GLATIRAMER ACETATE

35/100 · Moderate

Manufactured by Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: Common and Less Severe Reactions Predominate

108,384 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About GLATIRAMER ACETATE

GLATIRAMER ACETATE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Teva Neuroscience, Inc.. Based on analysis of 108,384 FDA adverse event reports, GLATIRAMER ACETATE has a safety score of 35 out of 100. This lower score reflects a significant number of adverse event reports, suggesting that patients should discuss potential risks carefully with their healthcare provider. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for GLATIRAMER ACETATE include MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RELAPSE, INJECTION SITE PAIN, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, INJECTION SITE REACTION, FATIGUE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for GLATIRAMER ACETATE.

AI Safety Analysis

Glatiramer Acetate has a safety concern score of 35 out of 100, placing it in the moderate concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 108,384 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Teva Neuroscience, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Multiple Sclerosis Relapse, Injection Site Pain, Drug Ineffective. Of classified reports, 46.0% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. The majority of reported reactions are common and less severe, such as injection site pain and fatigue.

Serious reactions, while present, are less frequent, with the most serious being anaphylactic reactions and death. The reaction diversity is high, with over 100 distinct reactions reported. The most common reactions are related to injection site issues and general discomfort.

Patients taking Glatiramer Acetate should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Interactions with other drugs are not commonly reported, but patients should be monitored for injection site reactions and general discomfort. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 35/100

Glatiramer Acetate received a safety concern score of 35/100 (moderate concern). This is based on a 46.0% serious event ratio across 58,854 classified reports. The score accounts for 108,384 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This moderate score is typical for widely prescribed medications with established safety profiles.

Top Adverse Reactions

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RELAPSE5,118 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN4,898 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE3,848 reports
INJECTION SITE REACTION3,485 reports
FATIGUE3,241 reports
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS3,042 reports
DYSPNOEA2,881 reports
FALL2,487 reports
INJECTION SITE ERYTHEMA2,440 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE2,108 reports
INJECTION SITE MASS2,053 reports
PAIN2,024 reports
NAUSEA1,910 reports
DIZZINESS1,860 reports
HEADACHE1,776 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA1,740 reports
INJECTION SITE SWELLING1,695 reports
URTICARIA1,692 reports
FLUSHING1,553 reports
INJECTION SITE PRURITUS1,482 reports
ASTHENIA1,457 reports
CHILLS1,390 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY1,344 reports
MALAISE1,273 reports
TREMOR1,188 reports
PRURITUS1,185 reports
BALANCE DISORDER1,179 reports
PARAESTHESIA1,166 reports
INJECTION SITE BRUISING1,159 reports
VOMITING1,135 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,133 reports
DEPRESSION1,112 reports
ERYTHEMA1,071 reports
INJECTION SITE URTICARIA1,054 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT1,052 reports
CHEST PAIN1,028 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,027 reports
CHEST DISCOMFORT1,012 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS1,007 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS999 reports
RASH973 reports
ANXIETY963 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY949 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION935 reports
PYREXIA932 reports
PALPITATIONS931 reports
BACK PAIN910 reports
DIARRHOEA877 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS850 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED847 reports
IMMEDIATE POST INJECTION REACTION822 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION819 reports
INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS775 reports
DEATH752 reports
ADVERSE EVENT699 reports
INSOMNIA689 reports
ARTHRALGIA682 reports
FEELING HOT654 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY650 reports
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM LESION634 reports
INJECTION SITE HAEMORRHAGE629 reports
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT626 reports
THERAPY CESSATION603 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS590 reports
ALOPECIA580 reports
BURNING SENSATION544 reports
SWELLING FACE534 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION520 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED506 reports
SEIZURE504 reports
CONTUSION494 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED481 reports
VISION BLURRED473 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED473 reports
THROAT TIGHTNESS462 reports
PNEUMONIA459 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS453 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS452 reports
SWELLING438 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED435 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE428 reports
OFF LABEL USE428 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION426 reports
INJECTION SITE INDURATION394 reports
COUGH387 reports
INJECTION SITE NECROSIS382 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER380 reports
COGNITIVE DISORDER376 reports
WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS370 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING368 reports
MIGRAINE365 reports
DEVICE ISSUE362 reports
MYALGIA362 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE355 reports
INJECTION SITE WARMTH355 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK350 reports
SPEECH DISORDER350 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE349 reports
CONVULSION347 reports
SYNCOPE347 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Injection site reactions are the most frequently reported, indicating potential local side effects.
  • Fatigue and pain are among the top reported reactions, suggesting a need for patient education on managing these symptoms.
  • Serious reactions, though less common, include anaphylactic reactions and death, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 44,832, Male: 10,869, Unknown: 340. The most frequently reported age groups are age 55 (801 reports), age 54 (780 reports), age 52 (759 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 58,854 classified reports for GLATIRAMER ACETATE:

