Copaxone and Welts: What Users Say

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2014

For Multiple Sclerosis "Copaxone 40mg, 3x a week: Shared Solutions is a helpline for Copaxone - they are AMAZING. They deal with Insurance (FYI: Anthem Blue Cross covers Copaxone), pay copay, send free supplies, send out a nurse to your HOME to teach you about using the auto-injector making it super easy, and they have a 24/7 nurse hotline for questions. It's wonderful. Side effects: I really have none. Been using it for 3 weeks, I get some little welts sometimes, but use a cold pack after for 15 minutes and that helps a lot. Also, Copaxone 40mg has ONLY a 2% chance of getting an immediate post-injection reaction. Odds are, that will NEVER happen. After the first week of taking Copaxone, my foot felt less numb! Let taking injections EMPOWER you! You're taking control!"

• Meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was on Copaxone 40 mg for 2 months before I quit. It was my 1st MS drug; I hope I won't react so poorly to the next. For me, each injection just really hurt. It burned starting 15 - 30 seconds in, even with an ice pack. The burn was intense for about 15 minutes, then in about 1 hour, it lessened enough I could limp off to bed. Welts about 2 inches in diameter formed on my arms and thighs, and lumps formed in my stomach or the back of my hips. The welts were painful and hot for 3-7 days (thigh injections were the worst; I cried after those). The lumps itched for about 5 days after stopping hurting (about 1 day). Not to say they weren't bad too; just less so. The burning was bad enough that by the 2nd month I had my husband do the injections; I just couldn't bring myself to put the needle in anymore. Does everyone who uses Copaxone feel like this and just suck it up? Am I being a wimp here? I hope not."

• LNP...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 9, 2015

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in late December 2013. I started taking Copaxone the summer of 2014. I started off using the daily 20mg, then I switched over to the 40mg because I didn't want to give myself a daily injection. When I first started the 40mg, the side effects included sore injection site welts. Over time, the side effects became worse. Now, every time I take the 40mg, I get very sore, itchy welts at the injection site, along with patches of itchy, rash bumps on certain parts of my body. The other side effects happen randomly after an injection. These include severe body aches and chills. The symptoms are fever-like. Other than that, I feel an increase in my energy levels since taking Copaxone, and my MS lesions have not spread."

• Cam...
• November 25, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "I started taking Copaxone as soon as I was diagnosed. I don't like the red welts and stinging, but my doctor prescribed me a spray to put on before I inject, and it helps. I don't have much fat, so I have the indentations and bruising. But I had not had any new lesions on it! But I decided I would stop taking it and was off it for 5 months, and had an MRI and have more lesions, so it does work! I'm back on it now, hope my next MRI proves it works."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 5, 2014

For Multiple Sclerosis "Took it off and on for 2 years on the advice of my doctor and because of my age. I was told this was the best option for me. Had terrible deep itching at the injection site and painful welts. After stopping when I was pregnant and restarting, symptoms were more pronounced and eventually went into anaphylactic shock. Fell over, hit the side of my face, and that's when I called it quits. It's been over a year and at this point, I am choosing to stay off any of these medications. Not enough evidence to support the pros outweigh the cons."

• PJa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 5, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with RRMS in 1993. Tried Avonex, worst side effects: body pain, pounding headache instantly. Stopped drug after 6 weeks. In 1999, had relapse: double vision, numb on left side, slurred speech, dizziness, fatigue, unable to walk without falling, my mind felt odd. Doctor at Duke University suggested Copaxone 20 mg. Started in 1999. Now on 40 mg, 3 times a week. Had relapse May 2016. I have itching, welts, injection pain, lumps, and permanent indentations."

• Spo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2016

For Multiple Sclerosis "Was on Copaxone for 3 years. Horrid reaction after many injections as it seemed I was often hitting a vein. Huge welts from injections that took weeks to subside. Last straw was the killing of flesh on left arm. Surgeon said damage looked like a chemical burn from the inside out. Two surgeries to repair and have an 8-inch scar as a permanent reminder. This was back in 2003."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2022

For Multiple Sclerosis "So I have been on Copaxone for about 3 months now. The injection site was bad. I got big welts and bad itching. That has gone down quite a bit. But now, as of a month ago, I have been having a very fast heart rate and having a hard time breathing at times. Also, I'm cold all the time now. Never had a problem with that before. I don't feel like doing anything. I'm always tired. And the shaking, stomach aches, back aches, and numbness in my face and hands all suck. I have also, in the last month, been having a problem with anxiety. I have never had anxiety before. I did all kinds of blood tests and a chest X-ray because I thought there was something wrong with my heart. But everything keeps coming back normal. So it has to be from the Copaxone. I'm thinking I'm gonna stop the Copaxone for a week and see if my symptoms improve. I can't take all of this. This is not me. It is driving me crazy."

• Gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2015

For Multiple Sclerosis "I'm getting 1-3 inch welts at the injection sites that are very itchy and uncomfortable. Dr. says men more often have trouble with arms and legs due to more muscle than women. No other side effects."

• Bas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "Taking 40 mg 3x a week for RIS, scans show MS but don't yet have a clinical diagnosis. Some welts and one large bruise, but otherwise, shots (all self-inject) have been OK."