Formulary
Glatiramer acetate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Glatiramer is an immunomodulating drug comprising synthetic polypeptides.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Glatiramer acetate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Glatiramer is an immunomodulating drug comprising synthetic polypeptides.
Drug action
Glatiramer is an immunomodulating drug comprising synthetic polypeptides.
Indications and dose
**Multiple sclerosis [relapsing-remitting] (initiated under specialist supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 20 mg once daily, alternatively 40 mg 3 times a week, doses to be separated by an interval of at least 48 hours.
Cautions
Cardiac disorders
Side effects
Common or very common Anxiety; appetite decreased; arrhythmias; asthenia; chest pain; chills; constipation; cough; depression; dyspepsia; dysphagia; dyspnoea (may occur within minutes of injection); ear disorder; eye disorders; fever; gastrointestinal disorders; headaches; hyperhidrosis; hypersensitivity; increased risk of infection; joint disorders; local reaction; lymphadenopathy; nausea; neoplasms; neuromuscular dysfunction; oedema; oral disorders; pain; palpitations; rhinitis seasonal; skin reactions; speech disorder; syncope; taste altered; tremor; urinary disorders; vasodilation; vision disorders; vomiting; weight increased Uncommon Abnormal dreams; abscess; alcohol intolerance; anaphylactic reaction (may occur months to years after initiation); angioedema; apnoea; arthritis; breast engorgement; burping; cataract; choking sensation; cholelithiasis; cognitive disorder; confusion; cyst; dry eye; dysgraphia; dyslexia; erythema nodosum; goitre; gout; haemorrhage; hallucination; hangover; hepatic disorders; hostility; hyperlipidaemia; hyperthyroidism; hypothermia; immediate post-injection reaction; inflammation; injection site necrosis; leucocytosis; leucopenia; mood altered; movement disorders; mucous membrane disorder; muscle atrophy; nephrolithiasis; nerve disorders; paralysis; pelvic prolapse; personality disorder; post vaccination syndrome; prostatic disorder; respiratory disorders; seizure; sexual dysfunction; skin nodule; splenomegaly; stupor; suicide attempt; testicular disorder; thrombocytopenia; urinary tract disorder; urine abnormal; varicose veins; vulvovaginal disorder
Interactions
**Severe interactions:**
- Observations from existing clinical trials and post-marketing experience do not suggest any significant interactions of glatiramer acetate with therapies commonly used in MS patients, including the...
**Other interactions (1):**
- In vitro work suggests that glatiramer acetate in blood is highly bound to plasma proteins but that it is not displaced by, and does not itself displace, phenytoin or carbamazepine.
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid-no information available.
Breast feeding
Manufacturer advises caution-no information available.
Renal impairment
Use with caution (no information available). M
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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