All makes interesting reading since I'm weighing up the options of changing to C next month.

What does IPIR stand for?

IPIR = immediate post injection reaction

its a RARE reaction that can happen within just a few minutes of taking the injection. it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, panic...it normally comes on within moments of taking the shot, and lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to 15 minutes.

I have had it happen twice, and both times it was when I smacked into a vein. They dont know what causes it, and assume its when the copaxone gets into the vascular system.

Mine lasted less than 5 mins,and since I knew what it was, I knew how to prep for it.

I haven't had an IPIR yet...soon to be four years?

But here's why I'm asking:

I've had a dickens of a time with anxiety lately, chest discomfort, that feeling that your heart is shuddering, sleep issues, just generally feeling freaked all the time.

I asked my PCP if he could prescribe another 1 mg of lorazepam that I could take during the day if needed (I take one at bedtime). He did, and almost every day I take the whole 1 mg, and am still anxious, almost short of breath by time for the night-night pill.

Well, between the anxiety and other issues, and the "you rescheduled your appointment" warning letter from the neuro, I just got kind of into a "who cares" attitude and haven't taken the Copaxone for a few days. You know, like "I'll show me, I'll take a break."

Guess what? The overwhelming anxiety went bye-bye. Coincidence? Maybe. Probably. I'm going to give it a few more days and see what happens. But you gotta wonder.

The only thing I am positive about, is that MS can and does cause General Anxiety Disorders (GAD). I'm not talking about normal, situatinal anxiety, which can be cured by relaxing and thinking happy thoughts.

I did take Copaxone for almost a year and I do remember my anxiety worsened, during that time????

EDIT...I took Valium for awhile, B2U, but you would be much better off with Buspar or Paxil, which areADs, especially geared toward anxiety. Valium and such diasapams are very addicting and just temporary fixes.

I tried some of those critters, Sal, and some had some pretty strange effects on me. Buspar most recently.

I used to take xanax...a quarter of a pill, and I was asleep with my face in my spaghetti, and had a "whatever" attitude toward life.

You take something to keep you alert, then something to help you sleep, then something........

....one pill makes you larger, and the other makes you small....

aaaaarggghhhh

I've been on Copaxone for 5 years and so far, knock wood, no anxiety.

I had horrible nightmares and wet the bed while on my 8 month or so go on Copaxone.

Those were the worst of the side effects, other than having to veto the arms due to muscle spasms.

It wasn't fun at all.