Dupixent
Dupixent (dupilumab) is an injection that helps treat certain inflammatory conditions. This includes eczema, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), among others. It's a biologic medication known as an interleukin antagonist that lowers inflammation. Dupixent (dupilumab) comes as prefilled pens and prefilled syringes. It's injected under the skin of the belly or thighs (or in the back of the upper arm with someone's help). The dosing schedule depends on the condition you have, your age, and your weight. It's injected either every week, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks. Side effects include injection site reactions and eye problems.
What is Dupixent (dupilumab)?
What is Dupixent (dupilumab) used for?
- Moderate-to-severe eczema - for people 6 months and older
- Moderate-to-severe asthma - add-on maintenance for people 6 years and older
- Long-term sinus congestion with nasal polyps - add-on maintenance for people 12 years and older
- Eosinophilic esophagitis - for people 1 year and older
- Prurigo nodularis (long-term itchy skin bumps) - for adults
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - add-on maintenance for adults
- Long-term hives - for people 12 years and older
How Dupixent (dupilumab) works
Dupixent (dupilumab) is a type of monoclonal antibody. More specifically, it's an interleukin antagonist. It works by blocking proteins in your immune system called interleukins. These proteins play a role in causing inflammation (redness and swelling) in the body.
By blocking these proteins, Dupixent (dupilumab) helps calm down the immune system. This can ease symptoms of certain immune-related conditions.
Drug facts
Side effects of Dupixent (dupilumab)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Injection site reaction (e.g., pain, swelling, bruising; 10%)
- Eye redness or eye inflammation (10%)
- Cold sores (4%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Itchy eye
- Dry eye
- Eyelid inflammation
- Corneal inflammation
- Other herpes infection (e.g., genital herpes)
Note: Side effects were reported by adults with eczema using Dupixent (dupilumab) by itself. Side effects might differ for people with other conditions and for children.
Dupixent (dupilumab) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reactions: trouble breathing; rash; fever; swelling in your face, lips, or tongue; fast heartbeat; nausea; vomiting
More on Dupixent (dupilumab) side effects
The following Dupixent (dupilumab) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge with blurry or decreased vision
- Unusual weakness or fatigue, fever, headache, skin rash, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite, pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Cold sores
- Dry eyes
- Joint pain
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Sore throat
- Trouble sleeping
Get your GoodRx coupon
Pros and cons of Dupixent (dupilumab)
Pros
- Taken every other week or monthly for most conditions
- Approved for some children (specific age depends on the condition)
- Available as prefilled pens (for people ages 2 years and older)
- Available as prefilled syringes (for people ages 6 months and older)
Cons
- Given as an injection under the skin
- Not used for helping with asthma attacks
- Can cause injection reactions, such as pain, bruising, and swelling
- Unknown if it's safe or works well while pregnant or breastfeeding
Pharmacist tips for Dupixent (dupilumab)
- Don't inject Dupixent (dupilumab) by yourself until your healthcare team shows you how. They'll make sure you know how to do it safely before you inject at home. If you have questions, ask your prescriber or pharmacist.
- Double check your Dupixent (dupilumab) dose, particularly your first dose. For many people, the first dose will be higher than the rest of your doses. This means that you might need two injections in a row at different spots for your first dose. Check with your prescriber if you're not sure.
- Check with your prescriber or pharmacist about how often to inject Dupixent (dupilumab). After your first dose, it's injected either every week, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks. This depends on your age, weight, and medical condition. Set up reminders on your calendar or phone to help you remember when to inject it.
- If you miss a dose and forget to inject Dupixent (dupilumab), check the instructions or ask your care team about what to do. It depends on how often you're using the medication and how many days it's been since you were supposed to inject.
- It can take a few weeks for your symptoms to improve with Dupixent (dupilumab). And it can be a few months before you see the full benefits from the medication. If you've been taking Dupixent (dupilumab) for a while and don't think it's working, talk to your prescriber.
- The spot where you inject Dupixent (dupilumab) might get red, swollen, sore, or itchy. This can happen a couple hours after the injection, but they usually go away in 1 or 2 days. To help manage reactions, try warm or cold compresses or over-the-counter pain relievers. But if they get worse or don't go away, tell your care team.
- Before getting any vaccines, tell the healthcare professional you're taking Dupixent (dupilumab). They'll make sure the vaccine is safe for you. Avoid live vaccines, like the nasal flu vaccine, while taking this medication. We don't know if it affects how well live vaccines work or how safe they are during treatment.
