Hi,
I have been using Copaxone for 6 weeks now. I am getting a couple of side-effects, depression and my pulse rate is 30 bpm more than it was i.e. it was 60 something and now it is 90. The depression is the one I have most concern with. I am finding it difficult to get motivation to do things, I want to go back to work but feeling like this I don’t think that I can. It effects my concentration and it effects my memory and thought processes too. I know that MS does all these things but Copaxone definitely makes it worse for me. I was on Rebif last year and it gave me serious depression.
The question I have is have other people had these side-effects and do they go with time or should I try something else?
Many thanks,
Adrian
Hi Adrian I have been on Copaxone since the start of April just a few weeks longer than yourself, I’ve noticed I have become more tired and now suffer from mood swing now which I have never in the past but started soon after I started the Copaxone. I last seen an MS specialist at the end of May and he suggested to give it 3 more months to see if the moods and tiredness improve as he was unsure if it’s the Copaxone or a flare up. Which I’m now thinking he was right about the flare up then as I’m current relapsing and I’m on a course of steroids with problems with my legs and balance. That’s not to say your having a flare up/relapse as that’s what my specialist thought when they seen me and everyone different. Hope your side effects improve, maybe give your ms nurse a call and talk over your side effects with her or your Copaxone nurse if you have one. I don’t know where you are but in Glasgow instead of me going to hospital to be shown the injections, the pharmacy company send out a nurse who shows you in your house how to do the injections and she becomes your contact for anyone questions related to the Copaxone. I don’t know of that’s the same for you. Take care Polly xx
To be fair Copaxone is one of the DMD’s that are not mean’t to cause depression but my neuro did say that it could and sometimes MS affects the “happy” part of our brain…maybe a very light dose of cipralex (5mg) or something else suggested by your gp might help…that’s what i have to take occasionally and i’m on copaxone, over 10 years…good luck…
I have been taking Copaxone for a few years now and other than red marks, lumps and itching at the injection site, I have not had any other symptoms, until last night. As soon as I had put the needle down, I felt heat rising up my body, I went extremely sweaty and felt faint. I was then sick and had diarrhoea. It was very scary. Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?
I hated copaxone, after 5 weeks of use it caused indentations and I even lost a large chunk of my fat (lipoatrophy), it didn’t cause me to have any symptoms of depression, it mainly affected my self esteem and the way my body started to look in the space of 5 weeks of taking it. I decided to come off it and I’m not on any medication yet.