Dupixent (Dupilumab)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Dupixent Used For?
Dupixent contains dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody medication that helps treat several inflammatory conditions by targeting specific proteins in your immune system.
Primary Uses
Dupixent treats moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) in patients 12 years and older, and severe atopic dermatitis in children 6 months to 11 years old. It also treats prurigo nodularis in adults, moderate to severe asthma in patients 6 years and older, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis in adults, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults whose conditions are not well controlled with current medications.
How It Works
Dupixent belongs to a class of medicines called monoclonal antibodies that work by targeting specific proteins involved in inflammatory responses in conditions like eczema, asthma, and other inflammatory diseases.
Good to know: Dupixent can be used with or without other prescribed skin medications for atopic dermatitis, and may help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids needed for asthma while preventing severe attacks.
How to Take Dupixent
Dupixent is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) that you or a caregiver can learn to administer at home after proper training.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will determine your specific dose. Dupixent is injected under the skin every other week or every 4 weeks. Remove 300mg syringes/pens from the refrigerator at least 45 minutes before injection, and 200mg syringes/pens at least 30 minutes before injection to reach room temperature. Inject into the thigh, abdomen (avoiding 2 inches around the navel), or upper arm if someone else is giving the injection. Change injection sites regularly and avoid areas that are tender, damaged, sunburnt, bruised, or scarred.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you’re on an every-other-week schedule and miss a dose, give the injection within 7 days of the missed dose, then continue your original schedule. If more than 7 days have passed, wait until your next scheduled dose. If you’re on an every-4-week schedule and miss a dose, give the injection within 7 days of the missed dose and continue your original schedule. If more than 7 days have passed, start a new 4-week schedule from when you take your injection.
Important: Do not inject Dupixent with other injectable medicines at the same injection site. Always check the syringe/pen label before each injection to ensure you’re using the right medicine.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Redness, swelling or itching at injection site
- Hollowing or thickening of skin around injection site
- Eye dryness
- Eye infection
- Eye and eyelid inflammation (redness/swelling/itching)
- Eye pain
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Rash on the face
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts
- Fever
- Feeling generally unwell
- Joint pain
- Dizziness, feeling light-headed
- Rash, itching or hives on skin
- Flu-like illness
- Pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs
- Worsening of lung symptoms including breathing problems and/or rash
Important Warnings
Before starting Dupixent, it’s important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure safe use.
Who Should Not Take Dupixent
Do not use Dupixent if you are allergic to dupilumab or any ingredients in the medication. Do not use in patients under 6 months old with atopic dermatitis, under 18 years old with prurigo nodularis, under 6 years old with asthma, under 18 years old with nasal polyposis, or under 18 years old with COPD. Do not use if the product appears cloudy, discolored, contains particles, or if the syringe/pen appears damaged.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic (helminth) infection, any other medical conditions including new or worsening eye problems (eye pain or vision changes), if you take corticosteroid medicines (oral, topical, or inhaled), or if you have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or intend to breastfeed while using Dupixent.
Not a rescue medicine: Dupixent is not a rescue medicine and should not be used to treat sudden asthma attacks or sudden COPD attacks (exacerbations).
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Dupixent and affect how it works. It’s important to tell your healthcare provider about all medications you’re taking.
Vaccine precaution: You should not receive certain types of vaccines while taking Dupixent. Tell your doctor if you have recently received a vaccine or plan to receive one.
- Corticosteroid medicines (oral, topical, or inhaled)
- Certain types of vaccines
- Other medicines, vitamins, or supplements bought without prescription
Alcohol & Driving
Dupixent is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol interactions are mentioned in the prescribing information for Dupixent.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Dupixent is unlikely to influence your ability to drive and use machines.
Storage
Keep Dupixent syringes and pens in the refrigerator at 2°C – 8°C before use. If necessary, pre-filled syringes and pens can be kept at room temperature up to 25°C for a maximum of 14 days. Keep in the original carton to protect from light. Do not freeze – discard if frozen. Do not expose to heat or shake. After removal from refrigerator, Dupixent must be used within 14 days or discarded. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you think you have used too much Dupixent, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time it takes for Dupixent to work varies by condition and individual response. Your doctor will assess your progress and determine if Dupixent is appropriate for your condition. It’s important to continue using Dupixent even if you feel well, as continuous use helps control your condition.
No, do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines or change your asthma medicines without talking to your doctor first. For asthma, Dupixent should be used in addition to your existing asthma medicines. Stopping other medications suddenly may cause symptoms that were controlled by those medicines to come back.
If you’re on an every-other-week schedule, give the injection within 7 days of the missed dose, then continue your original schedule. If more than 7 days pass, wait until your next scheduled dose. For every-4-week schedules, give the injection within 7 days of the missed dose and continue your original schedule, or start a new 4-week schedule if more than 7 days have passed.
Yes, but age restrictions apply depending on the condition. For atopic dermatitis, it can be used in children 6 months and older (severe cases) or 12 years and older (moderate to severe cases). For asthma, it’s approved for patients 6 years and older. For other conditions like prurigo nodularis, nasal polyposis, and COPD, it’s only approved for adults 18 years and older.
Keep Dupixent in the refrigerator at 2°C – 8°C in the original carton to protect from light. Do not freeze or shake. If needed, it can be kept at room temperature up to 25°C for maximum 14 days. Remove from refrigerator 45 minutes before injection (300mg) or 30 minutes before injection (200mg) to reach room temperature.
You should not receive certain types of vaccines while taking Dupixent. Tell your doctor if you have recently received a vaccine or plan to receive one so they can advise you appropriately.
For less serious side effects like injection site reactions or eye-related symptoms, speak to your doctor if they worry you. For serious side effects like allergic reactions (shortness of breath, swelling, rash), call your doctor straight away or go to the Emergency Department immediately.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.