- Don't change or stop taking any of your other medications without talking to your prescriber first. This is especially important for people with breathing problems so asthma or COPD stays under control. It's also important for people who take corticosteroids (oral, topical, or inhaled). Suddenly stopping or changing how you take steroids can cause bothersome withdrawal symptoms.
Tips on how to use and how to inject Dupixent (dupilumab)
- How to store Dupixent (dupilumab): Store the medication in the refrigerator in its original container, away from light. Don't let it freeze, though. If needed, you can also keep the medication at room temperature (up to 77ºF) for up to 14 days until you need to throw it out.
- Before your Dupixent (dupilumab) injection: Take the medication out of the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before injecting. For prefilled syringes, wait 30 minutes. And for prefilled pens, wait 45 minutes. Don't warm it up another way, like in the microwave, direct sunlight, or other sources of heat. Wash your hands with soap and warm water and wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab.
- Where to inject Dupixent (dupilumab): Inject the medication under the skin in the thigh or stomach (at least 2 inches away from the belly button). You can also inject it into the fatty area in the back of your upper arm with a caregiver's help. Pick a different spot to inject each time (including if you need two injections for your first dose). Don't inject into skin that's bruised, tender, hard, scarred, or damaged. This helps avoid skin irritation.
- How to inject using the Dupixent prefilled syringe: 1) Take off the needle cap. 2) Pinch the skin and insert the needle into the skin at a 45-degree angle. 3) Let go of the pinch and slowly push the plunger down until all the medication is gone. 4) Let go of the plunger. The needle will go into the needle shield.
- How to inject using the Dupixent prefilled pen: 1) Pull off the green cap, and place the yellow needle cover against the skin at a 90-degree angle. 2) Press down until you can't see the yellow needle cover anymore. Hold the pen in place for the whole injection. 3) When the injection starts, you'll hear a click and see the window on the pen start to turn yellow. 4) When the window turns yellow all the way, you'll hear another click. Then, count to 5 before lifting the pen straight up.
- How to throw away Dupixent (dupilumab): After each injection, throw away used syringes, needles, and pens in a sharps disposal container. Don't throw them away in the regular trash. This helps people from getting hurt by needle sticks.
How to save using GoodRx
Common questions about Dupixent (dupilumab)
Risks and warnings for Dupixent (dupilumab)
Dupixent (dupilumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reactions
Some people have had allergic reactions to Dupixent (dupilumab). These reactions can include anaphylaxis and can sometimes be life-threatening. Watch for signs like a rash, fever, feeling unwell, dizziness, and joint pain. Also look out for swelling in your face, lips, tongue, or throat and trouble breathing. Get medical help right away if this happens while taking Dupixent (dupilumab).
Eye inflammation
People who take Dupixent (dupilumab) can sometimes have eye inflammation. If you have blurry vision, pink eye, itchy eye, watery eye, eye pain, or sensitivity to light, tell your care team. Your prescriber can give you medications to help with these side effects. In some cases, you might need to get an eye exam to make sure your cornea isn't also inflamed.
Other inflammation in the body
- Risk factors: Asthma | Suddenly stopping or lowering the dose of oral steroids
Dupixent (dupilumab) can cause a rise in certain white blood cells called eosinophils. These cells are part of the immune system that help the body fight infections. But when there's too much in the body, they can cause inflammation in different parts of the body. This can include the lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, or nerves, among others.
This has happened in some people taking Dupixent (dupilumab) for asthma. It might also happen when people stop their oral steroids. If you're taking steroids (e.g., pills, creams, inhalers), keep using them as instructed by your prescriber. Stopping them suddenly can also cause withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous.
Tell your care team if you have a rash, chest pain, trouble breathing, numbness, a tingling feeling, or fever. They can check what's going on and manage these problems.
Risk of worsening of breathing problems in people with asthma or COPD
- Risk factors: Using Dupixent (dupilumab) during asthma or COPD attacks
Don't use Dupixent (dupilumab) for asthma or COPD attacks. It doesn't work quickly to help you breathe. Use your rescue inhaler, like albuterol (ProAir), for quick relief.
Keep taking your other asthma or COPD medications as prescribed. Don't change or stop them without talking to your prescriber first.
If your medications aren't helping with wheezing or shortness of breath, get medical help right away. You might need additional medications to help with your symptoms. Also, tell your prescriber if your breathing gets worse after starting Dupixent (dupilumab). Your prescriber can check if you need other treatment.
Risk of psoriasis
Some people who took Dupixent (dupilumab) for eczema or asthma developed a skin condition called psoriasis. This can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Sometimes, some or all the psoriasis symptoms went away as they kept taking the medication or after stopping.
