Managing Side Effects

Skin reactions during Copaxone^® therapy may include the following.

Skin Reactions

Short-term problems that may develop:

Redness where you injected

• Ensure that the medication is at room temperature.
• Make sure the skin is clean.
• Wash using soap and water since some MS nurses suggest not using alcohol wipes.
• Do not inject an area where you have injected in the past week.
• Avoid injecting where the skin is damaged (redness, swelling, tenderness, acne, skin denting, tattoo, etc.).
• You may want to try applying a warm (not hot) compress before injecting.
• Avoid exposing the injected skin to the sun.

Pain or burning sensation

• Remove needle cap in upright position; this will prevent a drop of Copaxone^® on the tip of the needle, which may cause burning.
• If using alcohol swabs, ensure the alcohol is dry before injecting.
• Do not remove air bubbles from the pre-filled syringe.
• It may help to inject the drug more slowly.
• Press gently on the site after injecting.
• It may help to apply ice or a cold compress after the injection.
• In a recent study, patients reported less pain when using a warm compress on the site for 5 minutes before cleaning the site and injecting.
• You may have to experience which works best for you, a warm compress or ice/cold compress.

Itchiness, irritation

• Inject the needle at a 90° angle.
• Remove the needle in a straight-up motion; do not drag away from the skin.
• Do not inject the inner arms or inner thighs.
• Do not inject where clothes may irritate the site (e.g. your waist).
• Check with the nurse from the MS clinic or Shared Solutions^® to ensure that the injection is deep enough.

Swelling or inflammation

• Apply ice or a cold compress after injecting. Apply warmth to the site if swelling persists for longer than a day.
• If the problem does not resolve, see a healthcare provider to rule out possible infection.

Longer-term problems that may develop:

Hardening/thickening of the skin (hypertrophy)

• Avoid injecting near sites where the skin has hardened/thickened.
• Use the daily planner in your Copaxone^® Therapy Initiation Kit to note where you have recently injected.
• Review how to rotate injection sites and areas.

Schedule a refresher session on injection technique with the nurse from the MS clinic or Shared Solutions^®.^†

Denting of the skin (lipoatrophy)

• Rotate injection sites.
• Inspect skin carefully before injecting.
• Never inject near an injection site that shows any denting or pitting.

NOTE: Record any skin reactions in your daily planner. It is important to report any severe skin reactions immediately to your physician or MS clinic nurse.

^† For home-based injection training, contact a Shared Solutions^® nurse-consultant at 1-800-283-0034.