Copaxone

Question: What is the difference between the MS drugs Avonex and Copaxone? My son has been taking Avonex for his MS for 3 years now. He has had 3 episodes where he has had to be admitted to the hospital for IV therapy. I noticed that a couple of yahoo members are taking Copaxone and have been on it for 4 years symptom-free. I was wondering if maybe my son should change medications. Another reason for changing is this - after each injection, he gets very ill with a 104 degree fever and flu like symptoms, which last for about 24 hours. We have talked to his doctor about this and he said some people just get sick after their injections. He tried to give him 2 or 3 different medicatoins, hoping they would help with the sick feeling, but none of them worked. Has anyone on the Copaxone ever gotten sick after their injections? I would appreciate everyone who has been on Avonex or Copaxone helping me. My son really needs the help.

Answer: The main difference between Avonex (interferon beta-1a) and Copaxone (glatiramer acetate for injection) is that Avonex was designed to treat a first MS attack, to slow the accumulation of physical disability and to decrease the clinical worsening in those patients with relapsing forms of MS. Copaxone was designed to reduce the frequency of relapse in those patients with relapsing-remitting MS. The two drugs share many of the same common adverse reactions - nausea, diarrhea, abdominal upset to name three. Fever is a common adverse effect of Avenox and a less common adverse reaction to Copaxone. Consider that. Speak to his doctor about the advisability of changing.

Question: What does copaxone do generally to multiple sclerosis? It briefly mentioned copaxone in my revision guide, just was curious about it.

Answer: Copaxone is given by daily subcutaneous injection to treat relapsing-remitting MS and is a disease-modifying therapy. Of the four meds used to treat RRMS, Copaxone is the only one that's not interferon-based and so doesn't have the same side effects. It reduces relapses. Glatiramer acetate is the generic name for Copaxone. It contains 4 amino acids that are found in myelin. Unfortunately the exact mechanism of Copaxone is not known but one line of thought is that the amino acids in the drug modify the immune process responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. The disease causes the immune system to attack the proteins in myelin and the drug may divert this action. This would reduce the number of relapses in RRMS.

Question: I have MS and have recently been givin Copaxone, can only who has been on this med tell me about their exp? I have been diagnosed a little over a year ago with MS. I have been on Prednisone and have recently been prescribed Copaxone and Provigil (due to recent MRI results). Can anyone who have been on these drugs tell me their stories and the effect they have had one on or both of these medications? Any response would be of help. Thank you!

Answer: It's been 12 years since diagnosis for me and I've been on Copaxone for 9 years. I noticed major differences within 3 weeks of starting Copaxone. I was walking better, my mri's were better and my spasticity was better. Nine years later I am still walking. Fatigue is still an issue. Injection site reactions were the only issue and those have long since gone away. I took provigil for awhile and it does help with fatigue but it gave me bad headaches so i don't still take that. Let me know any specifics re Copaxone and i will answer. I have a few tricks to help it go pretty easy. I know many people connected in the MS community as well as Teva - the manufacturer of Copaxone so let me know how I can help. ~ jan

Question: When on Copaxone is it ok to drink alcohol? My brother-in-law has been on Copaxone for the past 6 months and almost every weekend he drinks about a six pack or more of beer. The next day he has a headache, his body hurts and does not feel like getting up and it's not because he has a hang over. Can anyone give me some advice on the side effects of drinking while on Copaxone. Thank you

Answer: Your brother in law is in trouble. Being on Copaxone for that length of time, is not good, and adding beer puts him in a danger zone. His wife, needs to call the doctor and let him know what is going on, but he has to stop, before it kills him.

Question: How long do side effects to copaxone last? I had my first shot yesterday, at about 3 pm. The training nurse, and most literature I read, said it should sting for about 15 minutes. It actually stung for at least an hour and a half, and it was tender to the touch for the rest of the day. I was just wondering if this is unusual, did I accidentally hit a muscle or is this the way I'm going to react every day! Thanks!

Answer: hi Im popo

Question: Is there any research into multiple post injection reactions when using Copaxone to treat MS? I have relapsing remitting MS and are experiancing multiple injection reactions while on Copaxone, eg. increased heart rate, hot flushes, dizziness, vomitting, shortness of breath straight after having my injection. This has happened approx 6 times in 2 months. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Answer: Vaccinations are bad for you! A vaccinated person is MORE likely to get a disease than a non-vaccinated person. The whole theory of vaccination is flawed. It causes a weakening of the immune system thus making those who are innoculated more susceptible to disease. There are so many awful side effects to vaccination that it should be considered extremely dangerous. Just sit back and think for a while. Is there any sense in injecting a disease directly into your bloodstream. We have been subjected to an awful mind control program to enable the drug manufacturers to make a fortune. The Vaccination Hoax http://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html

