Sorry if this is repetitive

[timnl25]

Hey all. I'm new here. Newly diagnosed on June 7th and started Copaxone on June 21st.
I did my 3rd shot today and I did it too low on my thigh and it hurt and bled!!

Anyway, I'm really worried about the immediate post injection reaction - like already feeling chest tightness before I give myself the shot! The only thing I have going for me is that I know if could happen, so hopefully knowing will keep me from panicking too much.

Other than that, it's not so bad. I get a pretty good welt that stings for an hour or two, then a hard lump for a day or two. The most painful lump has been my stomach, just enough to remind me that it's there, but tolerable.

Guess I just needed somewhere to get this out. I feel kind of alone. I do have 1 friend with MS, but she's never taken Copaxone before, so I have no one to ask or vent to about it!

[Mamabug]

I started on Copaxone 20 in 2008, and switched to Copaxone 40 some time ago. For me, it is more effective than Betaseron, which I had been on previously for 5 years.

Shared Solutions 1-800-887-8100 can give you helpful advice on injections. Hopefully, you were already trained by a nurse that they sent out to your home, but they are also available by phone. They can only advise you according to their protocol, so if you still have trouble after following their suggestions, your doctor can give you additional suggestions that might work for you.

For example, I changed my injection schedule, my frequency of injections and my injection sites with my MS specialists' blessing, to cope with some problems that I was having. But, Shared Solutions would have been unable to point me in those directions.

They tried to be very helpful, though, when I initially had problems and even sent a nurse out to train me a second time.

[Boymom123]

Some thoughts on Copaxone

I have been on Copaxone for a little over a year (40mg/3x per week). First, don't stress about the potential reaction. It is a potential side effect, but many people never experience it.

Regarding the shots, if you find you are having problems in a certain area, have Shared Solutions come out again. If that doesn't work, talk to your doctor. The Shared Solutions nurses stick to the "grid" for giving shots, but your doctor can give you different ideas that might work better. I usually ice my shots for a good 20 minutes after, but that is just me.

I can tell you the first three months were tough, but then everything got much better. Hang in there!

[timnl25]

Thanks for the encouragement. I know it will get better. I think I just rushed to get the shot done, so I ended up too close to my knee.

I did my arm once and that hurt a lot more than any other area. So far I like my stomach and thighs the best.

I try not to think about the reaction, and I know it's rare. I find myself obsessing over if I see veins or not in the area I'm going to inject.


Does the Copaxone make you tired? I've been extra fatigued since starting and I'm not sure if it's really from the Copaxone or just me.

I have been on Copaxone for a little over a year (40mg/3x per week). First, don't stress about the potential reaction. It is a potential side effect, but many people never experience it.

Regarding the shots, if you find you are having problems in a certain area, have Shared Solutions come out again. If that doesn't work, talk to your doctor. The Shared Solutions nurses stick to the "grid" for giving shots, but your doctor can give you different ideas that might work better. I usually ice my shots for a good 20 minutes after, but that is just me.

I can tell you the first three months were tough, but then everything got much better. Hang in there!