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    #1

    9 Months for full effectiveness?

    So I have read in a bunch of places that Copaxone can take 9 months to fully work????

    I have been on it of 6 months and just had an MRI with enhancing lesions and had a small relapse a few weeks ago - My neuro says this means the drug is not working for me. I am so impressed by the long term studies that I am not ready to give up on it yet...

    Is there anyone out there that did not see great results the first 6 months, but then started to see good results after that?
    Tags: None
    #2
    Sorry to hear you don't have better news. Shared Solutions may be able to assist you further with your questions or another Neurologist, although if your Neurgolist is a MS specialist, he/she should know. Copaxone doesn't help everyone unfortunately.

    Just curious, have you changed your diet in any way since you started Copaxone?

    Comment

      #3
      Diet

      Oh yes, I have completely changed my diet. Following pretty much the OMS approach (vegan + fish + vitamin D + flax).

      My cholestorol is down from 230 to 160 and my blood sugars which were running high are now totally normal!

      Comment

        #4
        I am following a slightly modified Paleo diet and my cholesterol was around 280 and has dropped 100 points in the last month (I am also taking low dose Crestor which my doctor prescribed because my cholesterol was so high - it has been high me entire adult life but not this high). I have also lost 20lbs in the past 4 months and could probably use to loose another 10.

        I am scheduled for an MRI at the end of the year and am keeping my fingers crossed. My current symptoms are almost in total remission (I have been on Copaxone for about 2 1/2 months). I believe the medicine, along with diet, exercise and lifestyle change are all helping.

        I wish you success.

        Comment

          #5
          Your question made me a little curious about Copaxone. I did an internet search using the following wording to search: "how long till Copaxone works". There is a lot of varying and interesting information. But your best sources for reliable info would be Shared Solutions and your doctor.

          Comment

            #6
            Look at Figure 2. Median Cumulative Number of Gd-Enhancing Lesions on page 4 of the Copaxone Presecribing info:http://copaxone.com/pdfs/PrescribingInformation.aspx

            (found online or in virtually every mailing you get from Shared Solutions in addition to shipments of Copaxone)

            This was pointed out to me by my neuro when I started Copaxone, years ago. The study in question was done on 239 people and shows the cumulative numbers of enhancing lesions on a monthly basis. As this is cumulative, we must keep in mind that there were likely a number of people who had numerous new lesions and some who had few or none. The chart can be used as an overall guideline, but can't be used as a hard and fast time frame for everyone.

            In Figure 2 , you'll see that up until 3 months the efficacy of Copaxone vs placebo are similar, placebo in fact winning out at 2 months. Keep in mind these are averages, this doesn't mean that placebo was actually more effective.

            At around 4 months we begin to see a difference between the two with a more significant difference beginning at 6 months, Copaxone continuing to break away from placebo more and more until the end of this particular study at 9 months. You can infer from this that Copaxone begins to become effective at 3-4 months, becoming more and more effective as time goes on, again, as a general guideline.

            Copaxone reduces relapses by about 29-30% on average. This means that there are people who will be relapse free, 34% in one study and those who will relapse (the remaining 66% in that study).

            At 6 months, 1 relapse and new lesions aren't unheard of and may or may not necessitate a change. Discuss it with your doctor, but that final decision is yours. You can change or give Copaxone more time. Entirely up to you, with your dr's advice in mind.

            Comment

              #7
              Copaxone does not stop MS progression, but may possibly slow it down slightly. Having relapses and new lesions while on it is only normal.
              RRMS since July 2010.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by jersey4ever View Post
                So I have read in a bunch of places that Copaxone can take 9 months to fully work????

                I have been on it of 6 months and just had an MRI with enhancing lesions and had a small relapse a few weeks ago - My neuro says this means the drug is not working for me. I am so impressed by the long term studies that I am not ready to give up on it yet...

