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Copaxone Step-by-Step

 

Giving Yourself a Manual Injection

Preparing for Copaxone self-injection

Self-injection with Copaxone

Manual injection - Abdomen

Manual injection - Arm

Manual injection - Buttocks and Hips

Manual injection - Thigh

To ensure that the solution has warmed up to room temperature, allow the unopened blister containing the syringe to stand at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.

  1. Remove the syringe from its protective blister package by peeling back the paper label. Place the syringe on a clean, flat surface.
  2. Choose an injection site in one area on your body. Clean the injection site with a fresh alcohol prep and let it air dry for 60 seconds to reduce any stinging. MS nurses also suggest washing the injection site with soap and water instead of using the alcohol prep.
  3. Using the hand you write with, pick up the syringe as you would a pencil. Remove the needle cap from the needle.
  4. With your other hand, pinch about a 5 cm (2 inch) fold of skin between your thumb and index finger. Pinch 2 inches
  5. Insert the needle at a perpendicular angle (90°), resting the heel of your hand against your body. When the needle is all the way in, release the fold of skin.
  6. To inject the medication, hold the syringe steady and push down on the plunger. The injection should take just a few seconds. The speed of injection has an influence on pain, refer to the Skin Reactions section for more tips. Copaxone Injection
  7. Pull the needle straight out (respecting the insertion angle).
  8. Press a dry cotton ball on the injection site for a few seconds.
  9. Discard the syringe and the needle cap in a safe, hard-walled plastic container. You can also remove the needle safely and easily with a Needle clipper, available through Shared Solutions®.
  10. Make sure that the rest of the unused syringes are kept in the refrigerator.

How to reach the injection sites

Refer to the Copaxone Injection Guide for information on how to reach the various injection areas for injection with the autoject®2. The guide provides instructions on how to manage those hard-to-reach spots, as well as highlight the recommended injection areas.

Download the Copaxone Injection Guide or contact a Shared Solutions nurse for further assistance with your injections.