Steroids and Copaxone

[Magsmomma]

I was diagnosed with MS about two months ago and I'm going thru my second round of IV steroids.  I am supposed to start Copaxone tomorrow and am nervous about the side effects and if I should start it while going thru Steroid treatments.  Any advice would be much appreciated!

[The_one_and_only24]

I was diagnosed Right after u turned 15 And JRA right b4

[Magsmomma]

I was diagnosed the day before my 31st birthday.  I live in Nebraska and the heat and humidity has been bothering me.  I started the Copaxone yesterday and have had no side effects at all so far.

[jemc57]

I was on copaxone for 5 years and had 2 rounds of steroids, years apart, while on it. I liked copaxone but unfortunately I broke through it. I really had no side effects other than redness at the injection site.

[Ihamm]

Hello. Just curious, how old were you at diagnosis?

[MSinAlaska]

I was diagnosed with MS a year ago, in June 2017. My noticeable symptoms, horizontal double vision, appeared a month earlier. I was 61 when I was diagnosed, which is rare; however, my neurologist said it is hard to tell how long I’ve had MS.

[Magsmomma]

thank you so much!

[twopack]

IVSM (IV solumedrol) and Copaxone work in different ways.  Steroids suppress the immune system.  Copaxone is an immunomodulator - it changes a specific part of the way your immune system works to help decrease MS relapses without increasing vulnerability to other infections or disease.

You should be fine starting the Copaxone while still on IVSM.  For most people, Copaxone actually has very few side effects.  If you feel comfortable sharing more detail about your concern we can be more specific with help.

Welcome to our MS community.  We’re always happy to see new faces even though it’s sad we all end up gathering here to deal with MS.  I hope you hang around and we get a chance to know you better and help you through the rough times as you start living with MS.

Mary