Why I changed my MS treatment from Plegridy to Copaxone

When Jen and her husband decided to start a family, she had to make a tough decision to change MS medication from Plegridy to Copaxone. Read on to find out how it went.

Back in 2015, I was dealing with pain in my left leg and numbness in my left arm, so I headed to the GP. They dug a little deeper and heard about times when I’d lost my sense of taste. They did mention the possibility of MS, which I thought was utterly ridiculous.

They referred me to hospital for some scans. An MRI revealed a couple of lesions, but they weren’t too worried. They listed me as an outpatient. Apart from that I was free to go.

Fast forward to Christmas 2016. I was enduring a Christmas party hangover and decided to indulge in a tuna sandwich and crisps. Weirdly, I couldn’t taste them properly!

I also had the strangest sensation in my ankles when I nodded my head. (Later, I realised this was Lhermitte's sign). Back to the hospital I trotted for further scans.

The next MRI confirmed a diagnosis of RRMS. If anything, I felt relieved. I finally understood why my body was doing these strange things and I had a roadmap of how to deal with it.

I was managing a particularly nasty relapse in 2017, where I lost all functionality in my left hand.

Following my Chandler incident, I opted for the DMD Plegridy.

I was initially drawn to Plegridy due to the frequency of injecting (every two weeks) and the side effects, which seemed manageable. I used Plegridy for four years and didn’t experience any relapses, which was great.

The side effects weren’t easy! I would get the shivers, achy arms and legs and flu like symptoms – yuck. 

Generally, the day after injecting was difficult too. I’d really have to summon enough strength to power through the day.

Once my husband and I decided that we wanted to start a family, it came with the added task of changing medication, as Plegridy isn't recommended for pregnancy (before, during or after). 

Luckily, it was easy to change to Copaxone. After a couple of telephone appointments with my MS nurse, I was ready to change.

I stopped taking Plegridy without any issues. Next, I attended an online meeting with a nurse from a clinical homecare provider, who showed me how to use the Copaxone injection and that was it.

My worries dissolved away and there were no more barriers to us beginning our dream of having a family.

Copaxone is slightly different to prepare in comparison to Plegridy, but so easy. Unlike Plegridy, you don't need to start with lower doses.

The main pro is that I can continue Copaxone after I’ve given birth, as it’s safe for breastfeeding. Also, there aren’t quarterly blood tests on Copaxone, which were needed for Plegridy. 

Another bonus is the lack of side effects (for me). I don't get injection site rashes or bruises, plus there’s no flu like symptoms. I even found that my fatigue improved.

The only downside of Copaxone is the frequency of injecting (three times weekly). I must set regular alarm reminders, as my pregnant brain fog is through the roof.

I’ve been lucky switching to Copaxone. The transition was easy, and the injection is straight forward. Whilst the frequency of injecting three times weekly can be frustrating, the benefits far outweigh it.