Copaxone for Multiple Sclerosis User Reviews

• Gre...
• November 14, 2013

"I was diagnosed with MS about 7 years ago and started on Avonex. The side effects were pretty severe for me, but I stuck to it for 18 months. I also formed new lesions and had brain atrophy. I switched to Copaxone over 5 years ago and I have had a much better experience. Copaxone has slowed the progression of the disease and in some areas the myelin has shown repair and regrowth! I have more energy and my balance has come back - I am able to ride my bike with ease again. I was able to stay on Copaxone throughout my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding. I did this under the watchful eye of a high-risk OB specialist and my neurologist. I was able to remain stable after my son was born without any relapse. And he is perfect."

• ncn...
• July 10, 2013

"I've been on Copaxone since January 2012. I was diagnosed in Dec. 2011. Copaxone has given me energy to do my daily duties. I still have a day or two in bed from time to time. The key to Copaxone working is to keep those D3 vitamin levels up. I go to pain management for a combination of degeneration & Multiple Sclerosis pain. Family is a comfort & very much needed for the emotional comfort of the disease. You have to balance medicine, family, God, love & friends. All of the above is a prescription to help manage MS more comfortably. Hope this will help others. Copaxone has been a real winner for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2014

"I have been on Copaxone now for 6 weeks. Started on Tecfidera, and that was just a horrible experience, so I switched to Copaxone three times a week. I also encountered an Autoject problem, and after one week, switched to doing the injection manually. The site reactions are pretty much gone, but I do use heat prior and ice post-injection to keep whatever reaction occurs to a minimum. I have only been diagnosed for 3 months now, but I have so much more energy than I have had for a very long time, so my experience has definitely been positive!"

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2014

"Copaxone 40mg, 3x a week: Shared Solutions is a helpline for Copaxone - they are AMAZING. They deal with Insurance (FYI: Anthem Blue Cross covers Copaxone), pay copay, send free supplies, send out a nurse to your HOME to teach you about using the auto-injector making it super easy, and they have a 24/7 nurse hotline for questions. It's wonderful. Side effects: I really have none. Been using it for 3 weeks, I get some little welts sometimes, but use a cold pack after for 15 minutes and that helps a lot. Also, Copaxone 40mg has ONLY a 2% chance of getting an immediate post-injection reaction. Odds are, that will NEVER happen. After the first week of taking Copaxone, my foot felt less numb! Let taking injections EMPOWER you! You're taking control!"

• Bdg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2014

"I got diagnosed after numerous tests. I researched it and knew I had Multiple Sclerosis, but Neuro just had to keep doing tests for months. I would get double vision about once a month, and my stomach and left leg would go numb a lot. Finally, I was diagnosed and got on Copaxone, and zero flare-ups for 4 years. I also take a multivitamin and 8000 IU of vitamin D per day. Get on Copaxone and take vitamin D if you get diagnosed."

• Fdr...
• May 29, 2017

"I was diagnosed with MS at 41 in 1998. I was relieved when my doctor recommended the once-a-week shot Avonex, thinking it would be the easiest. Not so...bad side effects. I went from cane to walker to wheelchair to hospital all in the few years I was on it. Just before I went to the hospital, I started on 20 mg seven days a week of Copaxone. It gave me my life back. I then went from wheelchair to walker to cane and then nothing in about two years' time. I've now been on it for 17 years with no major relapses. Not a day goes by that I don't feel the effects of MS, but nothing compared to what it was before Copaxone."

• Lee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 31, 2019

"I had injection site reactions, shortness of breath, and mild chest pains. I was told these were normal reactions that would pass. Well, they in fact never passed. Instead, this drug caused me to go into anaphylactic shock. I'm lucky I'm here to write this review. I checked and cannot find anywhere on this drug's page where my experience was indicated. It shows similar reactions but years ago. My experience was within the last few years. It is important that people comment with anaphylactic shock reactions so more people are aware. So, I felt compelled to share my story."

• jmb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

"I had tried Copaxone after Avonex (which had caused horrific headaches 5 out of 7 days of the week), and after 2 months on the medication, I had two horrible reactions 2 out of 3 days. Same symptoms, the second time sent me to the Emergency Room. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Freezing/chills for hours, severe shaking, heart palpitations - I thought I was at the end of me. The neurologist said those symptoms are rare, but twice in 3 days was a bit much. Not to mention the daily injections and the pain after the injections in my legs and stomach. Switched to Rebif. Was on that for 7 years and have been off all medications for over a year. MS symptoms getting worse, but the side effects of all the newer medications make me question whether it is worse to take them or just naturally worsen. I know that is sad, but I have young children and don't want to develop PML. I wish they would come out with medications that don't have a laundry list of side effects."

