Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and people may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscular coordination, problems with vision, speech, and bladder control. Glatiramer injection is used to treat adults with many kinds of MS, including:

• Solitary clinical syndrome (CIS; nerve symptom episodes that last at least 24 hours),
• Relapsing-remitting types (disease progression marked by intermittent symptom flare-ups), or
• Further developing forms (course of disease where relapses occur more often).

Glatiramer belongs to the class of drugs known as immunomodulators. It functions by keeping the body’s own nerve cells from getting damaged (myelin).

Glatiramer is available as a subcutaneous injection solution (under the skin). It is often injected either once daily or three times per week (with at least 48 hours between doses, for example, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), depending on your dose. Inject glatiramer at roughly the same time each day to aid in memory. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the glatiramer instructions exactly. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.

Your doctor’s office is where you’ll get your first glatiramer dose. After that, you can administer glatiramer injections on your own or with the help of a friend or relative. Read the included written instructions before using glatiramer for the first time. To learn how to inject a medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist to demonstrate it to you or the person doing the injecting.

Syringes prefilled with glitiramer are available. Each syringe should only be used once to inject the entire solution within. Do not inject again, even if there is some solution remaining in the syringe after the first time. Used syringes should be disposed of in a container that won’t puncture. How to get rid of the puncture-resistant container should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.

Arms, thighs, hips, lower stomach, and hands are the other seven body areas where glatiramer injections are permitted. Each of these body parts has designated areas where glatiramer injections can be made. To find out exactly where you can inject, consult the diagram in the patient information provided by the manufacturer. Every time you administer your drug, pick a different location. Note the time and location of each injection. Never use the same place twice in a row. Never inject close to your belly button or waistline, or into skin that is painful, red, bruised, scarred, infected, or otherwise odd.

Immediately after receiving a glatiramer injection, you could suffer a reaction like flushing, heart palpitations, anxiety, breathing difficulties, throat closing, or hives. Although it could happen at any moment throughout your therapy, this reaction is most likely to manifest itself many months into it. Without therapy, these symptoms will typically disappear in a short period of time. But, call your doctor and seek emergency medical attention if these symptoms worsen or persist for more than a few minutes.

Multiple sclerosis is not cured by glitiramer, but it is controlled by it. Even if you feel good, keep taking glatiramer. Without consulting your doctor, never discontinue taking glatiramer.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using glatiramer,

• If you have an allergy to mannitol, glatiramer, or any other drug, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Get an ingredient list from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you have renal illness now or ever have, let your doctor know.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking glatiramer.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, administer it as soon as you remember. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not provide a second injection.

Glatiramer might have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Injection site discomfort, redness, swelling, itching, or lumps
• Weakness
• Depression
• Strange dreams
• Body aches in the neck, back, or other areas
• Terrible headache
• Severe headache
• Reduced appetite
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight gain
• Edoema of the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
• Purple spots on the skin
• Joints hurt
• Confusion
• Nervousness
• Squinted eyes
• Having trouble speaking
• Shaking hands in an uncontrollable manner
• Sweating
• Ears hurt
• Uncomfortable or irregular menstrual cycles
• Itching and leaking from the vagina
• Urgent desire to use the restroom or urinate
• Muscular tension
• Mouth with white spots

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical care if you encounter any of these signs or any of the ones detailed in the HOW section:

• Dizziness
• Profuse perspiration,
• Cough, a runny nose, a fever, chills, or other indicators of infection
• Rapid heart rate
• Fainting
• Rash
• Itching
• Having trouble swallowing

Due to the way glutaramer affects your immune system, it may make you more likely to get cancer or a serious infection. Discuss the dangers of using this drug with your doctor.

Further negative effects of glutiramer are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Avoid freezing it; instead, keep it in the refrigerator. Glatiramer can be kept at room temperature for up to a month if you don’t have access to a refrigerator, but don’t let it become too hot or too bright.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.