Question: Is there any research into multiple post injection reactions when being treated with copaxone for MS? I have relapsing remitting MS and are experiancing multiple injection reactions while on Copaxone, eg. increased heart rate, hot flushes, dizziness, vomitting, shortness of breath straight after having my injection. This has happened approx 6 times in 2 months. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Answer: Hi Scott, I know that increased heart rate, hot flushes, dizziness, and shortness of breath are pretty common in people when they first start taking Copaxone. The "poop sheet" I receive with my Copaxone says that if you experience these, you should call your physician immediately and not take it again unless your physician tells you to. But vomiting is not mentioned. That sounds like a pretty severe reaction. I'd call my neurologist if it were me. I have relapsing remitting also and have been taking Copaxone for three years (I hate it.). I'm thinking of going on LDN. I go to remedyfind.com to look up information on drugs that treat my MS. I found it to be a good site. Take care!

Question: Copaxone shot injection sites really acting up? have been on copaxone for MS for 2 weeks now. my injection site's have become very very swollen and very very itchy and very painful also very hot! even the ones i have done almost a week ago. any help as to what might be going on would be great thanks!

Answer: call your doctor and/or go to the ER.

Question: Does the weakness from taking Copaxone ever go away? This is my third time on the drug. Always after a few weeks on it I start experiencing weakness. This is the type of weakness where I'm bone tired, but can't sleep. Any treatments for this? I can take concerta when I want, but choose not to because it causes so much afterward anxiety.

Answer: Have you ever tried one of the other disease modifying drugs? I am on Betaseron and have had great success with it for nearly 8 years.I have never had any serious side affects, only a little queasiness the first couple of injections. I can understand your reluctance to take concerta, I do my best to take only the drugs that I really need..Betaseron and cymbalta. What are your Neurologists suggestions?.Have you contacted Shared Solutions?. Good Luck

Question: My daughter has lost her job and we will not be able to afford her next shipment of Copaxone, what do we do? She is 27, her job has been "eliminated" basically because she got hurt on the job. Has had to have reconstructed hip surgery and she now has no insurance. She has remained in remission with the Copaxone and we don't want to chance anything, please help us find a way to afford this medication

Answer: Most drug manufacturers help people in financial need, regardless of their age. However, in order to qualify you need to meet the following three basic requirements: 1.-You do not currently have insurance coverage for outpatient prescription medicines 2.-Your income is at a level that causes hardship when prescription medicines are purchased at retail price 3.-You do not qualify for a government or third party program that provides for prescription medicine coverage Keep in mind that sponsor's individual's income criteria vary with family incomes ranging from bellow the poverty level to up to $60,000! Those applicants normally qualifying at the highest income limits are generally MS, AIDS, transplant or cancer patients in need of very expensive drugs. This may also help: TEVA NEUROSCIENCE,INC. Copaxone Patient Assistance Program Copaxone (glatiramer acetate ) Shared Solutions 901 East 104th St., Suite 900 Kansas City, MO 64131 1-800-887-8100 http://www.copaxone.com/supportservices/default.aspx Good Luck to both of you!

Question: How fast does it take for copaxone to start working to stop Multiple Sclerosis flareups? How fast does it take for copaxone to start working? Been having MS flare ups. HAve been on Avonex for 2 years. Having to take iv steriods every 2 months. doc wants to change to tysybri. a little too scared. thinking about copaxone. does copaxone work fast enough so not to have to take more steriods?

Answer: Always listen to your gut. You are very right. I had a neurologist try to put me on Tysabri. A month later it was taken off the market because it was causing people brain infections and what not. You cannot mix Avonex with Tysabri. Get another opinion. I answered another question of yours which I believe answers this one. It takes a year to get the full effect of copaxon, or any M.S. medication for that. Therefore, it is not a good idea to switch and get off of Avonex just like that.

Question: what happens to your body if you are taking Copaxone medication and find out that you don't have MS? I just wanted to know if I really don't have MS and been taking medication Copaxone what damage could be done to my body

