Do not take COPAXONE® if you are
allergic to glatiramer acetate or mannitol.
Some patients report a short-term reaction right after injecting
COPAXONE®. This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of
warmth and/or redness), chest tightness or pain with heart
palpitations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms
generally appear within minutes of an injection, last about 15
minutes, and do not require specific treatment. During the
postmarketing period, there have been reports of patients with
similar symptoms who received emergency medical care. If symptoms become
severe, call the emergency phone number in your area. Call
your doctor right away if you develop hives, skin rash with
irritation, dizziness, sweating, chest pain, trouble breathing, or
severe pain at the injection site. If any of the above occurs, do not
give yourself any more injections until your doctor tells you to
begin again.
Chest pain may occur either as part of the immediate postinjection
reaction or on its own. This pain should only last a few minutes. You
may experience more than one such episode, usually beginning at least
one month after starting treatment. Tell your doctor if you
experience chest pain that lasts for a long time or feels very
intense.
A permanent indentation under the skin (lipoatrophy or, rarely,
necrosis) at the injection site may occur, due to local destruction
of fat tissue. Be sure to follow proper injection technique and
inform your doctor of any skin changes.
The most common side effects in studies of COPAXONE® are
redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection,
flushing, rash, shortness of breath, and chest pain. These are not
all of the possible side effects of COPAXONE®. For a
complete list, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor about
any side effects you have while taking COPAXONE®.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription
drugs to the FDA. Visit