  • Serious: 27,074 reports (46.0%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 31,780 reports (54.0%)
Serious 46.0%Non-Serious 54.0%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female44,832 (80.0%)
Male10,869 (19.4%)
Unknown340 (0.6%)

Reports by Age

Age 55801 reports
Age 54780 reports
Age 52759 reports
Age 48755 reports
Age 53741 reports
Age 51740 reports
Age 57740 reports
Age 50737 reports
Age 56722 reports
Age 59721 reports
Age 49720 reports
Age 47715 reports
Age 58714 reports
Age 44686 reports
Age 46668 reports
Age 45659 reports
Age 61633 reports
Age 62607 reports
Age 60600 reports
Age 43598 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Interactions with other drugs are not commonly reported, but patients should be monitored for injection site reactions and general discomfort.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Glatiramer Acetate, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include multiple sclerosis relapse, injection site pain, drug ineffective, injection site reaction, fatigue. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should report any serious or unusual reactions to their healthcare provider immediately. Follow the prescribed injection technique to minimize the risk of injection site reactions. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor the safety of glatiramer acetate and has not issued any specific regulatory actions based on this data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Glatiramer Acetate?

The FDA has received approximately 108,384 adverse event reports associated with Glatiramer Acetate. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Glatiramer Acetate?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Glatiramer Acetate include Multiple Sclerosis Relapse, Injection Site Pain, Drug Ineffective, Injection Site Reaction, Fatigue. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Multiple Sclerosis Relapse (5,118 reports), Injection Site Pain (4,898 reports), Drug Ineffective (3,848 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Glatiramer Acetate.

What percentage of Glatiramer Acetate adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 58,854 classified reports, 27,074 (46.0%) were classified as serious and 31,780 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Glatiramer Acetate (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Glatiramer Acetate break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 44,832, Male: 10,869, Unknown: 340. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Glatiramer Acetate?

The most frequently reported age groups for Glatiramer Acetate adverse events are: age 55: 801 reports, age 54: 780 reports, age 52: 759 reports, age 48: 755 reports, age 53: 741 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Glatiramer Acetate?

The primary manufacturer associated with Glatiramer Acetate adverse event reports is Teva Neuroscience, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Glatiramer Acetate?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Glatiramer Acetate include: Multiple Sclerosis, Dyspnoea, Fall, Injection Site Erythema, Gait Disturbance. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Glatiramer Acetate?

You can report adverse events from Glatiramer Acetate to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Glatiramer Acetate's safety score and what does it mean?

Glatiramer Acetate has a safety concern score of 35 out of 100 (moderate concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. The majority of reported reactions are common and less severe, such as injection site pain and fatigue.

What are the key safety signals for Glatiramer Acetate?

Key safety signals identified in Glatiramer Acetate's adverse event data include: Injection site reactions are the most frequently reported, indicating potential local side effects.. Fatigue and pain are among the top reported reactions, suggesting a need for patient education on managing these symptoms.. Serious reactions, though less common, include anaphylactic reactions and death, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Glatiramer Acetate interact with other drugs?

Interactions with other drugs are not commonly reported, but patients should be monitored for injection site reactions and general discomfort. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Glatiramer Acetate.

What should patients know before taking Glatiramer Acetate?

Patients should report any serious or unusual reactions to their healthcare provider immediately. Follow the prescribed injection technique to minimize the risk of injection site reactions.

Are Glatiramer Acetate side effects well-documented?

Glatiramer Acetate has 108,384 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious reactions, while present, are less frequent, with the most serious being anaphylactic reactions and death. The volume of reports for Glatiramer Acetate reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Glatiramer Acetate?

The FDA continues to monitor the safety of glatiramer acetate and has not issued any specific regulatory actions based on this data. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.