Copaxone – mechanism of action: It elicits an anti-inflammatory effect shifting between increased activity of the immune cells generating an anti-inflammatory action and reduced activity of those immune cells leading to pro-inflammatory effect.

Copaxone is a daily under the skin injection and there is a study who showed that Copaxone 40 mg 3 times weekly is effective and hopefully it will be approved soon by the FDA.

Side effects: Copaxone has no known systemic effects. The few side effects related to Copaxone are injections site reactions on the skin like redness, lumps at the site of injections and burning sensation. In addition,  patients self injecting copaxone may have a reaction called Immediate Post Injection Reaction (=IPIR) characterized by palpitations, shortness of breath and dizziness which last for a few minutes up to about 30 minutes. This may be a scary episode but it is an uncommon occurrence.