What is Copaxone used to treat?

What is Copaxone used to treat?

This medication is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It is a protein that is thought to work by preventing your immune system from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This effect can decrease the number of periods of disease worsening (relapses) and prevent or delay disability.

Is Copaxone a good MS medication?

In addition, Copaxone is believed to reduce levels of B-cells, which may play a key role in MS. This is an area of ongoing research. One reason Copaxone stands out among RRMS medications is that it is overall well tolerated, with relatively less side effects as compared to other disease-modifying treatments.

Can Copaxone cause weight gain?

Some people taking Copaxone have had weight gain. In clinical studies, 3% of people who took the drug gained weight. In comparison, 1% of people who took a placebo (treatment with no active drug) gained weight. However, weight gain can also be related to multiple sclerosis (MS), which Copaxone is used to treat.

Is Copaxone safe during pregnancy?

PARIS — Use of branded glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone, Teva) throughout pregnancy is relatively safe for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their offspring, new research suggests.

Does Copaxone lower your immune system?

Because Copaxone weakens your immune system, you would have a higher chance of catching things like a cold or the flu. Infections could also be more likely.

Does Copaxone damage your liver?

Copaxone can lead to liver problems, including liver failure and hepatitis. These can happen anywhere from a few days to a few years after you start treatment. If you have signs of any liver problems, your doctor will probably suggest a new treatment.

Does Copaxone weaken the immune system?

Because Copaxone weakens your immune system, you would have a higher chance of catching things like a cold or the flu. Infections could also be more likely. Your skin. You can inject Copaxone into your arms, thighs, hips, and lower stomach.

Does Copaxone affect fertility?

In women who have become pregnant while on these agents, there is an increased risk of still birth and miscarriage as well as small-for-gestational age babies. Limited data on copolymer (Copaxone®)indicates that it has little or no impact on infant outcomes.

Can you breastfeed on Copaxone?

The Association of British Neurologist guidelines indicate that the injectable DMDs (Avonex, Betaferon, Copaxone, Plegridy, Rebif, Extavia) can safely be resumed during breastfeeding if required. These drugs take up to three months to reach their full efficacy after a break.

How to give Copaxone injections?

Copaxone comes in prefilled syringes and is given by injection using a short slender needle that’s inserted subcutaneously—into a 2-inch pinch of skin. The most common injections sites are the abdomen, the back of an arm, the back of a hip, the upper back, or the middle of a thigh.

What are the ingredients in Copaxone?

Glatiramer acetate, the active ingredient of COPAXONE, consists of the acetate salts of synthetic polypeptides, containing four naturally occurring amino acids: L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine, and L-lysine with an average molar fraction of 0.141, 0.427, 0.095, and 0.338, respectively.

Does Copaxone work?

The exact mechanism by which Copaxone works to prevent multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses is not known. Copaxone is a combination of four amino acids that is antigenically similar to a protein in the myelin sheath of nerves. The immune system recognizes the Copaxone and attacks it instead of the protein in the myelin sheath.