Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. Copaxone is used for the following:

Copaxone is typically used as a long-term treatment.

Here are some fast facts about Copaxone:

  • Active ingredient: glatiramer acetate
  • Drug class: immunomodulator, which is a type of disease-modifying drug
  • Drug form: solution in a pen, given by subcutaneous injection

Like other drugs, Copaxone can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Copaxone, including details about its uses, see this article.

Copaxone can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who used Copaxone in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† This side effect may be part of a post-injection reaction. To learn more, see “Post-injection reaction” in “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Copaxone use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Copaxone’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Copaxone include:

Many of these side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to a couple of weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect with Copaxone and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below

Copaxone may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Copaxone’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects with Copaxone, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Copaxone and their symptoms include:

  • Damage to skin or subcutaneous tissue at injection sites. (Subcutaneous tissue is the fatty layer under your skin, where you’ll inject the drug). Symptoms can include:
    • pitting or dents in your skin that may not go away
    • skin wounds that are painful, swollen, or oozing
    • skin that looks discolored and smells bad
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure), which doesn’t usually cause symptoms. However, in serious cases, symptoms may include:
    • sweating
    • trouble sleeping
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure). Symptoms may include:
    • dizziness
  • Chest pain, which may occur on its own or part of a post-injection reaction.*
  • Serious post-injection reactions.*
  • Liver problems.*
  • Allergic reaction.*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below

Copaxone may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Can Copaxone cause hair loss?

No. Hair loss wasn’t seen in people who used Copaxone during the drug’s clinical trials.

Hair loss or thinning can be a side effect of stress as well as other medications used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Some examples of these drugs include azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate.

Hair loss can also be a side effect of various medications used to manage certain symptoms of MS. Examples of these types of drugs include antidepressants, seizure medications, blood pressure medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

If you have hair loss that concerns you, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the possible causes and recommend ways to manage them.

Does stopping Copaxone treatment cause side effects?

Stopping Copaxone treatment isn’t known to cause any side effects. It’s important that you do not stop using the medication unless you first talk with your doctor. Stopping treatment could cause your MS symptoms to come back or get worse.

Your doctor can help answer other questions you have about ending your Copaxone treatment.

Is depression a common side effect of Copaxone?

Depression is a possible side effect of Copaxone, but it’s rare. In clinical trials, depression and mood changes occurred in some people who took the drug. However, it isn’t known for sure if Copaxone caused these changes.

Keep in mind that depression is also a common symptom of MS. (Copaxone is used to treat MS.) If you have had symptoms of depression or mood changes since you began to use Copaxone, talk with your doctor. They may recommend possible treatments.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Copaxone may cause.

Injection site reaction

Injection site reactions may occur during Copaxone treatment. These were the most common side effects seen in clinical trials of the drug.

Copaxone is given by subcutaneous injection in your abdominal area, upper hips, thighs, or upper arms. Symptoms can affect these areas where you inject the drug and may include:

  • pain
  • swelling
  • itching
  • reddening, deepening of skin color, or bruising
  • mass (lump) at the injection site

Symptoms of injection site reactions are usually mild and temporary. However, in certain cases, symptoms can be severe. In clinical trials, some people had to stop Copaxone treatment due to severe injection site reactions.

What you can do

To help prevent or minimize injection site reactions from Copaxone, it’s important to inject the drug properly. Your doctor or pharmacist can show you the correct technique. You also can watch a video on how to inject Copaxone.

The following tips may help lessen injection site reactions:

  • Be sure to take the drug out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before you inject it. This allows the solution to reach room temperature, which may reduce discomfort.
  • Apply a warm compress for 5 minutes to relax the injection site before you clean it. You should place a towel or a layer of clothing between the warm compress and your skin.
  • Rotate injection sites to help reduce the risk of injection site reactions. In other words, do not use the same exact spot over and over for your Copaxone injections.
  • After each injection, you can use a cold pack on the injection site for up to 1 minute. Just be sure to have a towel or layer of clothing between the cold pack and your skin.

If your symptoms don’t go away or become severe, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Weight gain

Weight gain may occur with Copaxone. But this side effect wasn’t common in clinical trials of the drug. In fact, some people lost weight during these trials, but this was rare.

