Ok, so I took my first shot yesterday. Shots do not bother me, I am a nurse and have good techniques down to a T. I give myself a weekly b-12 shot. With all the talk about copaxone and site reactions and all, I was kinda worried about my first shot.

So, last night was my first shot. I did it manually. Did not take anything to pre-medicate (doc recommended some tylenol and benadryl) and did not ice before or after. I do not have so much as a red spot or pain this am. Can't even tell where I shot myself. I did not get a lump after the shot. The only thing that bothered me was a slight tingling after the injection for about 5 mins.

Of course I know everyone is different, but of all the things I have read, most people have a site reaction of some sort.

Sounds like you did it right! There is a trick to not getting the medicine on your skin before or after the injection and it appears you just knew enough about doing this ahead of time. For those of us that are not all that familiar with doing injections, we have to go through a trial and error phase first.

You may have more reaction at another time though. I do remember reading about people having no reaction for months and then start having some just out of the blue. I had no problems with the heart palpitations for about 2 years and then started having a little of those with the shot. But, it does not happen all the time.

Good for you!! I hope you continue with pleasant shots!

There are times when I dont have a problem with the nightly stab, and sometimes I'll do an injection I dont get the little hive.

Last night, my shot finally had a decent needle. I was able to inject myself just fine, and I can barely tell where I injected. It did sting when I injected, but today I dont have the itchy hive like I do sometimes.

So, no, I dont always have problems with the C injections.

My first 2 weeks went fine, and then the reactions started. Hope this does not happen to you.

Oh geez!! I hope not either. I was pleasantly surprised, and hope to remain so =) I have the auto injector, and was going to try that (just to teach DH how to use it in case he ever has to give me a shot, I think it would be easier for him to use it than not - he doesn't like to watch the needle go into the skin). I don't know if I am going to try it now or not, why ruin a good thing...LOL

I have found that sometimes they hurt and sometimes they don't without any rhyme or reason. Not a big deal though.

Sounds like your first injection of Copaxone went amazingly well. Don't question it! I've been taking Copaxone for over 8 years now and I remember the first few months even after taking it out of the refridgerator an hour or so before injecting, it would burn going in and yes, I'd get a small, pink injection site rection.

I'm glad to hear your first injection went so well. I'm a nurse too and I can see the mind of a nurse racing in your post lol My best to you, everything's going even better than you could have expected.

I was on Copaxone for about 2 months, maybe a bit more, I don't really remember. Site reactions consisted of a tiny red spot that lasted maybe 10 minutes.

I stopped taking Copaxone due to acute fatigue which is not a common reaction.

It's good to hear that you had a good first shot. I hope it continues!

my shots used to create big site reactions but with time it's gotten much better. some shots are worse than others but for the most part they've been fine.

the only thing with the autoject is that it's likely to inject faster which may cause more of a site reaction. it's rare that i have nothing but i'm used to it.

For the first two weeks I struggled and struggled with stinging. As the stinging stuff backed off, the lumps began. Big ones!

With each passing month, the stings got less and less, but the lumps persisted for about 6 months. About six months in all of a sudden, my body stopped fighting. The lumps dropped down to 10% of what they were.

I am 10 months in now, and its more common than not to have a good shot, and the lump goes away in a day or two. It still stings but only for a min. Its not nearly as intense as it was.

I hope you are finding this drug easy to take, easy to tolerate. I too am a nurse, and have used a variety of techniques. from AI to manual. 45 degrees to 90. shallow to deep. Z track to straight in. its a learning process.