• Nat...
• May 16, 2016

"Please, anyone with MS, look into Dr. Terry Wahls and her protocol for MS. Most MS symptoms can be controlled through diet. Please take a few minutes to look into this, it could save you a lot of suffering and money."

• Ant...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2016

"I experienced 2 attacks within 2 years. The last was August 2014. On November 1st, 2014, I was diagnosed with MS. I started Copaxone 40, 3 times a week. Fast forward to now, April 25, 2016. I have had no new attacks since and no permanent damage. Sure, the injections are a pain sometimes, and I was nervous at first. Plain and simple - if I mess up an injection, it hurts! If I take my time and do it right, I feel nothing. I have never dieted in my life, but now at 38, I need to change my diet and exercise again. The medicine has worked for me. Aside from my weight gain, I am 100% grateful for the drug and will keep it going. Stay positive! Good luck everyone. 'It is what we make of it'"

• Tia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2013

"I started Copaxone about six months ago. I had been diagnosed with MS 10 years ago but didn't take anything for it but a giant dose of B vitamins daily. Last December, I had my first real flare-up and it was awful. The neuro told me I had no choice now, but to take something. So after researching with my husband, I decided on Copaxone. Do not give up if you just started and are having itchy bumps and stinging when injecting. It really did get better for me. I did have one incident of chest tightness and anxiety which lasted about three minutes but only once. When I read the side effects from other drugs (Flu-like symptoms and hallucinations!) I picked this drug. So far, so good. Neuro thinks I am not progressing at this point."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2014

"I am 24 with RRMS. My right eye developed optic neuritis in November of 2011. I was officially diagnosed in September of 2012. I started taking Copaxone a few weeks after the diagnosis. Site reaction areas were bad at first, but they started to diminish after some time. The only other issue I had was around the one-year mark, but that was due to playing favorites with sites and not rotating properly. After almost 2 years of being on Copaxone, I have had no other relapses."

• Bra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2014

"Been on Copaxone for 6 months. Injections really do get easy, they are almost always pain-free and rarely get injection site reactions. I know it's early, but I do feel like I have more energy than I have had in the past 4 years since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Don't let people's horror stories scare you, it's really not bad. Very few people actually have IPIR."

• Mag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2020

"Dx w/ MS 9/26/2006 at age 43. I started using Copaxone on 10/11/2006. At the time I started using Copaxone, it was a daily injection. I now use the 40 mg / 3x a week injection. I am proud to report I have never missed an injection ***100% compliance***! I work 60 hrs a week, and as long as Copaxone is available, I will never change. No pills or infusion. I hate needles, so the auto-inject is a lifesaver. MS sucks, but I feel I am on the right path."

• Myl...
• July 25, 2013

"I had multiple sclerosis since I was 19. I'm 28 now. I got on Copaxone for about 4 years. It took about 8 months to see results. The only side effects I experienced were palpitations and a brief panic attack which lasted for 2 minutes but felt like 20 minutes. That only happened once, other than that, I get redness around the injection site. I like this medicine because I feel that it has slowed my MS down, and I haven't gotten sick since. I feel like I got my life back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 30, 2013

"My mother has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 12 years. She started out using Avonex and her symptoms got worse. The doctors discovered new lesions and my mother's spells got more intense. She was finally put on Copaxone and has no regrets. She has no new lesions and Myelin sheath has been repairing. She has used Copaxone for 10 years, and would recommend it to anyone suffering with MS."

• Bos...
• October 2, 2014

"Diagnosed in '08, been on Copaxone since then. Took me about six months to realize my injection site problems were caused by the auto-injection contraption. I found it not precise enough, needle can go at an odd angle, or too deep and into muscle (those were the worst). Learned to self-inject. I go in at a 45-degree angle and inject slowly. Haven't had any injection site problems since. Knick a muscle once in a while, but that's it. It's a different experience for everyone, as you all know. Cut out the salt, take cold showers, and avoid the heat. Haven't tried vitamin D supplements, but sounds like a good idea. Last MRI showed no significant changes (good thing, I'm told.)"

