Changed from B to C and whadda ya know..
 

After a year on the Beta, I finally had enough and traded it in for Copaxone. It took a lot of thought, I'm aware that C may take over 6 months to kick in, but really I had no choice. I was getting more skin reactions and pain and fatigue and nausea and exhaustion... so the chances of taking it for much longer was getting slimmer by the (alternate) day.

So I must report that I am over the moon (so far) with Copax. Those needles could be sharper and thinner, and that sting really bites, but I feel so GOOD!!

And it made me realise that being diagnosed and starting Beta all within a week may have diguised a flaw in that plan. What if all my 'symptoms' have really been side effects all this time?? What if my neuro is right- my symptoms are not MS induced after all??

Blimey, what an improvement I've seen. I can make it through a day without a nap, I don't feel as stupid and I even worked a shift yesterday!

Whoda thunk it...

Congratulations! btw, that sting gets MUCH better. hang in there. An ice/heat pack will help, just DONT RUB!

Copaxone is a sharp crystal style med, and rubbing it will fracture the crystals. You can place LIGHT pressure on top of it for a min while the sting passes, but NO RUBBING! Hold pressure for about 15 seconds.

Copaxone seems to be a very popular choice. Welcome to a new copaxone cutie! :hug:

The sting does get better! Copax was the best treatment I had that I've been on as far as fatigue and stuff go. I wish it had liked me better, lol.

Best of luck with this one! Sounds like you're off to a good start! :)

WoooooooHooooooo, Congrats. :)

Way to Go!!!!!!! :) :) :) I'm glad you're feeling so much better. That "B" was "murder" for me. Keep up the good work!

Congrats and Copaxone did wonders for me for 2 1/2 yrs.
Didnt take more then a month to help me get stronger.
Im on Ty now with poor results. Probably same as if I stayed on C.
Its a great drug.

I just read this on the copaxone website and was blown away.


"The labeling for COPAXONE® does not include an indication for slowing the progression of disability"
http://www.copaxone.com/NewlyDiagnosed/pivotTrial.aspx

Great for you Pud's friend. :hug:

I was on Avonex first and was sick as a dog for 3 to 4 days. Chills, fever, aches and pains too. I was working and still had 3 to 4 bad relapses a year.

My liver didn't like the Avonex either so my MS Specialist switched me to Copaxone. The difference was amazing. I was not sick with the flu-like illness anymore. I felt it work in about 5 months.

After two years my relapses were down to two a year. After 3 1/2 years they changed something in it, (fact) I was allergic to. So I had to quit using it, plus it stopped working for me with the new side effects from the allergy to it.

So I am glad you feel so good. Yay! Some people don't get a reaction to the Interferons, others get it mild, and then some get it so bad. That's why we have choices.

There are many drugs out there now and more in the pipeline. Enjoy your new found better health. You can add LDN to Copaxone later on if you want a boost of energy. Just a thought. :)

Lady - Did ingredients change early 2009???
I was doing awesome for 2 1/2 yrs as C was my 1st MS med but Jan 2009 I went downhill (and still am on Ty) in a hurry!
When did it change?

Himself gave me a choice. Keep on jabbing with Beta and taking the misery, or risking a relapse switching to copax. I'd be willing to take a relapse over the awful effects of beta for me any day. So here i am. It just didn't work for me.
Over the moon with C. Back at work. (Tired the day after a shift, but to be expected). Ready to take on the world...

I'm another one who can say that those itching and burning sensations and the huge lumps from Copaxone shots really do go away as time goes by.

I've been on Copaxone for nearly 3 years now, and I hardly ever have any reactions at all to the shots any more. In fact, I often can't find where the needle went in by the time I'm reaching for the cotton ball to put over the injection site. If I feel around I can sometimes find a tiny bump.

Every once in a while a shot will hurt but nothing like the first few months. And I do still have lumps with the arm shots.

Good luck on Copaxone!:)

Pud - Rebif I took at night 1/2 hr after 2 ibuprofen and 1.5 hrs before sleep.
Sides were horrible during titration pack, were gone 2 months in.
Tysabri isnt much more effective on me then Rebif and not as good as C was the 2 1/2 yrs i took C.

Lady - when did C change formula?

I went from C to Rebif about 2 months ago and I hate Rebif right now. I totally understand what people mean when they talk about the treatment being worse than the disease now. I was on C for 3 years and the reactions were at most a minor nuisance. Since I have gone on Rebif, I had been sick for about 4 of the 7 weeks I have been on it (which is highly unusual for me...I am usually the last to get sick). I woke up for 2 hours Monday morning with violent chills that no amount of extra blankets could fix and an hour later I had a 99.7 fever.

I can't think of a 7 week period in my life where I have consistently felt worse than I have on Rebif. I hate this disease! I felt so strong right before I had to go off of C too...

I say pre med with up to 800mg ibuprofen 1/2 hr before shot.
My 1st Rebif ever was 1/4 dose and I figured ah i wont need ibuprofen..
I had those chills batman. I know. 400mg ibu was procedure there on out.
Friend of mine took 800mg ibu every time.