Glatiramer and Chills: What Users Say

• jmb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "I had tried Copaxone after Avonex (which had caused horrific headaches 5 out of 7 days of the week), and after 2 months on the medication, I had two horrible reactions 2 out of 3 days. Same symptoms, the second time sent me to the Emergency Room. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Freezing/chills for hours, severe shaking, heart palpitations - I thought I was at the end of me. The neurologist said those symptoms are rare, but twice in 3 days was a bit much. Not to mention the daily injections and the pain after the injections in my legs and stomach. Switched to Rebif. Was on that for 7 years and have been off all medications for over a year. MS symptoms getting worse, but the side effects of all the newer medications make me question whether it is worse to take them or just naturally worsen. I know that is sad, but I have young children and don't want to develop PML. I wish they would come out with medications that don't have a laundry list of side effects."

• jmb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "I had tried Copaxone after Avonex (which had caused horrific headaches 5 out of 7 days of the week), and after 2 months on the medication, I had two horrible reactions 2 out of 3 days. Same symptoms, the second time sent me to the Emergency Room. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Freezing/chills for hours, severe shaking, heart palpitations - I thought I was at the end of me. The neurologist said those symptoms are rare, but twice in 3 days was a bit much. Not to mention the daily injections and the pain after the injections in my legs and stomach. Switched to Rebif. Was on that for 7 years and have been off all medications for over a year. MS symptoms getting worse, but the side effects of all the newer medications make me question whether it is worse to take them or just naturally worsen. I know that is sad, but I have young children and don't want to develop PML. I wish they would come out with medications that don't have a laundry list of side effects."

• Ick...
• September 15, 2015

For Multiple Sclerosis "I only took it for two weeks. I have been told to stop by the nurse at Shared Solutions. Right from the get-go, I was getting bad reactions. There was the normal hard swelling 3' rash at the injection site, and the stinging persisted for hours. The next week, after an hour of the injection, weakness throughout my entire body, all of my joints hurt, especially my spine, horrible cold chills, and extreme nausea. These effects were lasting up to 6 hours. The injection site swelling would continue to get bigger for 3 days. I tried the massaging cold packs and warm packs... Nothing worked. I know this is an extreme way to put it, but it felt like chemo...."

• 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."

• 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."

• Stu...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 18, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2009. Started Copaxone 20 mg. Used auto inject. Had injection site lumps, itching, bee sting-like reaction always. The skin began to atrophy. Had the immediate post-injection reaction (IPIR) too many times to count. Can't breathe, flushing, back spasms, terrible headache, chest pain. Was switched to 40 mg because of lack of injection sites a few years later. IPIR was THE WORST I've ever experienced. Stopped taking it for about 6 weeks. No exacerbations since my diagnosis. While off the meds, I started having more nerve pain. My MS doctor said to switch back to 20 mg. I had a bad reaction last night with freezing, shaking, and joint/muscle pain for an hour. I have 4 injection sites left to use: hips and flanks. Don't want liver trouble from other meds. Stuck."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2019

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in 2014, started Copaxone in 2015... 40mg 3x/wk. It was hard to get used to injections, but I got used to it after about a year, and I was at the point where I could just take a shot manually in the stomach or by the injector, and I could just carry on. Then my Tricare insurance decided to change to generic Glatopa. Since then, my shots have burned, and injection sites hurt weeks after. Noticed more numbness in legs and feet, and constantly cold. My Dr. is trying to fight for Copaxone, but I don't think she's gonna win. I can't afford $5800.00 a month for Copaxone. I'm going to request another MRI to see if there's any changes."

• cia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 25, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "Started taking Copaxone 16 months ago - no major side effects until last two months. On two occasions, the MS nurse thinks I may have injected into the bloodstream - uncontrollable shaking and chills - my husband almost called an ambulance. The neuro wants me to start Aubagio, but I would like to trial the MS diet first on a 3-month trial. I don't know what to do!"