Dupixent

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.

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.