Keep in mind that Copaxone is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), and weight gain is common with this condition. This is because MS symptoms, such as muscle weakness and fatigue, can cause you to limit physical activity.

What you can do

If you’re concerned about weight gain during Copaxone treatment, talk with your doctor. They can work with you to find a diet and exercise plan that’s right for you.

Dental cavities

Dental cavities may occur during treatment with Copaxone. These problems were reported in clinical trials, but they weren’t common. Also, it isn’t known for sure if Copaxone caused the dental cavities.

Dental cavities are areas of tooth decay. They don’t always cause symptoms, especially when they’re small. Symptoms may include:

  • occasional toothaches
  • mild sensitivity while drinking hot or cold beverages or brushing your teeth
  • discolored teeth

If a cavity isn’t treated by a dentist, it can become large or cause an abscessed tooth (pus buildup in the gums or teeth). Symptoms of a tooth abscess can be severe and include:

  • intense tooth pain that can radiate to your jaw or ears
  • pain or swelling in your gums
  • nausea
  • fever

What you can do

It’s important to maintain good dental hygiene during your Copaxone treatment (and in general). This includes regular brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist for cleanings and checkups. They’ll take X-rays of your teeth to monitor for cavities.

If you have a toothache or tooth sensitivity while using Copaxone, talk with your dentist. An over-the-counter numbing gel, such as Anbesol, may help ease discomfort until they can see you.

Post-injection reactions

Right after injecting a dose of Copaxone, some people may experience brief episodes of various symptoms. These side effects are referred to as “immediate post-injection reactions.” The episodes usually start seconds to minutes after an injection. In Copaxone’s clinical trials, post-injection reactions were common.

Symptoms can vary but usually include at least two of the following:

Typically, these episodes last a few minutes. Most symptoms are mild, temporary, and go away on their own. Rarely, symptoms may be severe and require medical care.

Post-injection reactions tend to occur within the first several months after starting Copaxone treatment. For some people, a post-injection reaction is a one-time occurrence. Other people may have several episodes.

What you can do

If you have the above symptoms within an hour after a dose of Copaxone, talk with your doctor right away. Most likely, your symptoms will go away quickly and without treatment.

But if your symptoms feel severe or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Your doctor will determine whether you should keep using Copaxone.

Liver problems

Some people have reported having liver problems with Copaxone. These problems included liver failure and hepatitis. No one who took Copaxone in clinical trials had liver problems. But after the drug became available, rare cases of serious liver problems were reported by people who took Copaxone. It isn’t known for sure if the drug caused these liver problems.

Symptoms of liver problems may include:

What you can do

You should talk with your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems.

During your Copaxone treatment, your doctor may monitor your liver health using certain blood tests. If you develop liver problems, your doctor can help determine whether you should stop using the medication.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Copaxone can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep using Copaxone. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you use Copaxone. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Copaxone or any of its ingredients, including mannitol, your doctor will likely not prescribe Copaxone. Ask your doctor about other medications that may be better options for you.

Alcohol use with Copaxone

Alcohol does not interact with Copaxone. However, drinking alcohol may cause some of the same side effects as Copaxone, such as flushing, nausea, and vomiting. If you consume alcohol and use Copaxone, these side effects could worsen.

Drinking alcohol may also make certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis worse than usual.

Alcohol intolerance rarely occurred with Copaxone use. (With alcohol intolerance, your digestive system has trouble breaking down alcohol.)

Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol (if any) is safe for you to drink with your condition and treatments. For more information about alcohol use with Copaxone, you can also refer to this article.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while using Copaxone

This section covers what’s known about the use of Copaxone while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pregnancy. It isn’t known for sure if Copaxone is safe to use while pregnant. Some people have used the drug during pregnancy. However, there haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Copaxone is linked to pregnancy complications. Clinical trials of the drug’s use in pregnant animals haven’t shown any harmful effects.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before using Copaxone. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of this medication. Or they may suggest a different treatment option.

Breastfeeding. It isn’t known for sure if Copaxone is safe to use while breastfeeding. It’s unknown if the drug could pass into breast milk or affect a child who is breastfed.

Talk with your doctor if you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. They can help determine the best options for you at this time.

Copaxone may cause mild or serious side effects, some of which are more common than others. If you have mild side effects that are bothersome or develop serious side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.

To learn more about Copaxone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some additional reading on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.