This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

How long does it take for your lumps/swellings from Copaxone injections to disappear?

Hi Connie
mine take about a week, but sometimes the below the skin lumps can take weeks, I won't notice them until it's time to inject in the area again.

Thanks WW-- I have a couple of large lumps that have been around for a few weeks now so I'm wondering what others' experiences have been with those.

Connie

I'd say my lumps take a minimum of 4 weeks to disappear. I attribute that in part to my age.

Sharon

Hi! My DD has been on Copaxone a month now (newly diagnosed) and some of her lumps have not disappeared yet. Shared solutions told her to try to rub them out.

Connie,



It continues to amaze me how the people who prescribe Copaxone don't caution their patients about Lipoatrohphy which is the "lumps and bumps" of the skin that can happen often when injecting this drug.

The University of Ottawa MS Clinic studied several hundred Copaxone users and discovered that about 45% of them end up with this condition. It can be minor or in several instances major whereby these disfiguring bumps never go away. The study stated that this was far too high a number of people to be getting this side effect and that certainly more attention should be paid to it.

I'd be knocking on my doc's door and suggesting some action be taken. I've also read on the net that Copaxone users don't get much reaction when calling Teva about this problem.

Best of luck.

Harry

Hi Harry
I agree with you - it's not highlighted enough by Teva.
When you tell the support nurses they act like it's unusual but we all know it's not.
I have been told to
use moisturiser
masssage the site for 10 mins the next day
go for lots of massages (did I just win the lottery or something?!)
heat the area
chill the area
don't rub it
don't inject too deep
don't inject too shallow
don't pull the needle out too quick.

Bottom line is that Teva and the nurses know Copaxone does this, and I don't believe that any of the approaches above do anything to alleviate lipoatrophy. It's the payoff of the drug.

I agree harry and WW-- nothing seems to make a difference-- sites lump when they feel like it. It's probably just not cost-effective for Teva to investigate this problem or look for solutions as they likely don't believe that site reactions are much of a factor in MS pts opting for their drug (or not). CANNOT wait for something oral to come along!

I agree also. After injecting Copaxone for 4 years I have indentations also and it doesn't seem to matter much what I do, although when I changed the depth setting on the auto injector to 6 it helped some. I also just consider it the payoff of the drug and keep waiting for something better to come along. It does, however, seem to be doing its job, at least for now, which is why I keep using it.

Lori