40mg 3days per week

[Queen Lavee]

Good to hear your good news. Was it difficult to get your insurance company to approve the change to 40mg? Did Shared Solutions assist you?
Is there a co-pay?

Shared solutions was helping from the start along with my Neuro. My mail order pharmacy confirmed with all parties involved that I could not get the 40ml because they were not going to carry it. My Neuro even called me because he felt bad that I was not going to get it.

So I was quite shocked when I called for my refill and they started quoting the 40ml. I was still rather leary because it was April 1st.

Well it arrived this morning 40ml. No copay.

[mamasam]

I have been on 3x/week for three weeks now and it is actually a much better experience than the 20 mg. I really feel a sense of freedom. I have had no reactions and not issues whatsoever.

I was told there was going to be a copay, but have yet to receive a bill since my medication arrived.

[Jules A]

Although I'm still a bit skeptical of the motivation to produce this new suspension based on the timing of generic availability and the extreme negative reaction some people seem to have to daily injections however:

My MS specialist doesn't seem to think the different in dosage is going to make a difference in efficacy long term. I'm still a bit leery to reduce my dose to 120mg a week but I'm thinking about it now.

[4boysmom]

I have noticed with the larger dose having bigger lumps at the injection site. They are back to itching also. I have been on the 20mcg for 5 years now.

I like only having to inject 3 times a week!

[BobOP]

Exciting news this week. The results of the Copaxone Glacier study were presented. That means I can now share my experience.

I was in the study & was on the Copaxone 40 3 times a week, part of the study. I have been using Copaxone 40 since July 30, 2013. Things have been going well with the injections. I do my injections on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday. Why? That's how the study worked out..LOL

I have experienced some redness & stinging after the injections, However, these site reactions seem to be easing for me.

I have used Copaxone for over 16 years, doing daily injections. I was happy to be part of the study. I have quickly gotten used to doing the injection 3 days a week!!

Take Care, Bob

[MyGirlsMom]

Thanks so much for sharing Bob! I too like the three days per week as the off days are nice and the injection sites have more time to recover. Wish Teva figured this out years ago!

It is amazing that you have been on Copaxone that length of time....I can't even imagine. (I can't believe that it has been five years for me even, lol!). Let's hope it keeps working and inusured and priced where us patients can afford the co-pays.

[DianeD]

3X

I started the 3 X per week about a month ago. There isn't any difference in reaction for me. Actually I think my lump aren't as big. It's a nice change to 3X a week, but I always feel like I'm forgetting something.

Diane

[MyGirlsMom]

Diane, so very true! It throws me off too, especially on Sunday nights, I don't have to do my injection! . Woohoo!

[betty brennan]

3 months on Copaxone 40mg MWF after 13yrs on daily 20mg

I found that injecting the 40mg did sting? or otherwise feel less pleasant than the 20mg, so I began injectcing vvveeeerrrryyy slowly. This seemed to help. Now, after three months (or 2?) of MWF injections, I'm experiencing increased spasms, primarily in my legs (they "plank" for a few minutes first thing in the morning). I've never had any spasms to speak of in the past. Considering only injecting HALF (20mg) of Copaxone WMF and see if this issue resolves.

I've been on 20 for3 years. Did first 40 tonight & super excited about three times a week, but boy did it sting!!! Maybe it's psychological....I don't know. Did anyone else notice it?

This won't deter me, though. I'm grateful for less shots

[Jules A]

I found that injecting the 40mg did sting? or otherwise feel less pleasant than the 20mg, so I began injectcing vvveeeerrrryyy slowly. This seemed to help. Now, after three months (or 2?) of MWF injections, I'm experiencing increased spasms, primarily in my legs (they "plank" for a few minutes first thing in the morning). I've never had any spasms to speak of in the past. Considering only injecting HALF (20mg) of Copaxone WMF and see if this issue resolves.

I'm afraid to change to the lower dose/3 x week administration because if anything changes health wise I know I'll think it was from the reduction in dose of Copaxone, whether or not it really is.

I hope you feel better soon. Please keep us posted!

[GaryGo]

Patent comments

I talked to my neuro recently about switching to 40mg, and we decided not to do it. My symptoms are extremely minor and I have had no new lesions since my first MRI 4 years ago, so, 20mg works for me and my out-of-pocket is $5 per 30 days. I have no site reaction trouble with the daily injection.

According to my neurologist, the patent on 20mg Copaxone is about to expire (legal arguments are ongoing). When the patent eventually expires, the opportunity for "generic" products arises, and that will eventually bring down the cost. My neuro and I observe that insurance companies always reject 40mg Copaxone at first, and only relent in cases where the patient experiences problems with daily injections. Presumably, the insurance companies are holding out on 40mg in order to push as many patients as possible toward generics, when the eventually become available.

Having said all that, I wish we were talking about oral meds! For me, there is no appropriate oral med today.

[GaryGo]

See other thread for patent discussion

I see there is a patent discussion on another thread.

http://www.msworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=132472

[nanab]

STING

IM ON THE 40MG SHOTS AND YES IT DID SEEM TO STING MORE BUT ITS SO NICE TO ONLY HAVE 3 SHOTS A WEEK WITH NONE ON WEEKENDS

[Spring48]

site reactions

The stinging and itching for me lasts for days. Is there a way to ease it? I have been on the 40mg since May 28. I do not have reactions sometimes for 48 hours.

[its2much]

Stinging with 20 mg

For whatever it's worth, I've had some stinging with the 20mg dose lately.