Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

copaxone- take another shot?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    copaxone- take another shot?

    Had my 2nd bad rxn to copaxone last night with the flushing, heart pounding and shortness of breath. All told 10 minutes. Called neuro office today and spoke with assistant. Said dr. would call back in the PM. No call back. I call and leave a message b/c my original question was whether or not to take a shot tonite. They leave a voice mail, If you think you are having problems you can go to the ER. This does not answer my question. I called SS and the nurse could not answer the question. I did read in the fine print that one can build up antibodies to copaxone and go into anaphylactic shock. How would I know, in the moment, if it´s the "typical" bad reaction or the shock? I live alone.
    Any ideas?
    Tags: None
    #2
    How long have you been on Copaxone? How long between the two reactions? Was the second one more severe than the first?
    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

      #3
      About to hit 6 month mark on the drug and last night´s reaction was milder than the first.

      Comment

        #4
        I am about to start Copaxone tomorrow (Saturday) and this is the thing that scares me the most with C... Some people do fine and others don't.. the thought of having to take it agghhhhhh.

        I pray it works for me. I cannot see having a bad reaction for 10 min... I will be at the ER so fast and I would not take it again.. that's just me.

        Ms. Jay

        Comment

          #5
          Well it is great news to me that this reaction wasn't as severe as the first but if it was the IPIR I have read described here where it feels like you are having a heart attack I'm not sure I would want to continue on with a medication doing it 2 xs in 6 months.

          FWIW I have been on it 7 years and have only had the rare one that stung really bad and nearly took my breath away for a few minutes but nothing compared to the IPIR. If I had one now I would probably continue on with the medication but if I had another one in 6 months I probably would start another one instead.

          No great advice but please continue pursuing some answers from your neurologist, perhaps get a second opinion preferrably from a MS specialist. Good luck.
          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

            #6
            So, I call and leave a message with neuro´s assistant today and receive no answer. Made an appt. with my GP to get a referral to a MS center in Philly. Any input on UPENN versus Jefferson? I think my neuro fired himself by not responding.

            Comment

              #7
              I just went to the www.copaxone.com site and posted a question re cortisone shot today and should I take a copaxone shot tonight am waiting to hear from them. Hopefully its soon. I think they must have people on call or something. Ive had lots of IPIR's, several were really bad, but doc says keep taking it and they are getting less and less severe and not nearly as often. The stinging burning lumps however, persist.

              Comment

                #8
                This is a normal reaction. Don't continue use if your stated symptoms last more than an hour; seek medical attention immediately.

                Your reaction seems like a "panic" kind of reaction as described by some users. This reaction can randomly happen, as you've experienced. Typically these reactions can happen because of stress, hormones, diet, and anxiety.
                ~~~Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free.~~~
                ~~~Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.~~~
                ~~~This is the ultimate.~~~

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Jules A View Post
                  Well it is great news to me that this reaction wasn't as severe as the first but if it was the IPIR I have read described here where it feels like you are having a heart attack I'm not sure I would want to continue on with a medication doing it 2 xs in 6 months.

                  FWIW I have been on it 7 years and have only had the rare one that stung really bad and nearly took my breath away for a few minutes but nothing compared to the IPIR. If I had one now I would probably continue on with the medication but if I had another one in 6 months I probably would start another one instead.

                  No great advice but please continue pursuing some answers from your neurologist, perhaps get a second opinion preferrably from a MS specialist. Good luck.

                  I agree with what Jules said.

                  I've been on Copaxone for about five years total. I had terrible pain once when I hit my thigh muscle but not since. That was in the first few months and I was extremely thin and muscular. I avoid my arms now and for all the other spots I use good rotation records and use manual injection. It takes a bit of time to develop technique and a routine but after that it is much easier.
                  Take care, Wiz
                  RRMS Restarted Copaxone 12/09

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by archie321 View Post
                    This is a normal reaction. Don't continue use if your stated symptoms last more than an hour; seek medical attention immediately.

                    Your reaction seems like a "panic" kind of reaction as described by some users. This reaction can randomly happen, as you've experienced. Typically these reactions can happen because of stress, hormones, diet, and anxiety.
                    archie321, the FDA and researchers at Teva don't know what causes IPIRs. What advanced knowledge do you have that the scientists and doctors don't have that verifies your assessment of what the poster's reaction was and what causes these kinds of rections?

                    Comment

                      #11
                      I had a severe IPIR about a month ago after being on Copaxone for about 3 years, it was very scary - couldn't breathe, turned bright red, pain in head, lasted about 10 minutes. I did what I read to do and it passed. Later I had very bad chills.

                      I re-started my shots about 5 days after the IPIR, I had to regain my courage to do it and so far so good.

                      I called Shared Solutions, then I placed call to my neuro who in return told me to call Shared Solutions and that the incident was probably not an IPIR since I had been on it so long. At that point I got a new neuro, one that is more informed working with MS patients.

                      I also had Shared Solutions come out to make sure I was doing my shots correct. I did have the auto injector set too deep, so that is one thing to check. I have since been doing my shots without it.

                      My advice find a better neuro or Dr that is up do date on MS and the medications that can check you out and give you some direction on what you should do. It makes a difference as I found out.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Redwings, I've had an IPIR from an accidental vein injection and I'm very prone to panic attacks because of a mix of anxiety and hormones. I'm just suggesting this could be a venous IPIR or it could simply be stress.
                        Here's my reference on how to avoid IPIRs: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multipl...R/show/1146269
                        ~~~Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free.~~~
                        ~~~Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.~~~
                        ~~~This is the ultimate.~~~

                        Comment

                          #13
                          IPIR

                          Originally posted by renie50 View Post
                          I just went to the www.copaxone.com site and posted a question re cortisone shot today and should I take a copaxone shot tonight am waiting to hear from them. Hopefully its soon. I think they must have people on call or something. Ive had lots of IPIR's, several were really bad, but doc says keep taking it and they are getting less and less severe and not nearly as often. The stinging burning lumps however, persist.
                          WOW... it will only take one time for me to have one of those.. no more C for me ( I pray I do not have one. I will make sure each time I inject my husband is home. I think I will be injecting in the day time, not at night.

                          I had my first injection with the nurse today.. it went good. A little stinging on my abdomen.. she had me put ice on it.. not directly on my tummy but I put the ice on my jeans toward my tummy.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            So, neuro office calls me today- 5 days later and asks if I had just called them. Long story short, I should not take C any longer, even if I were to be in the presence of someone else. So, my next appt. is at the end of the month. (I am looking for a different neuro.) What are my options as a technical CIS person with a lousy profile regarding invoked potentials and 9 oligoclonal (sp?) bands when the sx first hit? Anybody else go through this as a CIS who did not take well to C?

                            Comment

                            Previous template Next
                            Working...
                            X