Glatiramer and Rash: What Users Say

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2023

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I took Copaxone for several months. I felt strange after the first injection and each subsequent injection. I started having an itchy scalp and other small issues and thought it was dandruff developing or my thyroid acting up again, but after my last injection, I knew it was the drug because I developed hives instantly after the injection. I was told to stop taking it, or I could have anaphylactic shock next injection. I wish I had never taken this drug, as now I have several cysts that I didn’t have before. I’m convinced they are my body’s reaction to the drug. None of these MS drugs work, honestly. How can they give a drug for something they have no idea the cause? Be discerning, fellow sufferer."

• Ick...
• September 15, 2015

Glatiramer 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...."

• Tam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2022

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "Diagnosed in September 2020. The first medication I tried was Copaxone. For the first almost 6 months, I had no issues or side effects. Thought this was great! But for some reason, my body started reacting badly to the site areas after injecting. I would break out in some kind of hive that would last the week, through time, they seemed to get itchier and bigger. Nurses recommended switching due to this. It is a shame because other than that, I had zero side effects, and my 6-monthly MRI was stable."

• Jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "Despite my neurologist's request to keep me on Copaxone (symptom-free since 2008 and minor injection-site irritation), Cigna forced me onto Glatopa. First, the injection device is flawed. It jammed twice and didn't fully inject the medication. More frightening are the injection-site reactions: large rash and bruising that resolved over 4 weeks into what looked like some skin infection, peeling, scabbing. I am fortunate that my neurologist found this unacceptable and switched me back after 2 weeks (6 doses)."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 12, 2017

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I was on the 20 mg of Copaxone for more than 10 years and took a break for about a year. Felt that I was stable. I felt great, and MRIs were showing no new progression. Recently started trying to get back on it using the 40 mg for the last three weeks and am getting rashes, hives, headaches, and in general feeling worn out and 'MS-ey.' Just not sure whether to be on it or not at this point."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 12, 2017

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I was on the 20 mg of Copaxone for more than 10 years and took a break for about a year. Felt that I was stable. I felt great, and MRIs were showing no new progression. Recently started trying to get back on it using the 40 mg for the last three weeks and am getting rashes, hives, headaches, and in general feeling worn out and 'MS-ey.' Just not sure whether to be on it or not at this point."

• Ste...
• December 12, 2011

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "I started Copaxone 2 months after being diagnosed. I was on the medicine for one month and loved the fact I wasn't experiencing any body aches, headaches, and felt fine. HOWEVER, the site reactions over the course of the 2 weeks got worse. I had hot, fiery red-colored 5-6 inch welt reactions at sites that became itchier after the 2nd week of injections. I wanted to cry because I was itching nonstop 24 hours a day. I stopped taking hot/warm showers, which helped, but I still itched 24 hours a day. I developed rashes from my neck to my face. I stopped after 1 month. I would have liked to stay on Copaxone, but rashes not located at the sites was a concern for the doctor and shared solutions team (the shared solutions team is great, by the way!)."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2018

For Multiple Sclerosis "I had a severe allergic reaction last night. My face and mouth swelled. I couldn't breathe and had a hard time swallowing. My whole body was covered in hives. I had to go to the ER. I will NEVER take this medicine again. I thought I was going to die."

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2009

Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis "After three weeks on Copaxone, I broke out in hives."