Watch for new skin problems like thick, scaly, or red patches. Talk to a healthcare professional if this happens. You might need treatment for your skin. And if that doesn't help, you might need to stop taking Dupixent (dupilumab).
Joint pain and psoriatic arthritis
Some people who took Dupixent (dupilumab) had joint pain. Some also had trouble walking or moving. And a few people developed psoriatic arthritis.
Joint pain happened anytime from days to months after starting Dupixent (dupilumab). For some, symptoms went away as they continued taking the medication. And for others, they went away after stopping treatment.
Talk to your prescriber if you have any discomfort in your joints while taking Dupixent (dupilumab). Your care team can check what's going on and help you manage these symptoms.
Unknown effect in people with parasitic worm infections
It's not clear if Dupixent (dupilumab) affects how the body fights off parasitic worm infections. Before starting treatment, tell your prescriber if you have a worm infection. You'll need to treat it first.
In rare cases, some children with asthma who took Dupixent (dupilumab) got pinworm or roundworm infections during studies. Tell your care team if you notice fever, weight loss, diarrhea, or itching. These could be signs of a worm infection, which should get treated. Sometimes, you might have to stop Dupixent (dupilumab) until the infection goes away.
Interaction with vaccines
Before starting Dupixent (dupilumab), talk to your healthcare team about your vaccine history. It's a good idea to be up to date on all your vaccines before treatment. Then, tell your prescriber, pharmacist, or nurse you're taking this medication so they can check that a vaccine is safe for you.
We don't completely know how Dupixent (dupilumab) affects vaccines. But it's possible that it can interact with vaccines because it affects the immune system. The medication might make some vaccines not work as well or be less safe for you. These vaccines include live vaccines, like MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine). Avoid live vaccines while taking Dupixent (dupilumab).
Dupixent (dupilumab) dosage
Carton| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 syringes of 300mg/2ml | 2 cartons | $3,674.21 | $1,837.11 |
| 2 syringes of 200mg/1.14ml | 1 carton | $3,247.12 | $3,247.12 |
| 2 pens of 300mg/2ml | 2 cartons | $3,846.56 | $1,923.28 |
| 2 pens of 200mg/1.14ml | 1 carton | $3,228.05 | $3,228.05 |
| 2 syringes of 100mg/0.67ml | 1 carton | $2,576.70 | $2,576.70 |
Typical dosage for Dupixent (dupilumab)
-
- People ages 6 years or older weighing 60 kg or more: The starting dose is 600 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 300 mg injected every 2 weeks.
- Children ages 6 to 17 years old
- Weighing 30 kg to less than 60 kg: The starting dose is 400 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 200 mg injected every 2 weeks.
- Weighing 15 kg to less than 30 kg: The starting dose is 600 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 300 mg injected every 4 weeks.
- Children ages 6 months to 5 years old
- Weighing 15 kg to less than 30 kg: The typical dose is 300 mg injected under the skin every 4 weeks.
- Weighing 5 kg to less than 15 kg: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin every 4 weeks.
-
- Your dose depends on your other health conditions and medications.
- People ages 12 years and older: There are two typical dosing options. An option is 400 mg injected under the skin once, then 200 mg injected every 2 weeks. The other option is 600 mg injected under the skin once, then 300 mg injected every 2 weeks.
- Children ages 6 to 11 years old
- Weighing 30 kg or more: The typical dose is 200 mg injected under the skin every 2 weeks.
- Weighing 15 kg to less than 30 kg: The typical dose is 300 mg injected under the skin every 4 weeks.
-
Sinus congestion with nasal polyps
- People ages 12 years and older: The typical dose is 300 mg injected under the skin every 2 weeks.
-
- People weighing 40 kg or more: The typical dose is 300 mg under the skin every week.
- People weighing 30 kg to less than 40 kg: The typical dose is 300 mg under the skin every 2 weeks.
- Children age 1 year and older weighing 15 kg to less than 30 kg: The typical dose is 200 mg under the skin every 2 weeks.
-
- Adults: The starting dose is 600 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 300 mg injected every 2 weeks.
-
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Adults: The typical dose is 300 mg injected under the skin every 2 weeks.
-
- People 12 years and older weighing 60 kg or more: The typical dose is 600 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 300 mg injected every 2 weeks.
- Children 12 years and older weighing 30 kg to less than 60 kg: The typical dose is 400 mg injected under the skin once. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 200 mg injected every 2 weeks.
More on Dupixent (dupilumab) dosage
How much does Dupixent (dupilumab) cost?
$2,576.70
What are alternatives to Dupixent (dupilumab)?
News about Dupixent (dupilumab)
Dupixent (dupilumab) images
