Copaxone Side Effects

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Potential Copaxone side effects include injection site irritation, chest pain, shallow breathing and rash. More dangerous side effects, like allergic reaction or permanent skin damage, are also possible.[1]

Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is self-administerd daily injection prescribed for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of relapses. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the immune system as well as the central nervous system.[2] Classified as an autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis causes certain white blood cells, called T cells, to mistakenly attack the body’s own healthy tissue. These T cells, which normally act as protectors for the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve tissue, become confused and attack the sheath itself. Copaxone is a synthetic drug that protects the body by restoring “good” T cells in the body, promoting normal immune system function.[2]




Wikicommons: Mariusz Ch.
Brand name for Glatiramer acetate injection
Manufacturer TEVA Neuroscience, Inc.
Uses Reduces the frequency of relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Common side effects Injection site irritation, shortness of breath, hives, and rash[1]
Who should not take Copaxone? Patients with a known hypersensitivity to glatiramer acetate or mannitol[1]
Disclaimer The information provided by PharmacyDrugGuide.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not take any action based on the information on this page without consulting a physician.
 

Contents

Common Copaxone Side Effects

Clinical trials were conducted with approximately 560 patients. The following side effects were reported by greater than 7 percent of patients in these trials:[1]

  • Back pain
  • Fever
  • Itching, inflammation, or pain at the site of injection
  • Rash
  • Redness
  • Stuffy nose
  • Swelling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Weakness, loss of energy

Some patients taking Copaxone have experienced shortness of breath and chest pain. These symptoms, along with heart palpitations, anxiety, and feeling warm (flushing) have been reported to occur immediately after the injection and were gone within 15 minutes with no further problems.[3]

About Drug Side Effects

A general overview of the side effects that can occur with drugs like Copaxone

Copaxone Allergic Reactions

Patients who experience the following symptoms upon taking Copaxone might be having an allergic reaction and are advised by the manufacturer to seek medical attention: [3]

  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Hives
  • Severe pain at the injection site
  • Skin rash with irritation
  • Sweating
  • Trouble breathing

The use of Copaxone is contraindicated for patients with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to glatiramer acetate or to mannitol.[1]

Copaxone Precautions and Warnings

  • Copaxone has been known to disrupt immune functions. This occurs because the the drug modifies immune responses. This interference could result in a weakening of the body’s defenses against infection.[1]
  • Approximately 13 percent of patients in clinical studies experienced transient chest pain. These episodes lasted for a few minutes and were unassociated with any other symptoms.[1]
  • Copaxone can cause skin necrosis at the injection site. Lipoatrophy, the loss of fatty tissue under the skin, can also occur. This can result in permanent indentation at the site of injection. To prevent these symptoms, the manufacturer recommends practicing proper injection technique and rotating the injection site daily.[1]
  • Copaxone is classified as FDA pregnancy category B, which means that animal reproduction studies have shown no adverse effect on the fetus. However, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans. The manufacturer recommends that pregnant women not use this drug.[4]
  • It is not clear whether or not Copaxone can be inadvertently administered to nursing infants if the mother uses it. However, many prescriptions are known to show up in breast milk, so there is a potential risk to the babies of breastfeeding Copaxone users.[4]
  • Copaxone is only intended for subcutaneous, and not for intravenous, use.[4]
  • There are no studies of this drug among the elderly. Therefore, there may be additional side effects, and Copaxone may not be safe for this demographic.[4]
  • There are no studies of the safety or effectiveness of Copaxone on children.[4]
  • Users are advised not to inject Copaxone in the same area more than once a week. There are seven approved body areas for injection along the arms, hips, abdomen and thighs.

Also See: Drug Side Effects, Betaseron Side Effects, Tysabri Side Effects, Gilenya Side Effects, Humira Side Effects, Gilenya Free Samples

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 http://www.sharedsolutions.com/pdfs/PrescribingInformation.aspx
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.sharedsolutions.com/Information/AboutMS/WhatIsMS-.aspx
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.sharedsolutions.com/Get-Answers/copaxonefaqs.aspx
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=837
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