2 month + Glatopa update

Since it has been awhile since I've transitioned to Glatopa (since late July 2015), I wanted to take a little time to post an update about my experience.

As I had expressed, I was a little leery in the switch from Copaxone to Glatopa, not only because I was so use to what I had grown to know, but the autoject to administer the medication was different and I was unfamiliar with how Glatopa's support network, GlatopaCare, would compare/holdup to Copaxone's support, Shared Solutions. Change can be difficult, but I had to just go for it and trust the professionals.

It's been a little over 2 months since I began taking Glatopa, and for myself things have been fine. Other than the Glatopa autoject being slightly different, everything else has been relatively smooth. I anticipate that had someone just swapped them w/o my knowledge, I wouldn't have known any difference. The injection sites are similar, but if I remember correctly, Copaxone had updated their site locations as well. I still have yet to utilize Glatopa support network, but I'm signed up should I need it.

Oh, and those who know me.... I am still waiting for Kaiser Permanente to put the the 3-times-a-week Copaxone on their formulary. Mail order for this prescription would be wonderful as well ;)

Glatopa's Glatopaject instructions

Images of Glatopaject instructions, aplogize for the low quality of the pictures.

Update: My transition to Glatopa

Well, I have been on Glatopa for 10 days now. I was a little leery, having only been on Copaxone since I was diagnosed; however, the transition has been seamless (alcohol pads were even provided in the kit, seeing as I had gotten use to none in Copaxone kits). Glatopa's autoject is a little different then the one I had been using for Copaxone, but I found it very easy to switch to. I was told the Glatopa autoject is not the same as Copaxone's, therefore only administer Glatopa with it's corresponding autoject. I have yet to utilize Glatopa support network, GlatopaCare, but have signed up and anticipate checking it out in the future.

It pleases me to know the blog I started (and still post to, occasionally) to not only serve as a personal journal and family/friend informative site has now helped a stranger.

I've switched to Copaxone's generic, Glatopa

You've read it correctly, for the first time since being on Copaxone, I have been switched to a different medication.

Glatopa (Sandoz, a Novartis company, developed in collaboration with Momenta Pharmaceuticals) is the first generic version of Copaxone that has been approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Copaxone and Glatopa contain the SAME active ingredient, glatiramer, in the SAME amount and work the SAME way in the body to help manage Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The Glatopa dose will be the same as the Copaxone dose, both 20 mg, is injected daily, in the fatty layer under your skin (subcutaneously). I will also be using a NEW auto-injector device for Glatopa as my Copaxone auto-injector is not compatible with Glatopa syringes.

I am finishing up the last remaining 2-syringe supply of my Copaxone, but I am sure it will be a seamless transition. However, I do think it will be pretty strange/bittersweet to no longer be working with Shared Solutions, who has been my support and network for MS from day one since being on Teva Pharmaceuticals' Copaxone.

Glatopa's GlatopaCare will be the new support network, and I just hope it's as good as SharedSolutions.

I still am still hopeful to eventually switch to the next-generation formulation of Copaxone 40mg, that works longer, and so requires fewer monthly doses. For this to option to happen, I'm waiting on Kaiser to put it on the formulary.

MRI (Brain) results

Well hello (if any one even follows this blog still)!!

Not much has been going, but I had a MRI completed yesterday, 3/8/2015. Quick and easy = no contrast agent (gadolinium) was administered. I think the funnest part about the MRI appointment was the interaction I had with the technologist conducting the scan. He asked if I've had an MRI before. I answered "oh, yes, this will be my 7th.....I have MS." His response, "oh, really, I would not have ever thought you had MS" was great to hear! I do get that surprised response from many people after they find out I have MS. Anyway, the results: My neurologist reviewed the MRI report and images, similar in appearance to prior exam in 2011, no significant change or new lesions.

Most of you know I have been administering a daily 20mg injectable therapy medication called Copaxone. Last year, the 3-times-a-week COPAXONE 40 mg was approved. I emailed my neurologist explaining how I was curious if the 40mg is on the formulary yet, and if so, it would be something I would now consider switching to (as long as he agreed). Dr informed me he called the Pharmacy to change to 40 mg dose. Well, turns out the 40 mg is not on the Kaiser formulary yet as it currently has a monthly copay of $1,200. No way... I will be sticking with the daily poke for a bit longer! Major ugh!

Other than that things are going a-okay!

Well, well.. I have to say I have been meaning to log-in to this site for quite some time to post something, but what?! :) Things are going well, no exacerbations/relapses, hence the lack of MS activity postings since late 2012. Life is going great, busy and it will get busier since summer is right around the corner.

On 5/20 Casey accompanied me to a local lunch MS Event I had registered for (and it was also his birthday). The topic was 'Intro to the 3-times a week Copaxone 40mg experience' where as I am still on the 7-times a week (daily) 20 mg Copaxone injections. Other than the event's informative topic, we also learned about some new tools such as the new phone app to record my injections (vs the paper book I receive yearly) and injection site updates. I also learned that I should have a new autoject every yr to yr & half. I was not aware of this at all, so I have been using the same autoject since 5/2007. I called and requested a new autoject and received not one, but two yesterday. I was told the reasoning for the new autoject is because the spring within the device can weaken; however, mine has been working just fine but it's always a good idea to have extras should something occur.

I will try to be better and add posting more frequently, but as I say, if there aren't any new postings, well hey, that is a good thing :) Have a great summer & remember to reapply yur sunscreen!