Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

The most commonly occurring side effects of glatiramer acetate are redness, pain, inflammation, itching, or a lump at the site of the injection. Some patients have reported a rare reaction that started immediately after the injection and consisted of flushing, chest tightness with racing or pounding heartbeat, anxiety, and difficulty in breathing. The symptoms of this reaction generally lasted approximately fifteen minutes and resolved without any further problems. However, if you inject glatiramer acetate and experience dizziness, hives and itching, sweating, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, or other uncomfortable changes in your general health, call your doctor immediately. If symptoms become severe, or you cannot reach your doctor, call 911 or the appropriate emergency phone number in your area for assistance.

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Anxiety; bleeding, hard lump, hives or welts, itching, pain, redness, or swelling at the place of injection; chest pain; excessive muscle tone; flushing; irregular or pounding heartbeat; joint pain; neck pain; swelling or puffiness of face; swollen lymph glands; troubled breathing; vaginal yeast infection

Less common

Agitation; bloating or swelling; chills; confusion; fainting; fever; infections; migraine; muscle aches; pain; purple spots under the skin; skin rash; small lumps under the skin; spasm of throat; strong urge to urinate; swelling of fingers, arms, feet, or legs; tightness in chest or wheezing

Rare

Back pain; blood in urine; continuous, uncontrolled back-and-forth and/or rolling eye movements; decreased sexual ability; diarrhea; ear pain; fast breathing; fast or racing heartbeat; high blood pressure; irritation of mouth and tongue (thrush); loss of appetite; menstrual pain or changes; sensation of motion, usually whirling, either of oneself or of one's surroundings; speech problems; suspicious Papanicolaou test (Pap test) results; vision problems

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common

Increased sweating; nausea; trembling; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting

Less common

Runny nose; weight gain

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.