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Posted 5/29/2007 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,  Has anyone else had a problem with copaxone and the autojet lately.  It seems all medicine is not going into my injection spots.  I called shared solutions on this and they stated they have had problems with some of the syringes.  they are going to replace what I had left in that box, stating they don't know if the others will work or not.  I was going to start a different box but the lot number and date are the same as the one I am having trouble with.

 

It seems like each syringe doesn't empty completely and I am worried that I am not getting what I need.  should I call my neuro or the pharmacy at this point?  Or should i "gulp" stop using the autoject and see if that helps?  I figured I see if anyone else is dealing with this and what your solution was.

 

Thanks,

Debbie

Posted 5/29/2007 8:41 PM (GMT 0)

Debbie,

 

I’ve had several incomplete injections with this shipment as well (the red bar doesn’t come completely down, if that makes any sense), and heard the same thing from Shared Solutions about problems with syringes. In my case, I am not sure what is faulty needles, and what is just me having injection problems, because I think there might be some of that going on as well. I am almost finished with my box, and not every injection has been incomplete, so I’m just hoping for the best at this point. Boy, what a mess though….not only is the Copaxone not all injecting, in some instances it finally squirts out during and after I remove the needle, and then I get huge lumps, extra skin irritation, and have even been dripping (even spraying) Copaxone all over…ick.

 

I am way too much of a wimp to inject manually, so I am hoping for the best. Sorry I don’t have any words of advice, but just wanted to let you know I heard the same thing from Shared Solutions. I will be very interested to read the other responses to this post. Thanks for bringing this up.

 

Sunny

Posted 5/30/2007 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie,

 

   We don't use the autoinject anymore, but years ago we had a similar problem.  Different reason though, they told us our injector was faulty and while waiting for a new one we started manual injections.  Turns out he likes the injection better that way so we just stuck with it.  Just sharing because we havent had any problems of that sort, or like you are experiencing, doing the injections manually and it might be an option for you if you are concerned about getting all the med.  Hope it gets resolved soon for both of you.

 

Kimber

Posted 5/30/2007 1:08 AM (GMT 0)

hey Debbie and Sunny,

Bummer!!  I don't know what the problem is but I thought I would throw out my two cents worth.  You two are so cute with your gulping and gasping about manual injections.  I was gulping and gasping about the auto-inject.  That thing scared me!!!  I took one look at that and threw it away.  Just goes to show you, different strokes for different folks.  You are both very brave in my book.  I don't have any answers, but I wish you both good luck and look forward to someone else posting something that will help. 

love and prayers,

Posted 5/30/2007 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
I'm new here and new to MS but will give my two cents. I have the same problem sometimes. Shared solutions sent me new Auto-injects, but it was still the same. Honestly, I think the problem is our body and the location we give the shot. I think giving the shot in the same area over and over causes the fat to get stiff and not accept the medicine as well. If I move the needle up and down a bit it seems to speed up and go in finally. It might take a couple minutes. I know it might sound gross, but my legs are a little numb so it doesn't bother me. I need to start finding more spots to inject. I can't do my arms because I'm too skinny.

I'm glad to find a forum that has some activity.
Posted 5/30/2007 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Debbie,

I actually have experienced this lately. It happened a few times on my last box, and it's happened one time with this new box. I haven't called Shared Solutions about it, because there has never been that much left in the syringe to cause me to worry. Usually just several drops or so. But it did make me wonder what is up.

I have to kind of wonder if it's really the syringes or the autoject, but if it was the autoject wouldn't it happen every time? Who knows! But thanks for bringing this up!

~Niki
Posted 5/30/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I am not on Copaxone anymore but I heard about this on another forum I post on. The others said that they have contacted Shared Solutions as well and that they said they've had quite a few concerns about the same issue. I'm sure they are well aware of this and are working to fix it, if they haven't yet. I think I understood that they also said they would replace the syringes that did not fully inject. Do not inject twice though! That's a big no-no.
Posted 6/1/2007 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Good to know that I'm not doing something different to have this happen. I am having the same issue as well. I don't like to feel as though I'm shorting myself any meds.
I want every drop and that is what I paid for. Ooohh crabby. LOL
Posted 6/8/2007 2:50 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all,

 

