Dupixent Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide for Eczema, Asthma, and More
Key takeaways:
Dupixent (dupilumab) is a prescription medication approved for inflammatory health conditions such as eczema and asthma. It comes in a pre-filled syringe and injection pen.
Dupixent is injected under the skin weekly, every other week, or monthly. Your specific Dupixent dose and injection frequency depends on the condition being treated.
You’ll receive the first Dupixent dose from a healthcare professional in a medical setting. After that, you or your caregiver may be able to administer Dupixent injections at home.
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Table of contents
If you or your child are living with an inflammatory health condition, such as asthma or eczema, your healthcare team may prescribe Dupixent (dupilumab). It’s an injectable medication that you’ll initially receive in your prescriber’s office. After that, you or your caregiver may be able to administer Dupixent at home.
How much and how often you inject Dupixent depends on what you’re treating. For children, their age and body weight can also be a factor. Below, we cover typical Dupixent dosages for adults and children and what to do if you miss a dose.
Dupixent dosage forms
Dupixent comes in two different dosage forms: a pre-filled syringe or a pre-filled injection pen. Both options are available in 200 mg and 300 mg doses. Both the syringe and pen are stored in the refrigerator. After it’s removed from the refrigerator, Dupixent must be used within 14 days.
Pre-filled syringe | Pre-filled pen |
|---|---|
1 syringe = 1 dose | 1 pen = 1 dose |
Approved for 6 months and older | Approved for 2 years and older |
Has a finger grip and plunger to inject | Single barrel pen with visual and “click” feedback to inject |
Needle is visible during injection | Needle is hidden by cap during injection |
No matter the dosage form, Dupixent is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) in one of three places: abdomen (at least 2 inches from the belly button), thigh, or upper arm. A caregiver should administer an upper arm dose since it’s a more difficult spot to reach.
What’s the typical Dupixent dosage for adults?
The typical Dupixent dosage for adults depends on which health condition you’re treating. Oftentimes, you’ll start treatment with a higher initial dose. This is referred to as a loading dose. Then, you’ll continue therapy with a lower maintenance dose.
Moderate-to-severe eczema
For moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis), the initial Dupixent dose for adults is 600 mg, given as two 300 mg doses. After that, the maintenance dosage is 300 mg injected every other week.
Moderate-to-severe asthma
For moderate-to-severe asthma in adults, your Dupixent dosage may depend on your asthma severity and other health conditions being treated. The manufacturer recommends the following options:
Option 1: 400 mg (given as two 200 mg doses), followed by 200 mg every other week
Option 2: 600 mg (given as two 300 mg doses), followed by 300 mg every other week
If you need oral steroids to manage your asthma, or if you also have other health conditions managed by Dupixent, you may be prescribed the higher Dupixent dosage. Your prescriber will determine which option is appropriate for you.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
For chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adults, the typical Dupixent dosage is 300 mg injected every other week. There’s no recommended loading dose for this use.
Eosinophilic esophagitis
For eosinophilic esophagitis, the typical Dupixent dosage for adults is 300 mg injected once weekly. This is based on having a body weight 40 kg (88 lbs) or more. If you weigh less than 40 kg, you may be told to inject Dupixent every other week. No loading dose is required.
Prurigo nodularis
For prurigo nodularis, the typical Dupixent dosage for adults is 600 mg, given as two 300 mg doses. This is followed by a maintenance dosage of 300 mg injected every other week.
What’s the typical Dupixent dosage for children?
In addition to adults, Dupixent is also approved for use in children ages 6 months and older. The typical Dupixent dosage for children is based on the health condition being treated. Your child’s body weight may also be considered when determining their dosage.
Moderate-to-severe eczema
For moderate-to-severe eczema in children, the typical Dupixent dosage depends on their age and weight.
Dosage for children ages 6 months to 5 years old:
Body weight (lbs) | Loading dose | Maintenance dose |
|---|---|---|
11 lbs to less than 33 lbs | No loading dose | 200 mg every 4 weeks |
33 lbs to less than 66 lbs | No loading dose | 300 mg every 4 weeks |
Dosage for children ages 6 to 17 years old:
Body weight (lbs) | Loading dose | Maintenance dose |
|---|---|---|
33 lbs to less than 66 lbs | 600 mg (two 300 mg doses) | 300 mg every 4 weeks |
66 lbs to below 132 lbs | 400 mg (two 200 mg doses) | 200 mg every 2 weeks |
132 lbs or more | 600 mg (two 300 mg doses) | 300 mg every 2 weeks |
Moderate-to-severe asthma
For children ages 12 and older, the typical Dupixent dosage for moderate-to-severe asthma is the same as adults. For children ages 6 to 11 years old, the Dupixent dosage depends on their body weight. There’s no recommended loading dose for this age group.
Body weight (lbs) | Loading dose | Maintenance dose |
|---|---|---|
33 lbs to less than 66 lbs | No loading dose | 300 mg every 4 weeks |
66 lbs or more | No loading dose | 200 mg every 2 weeks |
Children ages 6 to 11 years old receiving Dupixent for asthma and eczema will receive the dosage schedule for eczema, which includes a loading dose.
What happens if you miss a dose of Dupixent?
If you miss a dose of Dupixent, the first step is to recall your last dose. What to do next depends on whether you inject the medication weekly, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks.
Missed weekly dose: Give yourself the Dupixent injection as soon as possible. Restart your weekly injections from the day you injected the missed dose. For example, if you miss your usual Sunday dose and inject it on Tuesday, you’ll now inject your weekly dose every Tuesday.
Missed every 2 week dose: Give the Dupixent injection within 7 days of the missed dose. Resume your normal injections. But if it has been more than 7 days since the missed dose, wait to inject Dupixent on the next scheduled date.
Missed every 4 week dose: Give the Dupixent injection within 7 days of the missed dose. Resume your normal injections. But if it has been more than 7 days since the missed dose, inject Dupixent and begin injecting every 4 weeks from that date.
Your healthcare team may have provided specific instructions for what to do if you miss your dose. Be sure to follow their directions if they’re different from above.
What should you do if you inject too much Dupixent?
If you inject too much Dupixent, contact your prescriber right away. They will assess if the dose you’ve injected warrants a follow-up. It’s possible that too much Dupixent may result in a higher likelihood of side effects.
You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. If you have any symptoms that feel life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
The bottom line
The typical Dupixent (dupilumab) dosage depends on the health condition being treated, age, and body weight. You’ll typically receive the first dose in a medical setting. After that, you may be able to administer Dupixent at home. The injections are given weekly, every other week, or monthly using a prefilled syringe or injection pen.
Talk to your healthcare team if you have any questions about your Dupixent dosage.
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References
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2023). Nasal polyps.
Mullins, T. B., et al. (2022). Prurigo nodularis. StatPearls.
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