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I have been on Copaxone for 3 months now and I am still waiting for it to make a difference. I have had 1 fairly major relapse and am less healthy now then when I started, I have new symptoms popping up such as numb fingers. The MS hug is finally fading after 4 weeks!

My skin is covered in bruises and blotchy patches. Is it really all worth this? They didn't tell me it would take so long to start working and I am due to stop taking it December anyway so I can try for a baby - is it really worth it now?

When I started copaxone I was told it would take 6 to 9 months before it would be effective. This is one of the disadvantages of copaxone vs the other abc meds. Of course the advantage of copaxone is it low side effects, but sounds like you are having some problems in that regard also. Can only let you know I have been on copaxone for about three years and I feel it has helped me. But, again as you must already know everyone and everything about MS seems just a little bit different per person.

i'm now wondering why they put me on it! I only went on the drugs for 6 months - they knew I wanted to try for a baby and told me to take drugs for 6 months and stop trying and then try again! Why if they won't have an effect in that time - seems like a pointless waste!

That said, now that I am talking about going back to the fertility doc in Dec the MS nurse is stepping up her pressure for me to delay ttc again and stay on the drugs longer - maybe that was her plan from the outset????

Hi MrsGeorge
it took me 6 months to feel it really kicked in, but I did relapse twice in that time. I too felt discouraged but I realised in hindsight the relapses I did have didn't last as long. Previous to that I could have up to 2 years post-relapse with some symptoms whereas on Copaxone, even in the first 6 months, I felt most of the symptoms lifted much quicker after the intense relapse stage.

I suppose if you change your mind about ttc then at least you will have 6 months of the Copaxone in your system. And if you go ahead with your plan to ttc, then maybe the Copaxone will have given you a little protection during that time - though admittedly it sounds like it hasn't yet for you.

I came off Copaxone 3 months before conceiving my son and by the 3 month stage the MS was starting to rev up again for me. Then the pregnancy seemed to damp it down again. I went back on Copaxone 2 weeks after giving birth and now 6 months later I had a relapse, but again, it has not been as severe and I have recovered quicker than I did years ago.

I hope Copaxone works for you soon.

Thanks - I saw my GP today who told me that the docs who deal with me try to stop women with MS from having pregnancies so I'm now concerned. She did say though that if I got pregnant they would be great and monitor it closely.

I'll keep plodding on with it for now.