DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more

Copaxone (Glatiramer) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



Share your experience: submit a drug review

Below are Copaxone (Glatiramer) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 3 ratings/reviews, Copaxone has an overall score of 8.67. The effectiveness score is 8 and the side effect score is 7.33. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Copaxone review by 49 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis
Dosage & duration:   20 mg taken every day for the period of 7 years
Other conditions:   osteoporosis, migraine headache, spastic bladder
Other drugs taken:   Ditropan 15 mg, Wellbutrin 300 mg
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It reduces the frequency of episodes of relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis.
Side effects:   The most common side effects are reactions at the injection site, which I have had, especially at the beginning of treatment. These are redness, a lump or firmness, soreness, or itching at the site of injection. Once I developed a permanent depression at an injection site, which is caused by a localized destruction of fat tissue. Some patients (I never have) develop a short term reaction experienced immediately after injecting this medicine. This reaction includes a feeling of warmth and/or redness known as flushing, chest tightness or pain with heart palpatations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms may last a few minutes then go away by themselves without any further problems. Each package of Copaxone contains a complete list of possible side effects, or you may obtain this list from your doctor or pharmacist.
Comments:   Each single use blister pack of Copaxone contains one prefilled syringe containing 20 mg of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) which the patient self administers subcutaneously, in the fatty layer of skin, once a day. It is important to rotate injection sites daily.

 

Copaxone review by 28 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Multiple Sclerosis
Dosage & duration:   20mg taken once a day/everyday for the period of 2 months
Other conditions:   endometriosis, migraines
Other drugs taken:   Ambien, celexa
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Peace of mind that I am doing something to decrease the MS progression.
Side effects:   Site reactions: pain, redness, lumps, flush of heat, itchiness
Comments:   I was on copaxone over a year ago and quit because I found the reactions unbearable. My health has declined and I changed doctors and now that I have found the confidence to accept my disease and become more proactive, I have begun applying heat to the site prior to injection. The pain from the shots have practically disappeared. I actually purchased a massager (heart massager from pure romance) that self heats and I don't have to do so much work prior to injection. I still get large red lumps if I don't put ice on it after the injection.

 

Copaxone review by 48 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Mulitple Sclerosis
Dosage & duration:   20mg taken one time daily for the period of Almost 2 years
Other conditions:   Trigeminal Neurlagia, Rosacea and Dermatitis
Other drugs taken:   Lyrica (Miracle Drug), Pain Meds, Zyrtec
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   No exacerbations since starting during summer of 2008 after 11 years on Avonex (another "disease modifying medications" for MS.
Side effects:   Redness, itching, sometimes swelling at injection site and mild soreness. All are brief in duration. I have never experienced the flushing described by "49 year old female" either, but Shared Solutions will inform you about it so you will be prepared should it happen. I like to consider it in the same way I did Avonex for all those years; it sucks, but it keeps me on my toes and therefore worth it.
Comments:   Very simple once you establish a simple routine. "Shared Solutions", the company behind Copaxone provides you with everything you need for each injection, including; in home injection training, which I was able to get down with just one session, but they will come as often as you need. You load an injection tool with a syringe. Remove the cap from the syringe (simple). Wipe the inection site with a kind of cheap, provided alcohol wipe. Let the alcohol dry (30-60) seconds. Place the tip of the tool on the injection site, press a button and the tool injects the shot in about 7-15 seconds. It varies. Yeah, I called them cheap alcohol wipes, but they are good enough and I'm picky. I buy my own because they are inexpensive. Most important as stated earlier by "49 year old female" rotate the injection sites. Rotate, Rotate, Rotate. No tissue damage for me so far from Copaxone, but minor damage from Avonex on leg. Rotate!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shared Solutions offers great support via the phone or website. I used them a bit in the beginning, but not much since, but I do know that they are available until late evening with knowledgeable, understanding and sensitive "NURSES". They deserve the "Atta Boy-Girl" this paragraph took up.
 


Share your experience: submit a drug review

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017