                Is there anyone out there that did not see great results the first 6 months, but then started to see good results after that?
                I switched from 5 years of Betaseron (with 1-2 major relapses per year) to Copaxone. I've currently been on Copaxone for about 5 years.

                During the interim of approx one month between stopping B and beginning C, I had another major relapse. Since beginning C, I had two very minor relapses in 2011, likely related to stress. Good stress (daughter's wedding, and, in charge of planning a 30-year reunion; but, stress, nevertheless).

                Since then, I have had NO relapses. In my 11 years with MS, this is the FIRST time that I have ever gone this long without relapses. Copaxone has prevented major relapses for me, right from the start.

                This week, an MRI revealed no obvious progression since my last MRI, which was taken just before Copaxone, so, it does not appear that the progression that seemed so steady during my B years was occurring during the first 9 months with C.

                I had read lots of good things about B prior to choosing that in 2003, just like you read lots of good things about C. So, I understand your reluctance to switch from a med that you spent time and effort to choose carefully.

                But, different meds work differently for different people. If your doc believes that C does not seem to be effective for you, I'd consider that opinion seriously and think about a med switch. In my case, I'm so glad I did. (I just switched TO Copaxone, instead of FROM.)

                ~ Faith
                ~ Faith
                MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
                (now a Mimibug)

                Symptoms began in JAN02
                - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
                - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08                .
                - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
                - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Mamabug View Post
                  But, different meds work differently for different people. If your doc believes that C does not seem to be effective for you, I'd consider that opinion seriously and think about a med switch. In my case, I'm so glad I did. (I just switched TO Copaxone, instead of FROM.)

                  ~ Faith
                  I agree and since they have different mechanisms of action it makes sense that one might help one person but not another.

                  I have been on Copaxone for 8 years and believe that it is helping me but I can't say I have seen impressive long term results from any of the meds, Copaxone included.

                  Even with the newer ones there are more options, again more mechanisms of action, but not a clear winner from what I have read.
                  He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
                  Anonymous

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Started C in Aug/07, had a steroid-worthy flare in Jan/08 and another in Jan/09... none since. Symptoms still come and go but haven't done much of the "should I go get steroids?" since. No new lesions either.

                    Having been on Rebif before C, I do know what it feels like when the DMD is not working. I'll stick with C until it stops working, which I hope won't be any time soon.

                    I have also changed my diet... chocolate as a meal replacement. I'm not kidding! I don't recommend this!

                    Please keep us posted on your progress, I hope you have success with it.

                    Jen
                    RRMS 2005, Copaxone since 2007
                    "I hope to be the person my dog thinks I am."

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Hi,
                      My situation is similar and after seeing a MS specialist I am now switching to Gilenya (Ty not an option - unfortunately! ) I know this is a very very general answer, if you have specific questions, Id be happy to help you out (just saw the specialist yesterday) Good luck and sorry to hear that Coo is not working for you. It sure is a great drug.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Why not Ty?

                        Hi Franzi - when you say Ty is not an option is it because of you're JCV+? I am JCV+ and my neuro is still pushing Ty. Says if you don't have either of the other risk factors the benefits still far outweigh the risk.

                        She said we would do Ty every 6 weeks to get 3 years out of it - by then - well - new drugs keep coming out - or my body might just move naturally into a less disease active time...or whatever - but that Ty could almost definitely put me into a 3 year "quiet" period - and let's just take things a few years at a time!

                        Comment

                          #13
                          I started copaxone in Sept 2012 had a bad relapse in April 2013, 8 months later.

                          From what I understand about Copaxone it "re-educates" your white blood cells with amino acids that resemble myelin. So the thought is the longer you take it the more re-education takes place. I started a new diet in May 2013 and also started taking LDN and a lot of supplements but i wouldn't replace Copaxone for anything. Apparently it was discovered by accident in a lab in Israel where the scientists were trying to create MS in rats, not treat it.

                          I hate the idea of taking a medication that lowers my overall immune system which is why i take Copaxone. It modifies your immune system it doesn't suppress it.

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