fatty tissue under the skin, and skin damage (necrosis) can also happen. Lipoatrophy may start months after treatment begins and is thought to be permanent. Rotating injection sites and using proper injection technique may help lower this risk.
Can I use Copaxone during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Studies in pregnant people have not shown a clear link between Copaxone and birth defects, miscarriage, or other problems for the parent or baby.
It is not known if glatiramer acetate passes into breast milk. Because very little of the drug gets into the bloodstream after injection, it is not expected to reach the baby in meaningful amounts through breast milk. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Copaxone or any other treatment for multiple sclerosis during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
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