GlatopaⓇ is a generic injectable drug approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults, including:1
What are the ingredients in Glatopa?
The active ingredient in Glatopa is glatiramer acetate.1
How does Glatopa work?
The exact way Glatopa works is not well understood. Glatopa may change the way the immune system works in people who have MS.1
What are the possible side effects?
Side effects can vary. The most common side effects of Glatopa include:1
- Injection site reactions, including redness, swelling, itching, and lumps
- Flushing
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
These are not all the possible side effects of Glatopa. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Glatopa. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Glatopa.1
Benefits of generic drugs
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that generic drugs have the same clinical benefits as their brand-name medicine. Generic drugs are created to be the same as their brand-name medicine in:2
- Active ingredients
- Safety
- Strength
- Effectiveness
- Quality
- Benefits
Some people may feel that a generic version of a drug is not as trustworthy. But this is not true. Research shows that using authorized generics leads to results just as good as those of brand-name products.3
Generics usually cost much less than their brand-name counterparts. This is because they usually do not have to repeat the same safety tests that were already performed. The active ingredients are exactly the same, which is why these tests do not need repeating.2
The choice of a generic drug may also mean that more people will stick with their treatment. This is because research shows that reducing the costs of prescription drugs increases the chances someone will take the medicines prescribed by their doctor.4
Other things to know
Before starting Glatopa, tell your doctor if you:1
- Are allergic to glatiramer acetate or mannitol
- Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- Have any other medical conditions
Glatopa is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneously).1
Glatopa is a branded generic. This means it is a generic drug that has been given a different brand name than the original brand-name (reference) drug. There is no difference in effect between a branded generic, generic, and brand-name drug.1
There is not enough information to know if Glatopa is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. There have been no high-quality studies looking at Glatopa specifically during these times in the birth cycle. But there are studies suggesting that other formulations of glatiramer acetate have low risk if you take them during pregnancy. These studies did not find evidence that the formulations they looked at cause birth defects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.1,5
Glatopa may change how your immune system works. This can increase your risk of infection.1
The first time you take Glatopa, you should have a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist with you. They will help you learn how to give yourself injections. Every person is different, so your doctor or nurse will help you find the best place on your body to inject the drug.1
Before beginning treatment for MS, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you take. This includes over-the-counter drugs.
For more information, read the full prescribing information of Glatopa.