• Men...
• September 13, 2016

"I stopped Copaxone due to bad reactions. I haven't eaten red meat, milk, cheese, yogurt, and white bread. I only drink almond milk and try to eat healthy. I am also taking vitamin D 5000 mg, cranberry pills 3600 mg, turmeric pills, fish oil, and B12. I've been healthy even without injections. Also, praying a lot."

• Get...
• January 14, 2015

"I was just diagnosed in November 2014. I started on Copaxone 40 mg just a couple of weeks later. I have had all of the typical site reactions with every injection. The worst has been the itching, which I have been unable to control with anything until this last injection. I researched and have used every over-the-counter remedy. I started looking at natural remedies for itching. I could not bear to invest any more money. I came across the use of oatmeal for itching (I forgot all about that). I had steel-cut oats on hand, ground them into a flour-like texture, put the ground oatmeal in a cheap knee-high stocking, dipped it in hot water, and allowed the concoction to drain so that it was not messy but still wet. I applied it, and I experienced AMAZING RELIEF."

• Neh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 4, 2016

"I think Copaxone has been great for me, no serious relapses. I went to 40 mg because 3x a week sounded better than 7, right!? I wish I had just stayed with the 20 mg, been doing it for years, never had any issues. Getting a lot more site reactions now with the 40 mg, lumps, itching, painful, etc. Talked to my doctor about going back to 20 mg, he said there is a generic available and most insurance companies are gonna try to push people toward the generic now. I might be stuck with the 40 mg. My advice would be, just stick with the daily shots."

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

"I was on Copaxone 40 mg for 2 months before I quit. It was my 1st MS drug; I hope I won't react so poorly to the next. For me, each injection just really hurt. It burned starting 15 - 30 seconds in, even with an ice pack. The burn was intense for about 15 minutes, then in about 1 hour, it lessened enough I could limp off to bed. Welts about 2 inches in diameter formed on my arms and thighs, and lumps formed in my stomach or the back of my hips. The welts were painful and hot for 3-7 days (thigh injections were the worst; I cried after those). The lumps itched for about 5 days after stopping hurting (about 1 day). Not to say they weren't bad too; just less so. The burning was bad enough that by the 2nd month I had my husband do the injections; I just couldn't bring myself to put the needle in anymore. Does everyone who uses Copaxone feel like this and just suck it up? Am I being a wimp here? I hope not."

• pun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2013

"I have been on Copaxone for almost 10 years. I am very pleased with the results. It's the only medicine I have been on so I can tell you it works for me. Like some of the other reviews, I have had a few issues but nothing I can't handle. One episode was after the shot, I had heart palpitations worse than usual. It only lasted a minute or two but felt like 20. Soon after, vomiting and headache occurred. I slept it off and was fine after. In all the years taking Copaxone, the heart palpitations happened maybe 6-7 times. So I'm not going to complain. I grew up with an uncle that battled progressed stage of Multiple Sclerosis. I wish Copaxone was around before his got to that stage. Thanks to shared solutions for making my life easier."

• eve...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2013

"After approximately 1 year of using Copaxone daily injections, my neurologist is convinced that my multiple sclerosis progression has slowed down; if not, stopped progressing altogether. My last MRI showed 'NO NEW LESIONS', but up until then, my MRIs showed steady progression with 'NEW LESIONS' every time. Copaxone has absolutely changed my life, and I'm now living instead of just existing, but I'm worried about my recent weight gain (in the last year)."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2008

"I was on Avonex for the first 7 years after being diagnosed. I would lose 1-2 days of every week feeling lousy with flu symptoms. I had to switch to Copaxone (only non-interferon) after liver tests began showing Avonex was causing problems. I have been on Copaxone for 4 years now and have not had any new exacerbations since I have been on it. Now I wish I hadn't let my fear of needles eliminate Copaxone from my list of treatment choices in the beginning. Now, giving myself the injection daily is no big deal."

• rep...
• April 26, 2016

"I have been on Copaxone for 14 years. I have been fortunate in not having any more major flare-ups and have remained fairly stable. I do have the tiredness and lack of energy at times, but sometimes feel so good I can almost forget I have MS. The first 12 years were the 20 mg daily injections and had the usual problems with site injection lumps and itching. I was changed to the 40 mg 3 times per week approximately two years ago and recently went to two injections per week because the insurance coverage is changing. I am going from my regular insurance to Medicare with a supplemental plan and will not have to pay $4,000 per year out of pocket. In my opinion, I felt the best doing the 20 mg daily than taking 40 mg 3 times/week."