Answer: While there have been no studies done on this topic, nothing will happen. When a person has MS, the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Copaxone is intended to acts as a decoy so that that attack does not occur. The immune system attacks the Copaxone instead of your nerves and their protective cover. To my knoweledge, most neurologists will generally prescribe Copaxone to their patients for whom a final diagnosis has not been determined. The other drugs for MS are interferons and can have serious side effects. However, when a doctor prescribes Copaxone before the final diagnosis, he or she definitely thinks that there is more than a 50% chance that the patient has MS. Copaxone has been in use for more than 15 years now so it is well known that there is no harm in prescribing it prior to diagnosis. Lots of people do not bother to read the drug fact sheet that comes with Copaxone. Reviewing it or the simpler on line version of this drug on the drugs.com web site might put you at ease. Few people have any allergic reactions to it and the side effects are minimal. There are no toxic agents in Copaxone. The drug is a protein. The best of luck to you! The first oral drug for MS was just approved by the FDA last week. It should be on the market within a couple of months. However lots of neurologists will wisely not prescribe it unitl it has been on the market for a while. Oftentimes there are "kinks" to a drug that do not come to light until it has been in use for some time. Frankly, I will not take it until it has been in use for at least a year. Never hesitate to call your neurologist if you have a question. Beleve me, the cost of those phone calls are built into their office visit charges. May I suggest that you also go to the web site of the Naional Multiple Sclerosis web site. It is an incredibly reliable sourse of info on MS. Many MS sites contain a large amount of misinformation. The National Multiple Sclerosis website at http://www.nmss.org The best of luck to you!

Question: Does anyone have good news to share about Copaxone for treatment of MS? Was just prescribed this and I'm a? little hesitant to start. I've been surfing the internet and reading all kinds of horror stories about side effects and reactions to it. It's probably not good to do that, but I'm curious how it will affect me and am scared to death that I'll have a severe reaction. I took Avonex for a year and had to stop because I became so suicidal.

Answer: Hi, I took Copaxone for three years. My reactions to it were minimal. It was so easy to give myself the shot with the injecter. It was a snap. If you itch at the injection site, put some ice on it and don't scatch. Lots of my friends take Copaxone and have no problem dealing with the minimal reactions that it causes. I am sorry you had a bad experience with Avonex. Hope you find the Copaxone experience to be much better than the Avonex. One of my friends also had depression when she took Avonex, so the doctor prescribed an antidepressant which did the trick. The best of luck to you!

Question: What are the potential affects of the medication copaxone injection? an injection given for multiple sclerosis

Answer: Hi Sharyn, I have been taking it for about 5 years and have had no side effects, except for the occasional site reactions. You could check the package insert for all the details. I didn't do well on the Interferons at all. I have a support group for MS; http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MSR…

Question: Can anyone tell me if you have had a problem with take oral contraceptives along with copaxone?

Answer: You should ask your pharmacist about the possible drug interactions, but from what I know there isn't any contraindication.

Question: Is prescription drug "copaxone" covered by blue cross of california?

Answer: A select list of self-administered injectable medications may be covered under the pharmacy benefit. For additional information regarding injectable medications, please call WellPoint NextRx at 1-888-831-2242 or visit our website at www.bluecrossca.com. Office based injectables that are administered by a physician or nurse are NOT covered through the pharmacy benefit but may be accessible under the medical benefit. Some self-injectables may still require priorauthorization of benefits for coverage. Some injectables may be NON-PREFERRED/NONFORMULARY AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO STEP EDITS. Copaxone is nonformulary and will cost more.

Question: Will Great West Life cover Copaxone? I have Multiple Sclerosis and require daily injections of copaxone . The price of the drug is extremely high . I am getting provincial assistance that pays 80% , but that still leaves $130 per month expense out of my pocket . I am very greatfull for the coverage I do have , but im on a tight budget with mortgage , vehicle , etc . Will Great West Life cover any of the remaining $130 .

Answer: according to information on the web, they will not cover this medication. You might want to contact them directly.

Question: Copaxone has any bioequivalent? Hi my Friends: My best friend has multiple sclerosis. She needs the medicine Copaxone to her monthly treatment. Our medical plan covers a great part of the medicine, nevertheless she will need to pay around $300 dollars monthly in deductibles. Do you know if there's any bioequivalent for this medicine? Thank you.

Answer: Hi Lyn, Unfortunately, there are no bioequivalents (generics) available for glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). The drug is still under patent control, held by Teva Neuroscience. Even if it does come out from under patent, I don't know that you'll get glatiramer acetate much cheaper than Copaxone. It is fairly complex and delicate to grow the proteins needed to make the drug, and that's part of the cost. And, being a Copaxone user myself, I don't know how well I'd trust the efficacy of a bioequivalent. Would my insurance company force me to take the bioequivalent because it's cheaper? But what if it doesn't work? I'm losing brain matter; I don't want to have to quibble with insurance over which drug works better, despite the cost.

Question: where can i get an auto injector to administer copaxone for ms treatment?

Answer: Your prescribing MD will have to write a script for you for the autoinjector. You can also call the pharmacy or the Teva Marion support hotline for further instructions specific to your situation

Question: where is the best place to inject copaxone?

Answer: Copaxone is given subcutaneously , and I prefer it been given on the thigh . But the site can be changed eg. thigh ,upperarm,abdomen etc But it is best given at a site where the skin is not too thick or too thin.