Just wondering if anyone is still having incomplete injections. After having a few more incidents (red part does not move down into the window after injection and I look at the syringe and there is still some med in there), I called Shared Solutions again and they will send me some replacements. I started the new box I already had, and the first one went fine. However, I had another incomplete injection last night, and when I checked the syringe there was still a noticeable amount of med in there along with a bunch of foamy air bubbles. To those of you that were having these….are you still? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks for you help

Sunny

Posted 6/9/2007 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
bump up for Sunny

Posted 6/9/2007 10:01 PM (GMT 0)

Sunny,

Last night I used the first injection from my replacement box and it worked fine.  I have two other boxes from my pharmacy, and thought of using one of them but they had the same lot number and date so I assume I will have trouble with them too.

Has anyone asked their neuro if not getting the whole injection is harmful.  I don't see mine until July.  I never have much left, just enough to drip.

Debbie

Posted 6/11/2007 4:37 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks for bumping this Rhonda, and for your response, Debbie. I haven’t talked to my neuro about this either Debbie (good idea), and until recently hadn’t actually realized quite how many incomplete injections I’ve been having, as I almost never examine the syringe after injecting, just dump it from the autoject into the sharps container (per Copaxone nurse’s training...now I know better…lol). I did receive my new box several weeks ago, so doubt I have the “new and improved” needles either.

 

Out of the four injections I have done from this box, one has been significantly incomplete (this is the one I mentioned in my previous post). Once I saw the amount of med still in this particular syringe, I started shaking my sharps container to check out the used syringes, noticed quite a few more, and did get a little concerned. I have a spare autoject, and have just started using that to see if that makes any difference, as the spring does wear out after a while. Hopefully that is causing at least part of the problem….?? Anyway, I would be very interested in how everyone makes out with this issue and/or any additional news from Shared Solutions (I talked to one nurse who blamed this on faulty needles, and one who took the batch number but wouldn’t admit there was a problem).

 

Thanks again,

Sunny

Posted 6/11/2007 3:42 PM (GMT 0)

Sunny,

Shared solutions told me they knew of complaints about the syringes and took my lot and date.  I was going to switch to another box while waiting for my replacements, but they are all the same lot and date.  I asked if I needed a new autoinjector, and was told they should last for three years, mine is less than a year old.  But when my daughter dared to self inject for me, (I was too chicken), the whole thing went in, so go figure.

I am waiting for a call from my neuro with MRI results since I am still having so many problems since my last flare, if I can remember that far, I'll ask about the syringes and get back to everyone.

Debbie

Posted 6/29/2007 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I've had the same problem too. I seem too get bthe full injection but i cannot see the red bar. They are sending me a new autoject tool. They also got the lot number on my needles.

Tomski
Posted 6/30/2007 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I too am still having problems with this. Personally, I think it's the syringes because when I've manually injected, I do find that I reach a point where I have to apply a bit more pressure on the plunger to get it to continue. With the auto-ject the pressure is consistent so when it reaches that point on these faulty syringes it just stops.

I am finding that is happening in about 1 out of every 4 or 5 shots. I never really started keeping track until recently. Most of the time, just a few drops are left in....but there have been a few shots where almost a quarter of the syringe is still full! Yikes. I haven't called Shared Solutions yet, though, because I keep forgetting. :)
Posted 6/30/2007 6:45 PM (GMT 0)

I’m still having these problems as well, and I think it’s about time for me to work up the courage to try manually injecting….ooooh I am a big wimp though.

 

Niki, that is really interesting about the point of resistance during manual injections. Does this happen with every shot, or only certain ones? It does sound like the syringes are the problem. At one point in the past I had some incomplete injections, and they went away once I got a new autoject. However, this time I have been using a new autoject, and also started on a new box of syringes several weeks ago, but neither of these things made any difference.

 

I usually only have a drop or two left during incomplete injections (every 1 in 4 injections sounds about right for me too), but every couple of weeks I also get one that has a lot left in the syringe (this happened last night again as a matter of fact). I have talked to Shared Solutions about this issue two times, but I haven’t reported that I’m having problems with this box.

 

Tomski, welcome to the forum! Have you ever looked to see how much Copaxone remains in your syringe when the red bar doesn’t come all the way down? Please keep us updated on how you do with your new autoject, and again, welcome. J

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