Dupixent (dupilumab) injections: Uses, side effects, dosage, and cost

Will I be able to get vaccines while I’m using Dupixent?

It depends. You should not get any live vaccines while using Dupixent. Live vaccines contain a small amount of a virus or bacterium, so your body can learn to fight it., You should not receive live vaccines while using Dupixent, as it may reduce your immune response. If this happens, your body may not respond properly to the vaccine, and you may become sick., However, it is typically safe to receive inactive vaccines during Dupixent treatment. Inactive vaccines do not contain live viruses or bacteria. Examples include the flu shot (injected form of the flu vaccine) and the COVID-19 vaccine., Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what vaccines you may need. It’s best to get certain vaccines before starting Dupixent.

Will I still need to use topical treatments for my skin condition if I’m using Dupixent?

You might. Often, people use Dupixent along with topical corticosteroids that they apply to their skin to treat atopic dermatitis. Topical corticosteroids can help treat problem areas that already exist. Dupixent works inside your body by reducing the inflammation that causes atopic dermatitis., Some examples of topical corticosteroids include:, hydrocortisone, fluocinonide, triamcinolone (Kenalog), desoximetasone (Topicort)

Key takeaways

• Dupixent (dupilumab) is a biologic medication approved by the FDA to help treat several chronic inflammatory conditions, including eczema, asthma, and COPD.
• It comes in prefilled syringes and prefilled pens for subcutaneous injection. It’s typically administered every 1, 2, or 4 weeks.
• Common side effects may include injection site reactions, eye problems like dry or itchy eyes and blepharitis, throat pain, and joint pain. Serious side effects can include eosinophilic conditions, psoriasis, and allergic reactions.

Dupixent (“doo-PICKS-ent”) is a prescription medication used to treat a number of chronic inflammatory conditions, including eczema, asthma, and COPD.

It belongs to a group of biologic medications called monoclonal antibodies. No biosimilar versions of Dupixent are available at this time.

Dupixent comes as a liquid solution in prefilled syringes and pens for subcutaneous injection.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer of Dupixent.

Key terms

• Biologic medications (“biologics”) are complex drugs made from natural, living sources. Biologics can be composed of proteins, sugars, nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), or a combination of these substances. They also may contain living entities, such as cells and tissues.

• Human monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that mimic natural antibodies in the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infections.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent for use to help treat the following conditions in certain situations:

• atopic dermatitis in adults and children ages 6 months and older
• eosinophilic asthma or oral corticosteroid-dependent asthma in adults and children ages 6 years and older
• eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children ages 1 year and older who weigh at least 15 kilograms (kg), or about 33 pounds (lb)
• chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in adults and children ages 12 years and older when prescribed with another medication
• prurigo nodularis in adults
• eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults when prescribed with another COPD treatment
• chronic spontaneous urticaria in adults and children ages 12 years and older, when a certain type of medication has not worked
• bullous pemphigoid in adults
• allergic fungal rhinosinusitis in certain adults and children ages 6 years and older

Note: For asthma, rescue inhalers should still be used as needed to treat asthma attack symptoms, such as difficulty breathing. You should not use Dupixent to treat a sudden asthma attack.

Dupixent blocks certain interleukins that can cause inflammation in your body. (Interleukins are a type of protein involved in the immune system response.) By blocking these interleukins, Dupixent reduces inflammation. This can make symptoms of your condition more manageable.

Dupixent can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some key Dupixent side effects that may occur during treatment. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on managing any side effects that concern or bother you.

Mild side effects

The following list highlights some mild side effects of Dupixent. These side effects can vary depending on the condition the drug is used to treat. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or see Dupixent’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Dupixent can include:

• injection site reactions
• throat pain
• flare-up of existing oral herpes, causing cold sores, or flare-up of other existing herpes infections
• dry or itchy eyes
• mild conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
• insomnia
• toothache
• joint pain
• gastritis (inflammation in your stomach)
• eosinophilia (increase in a type of white blood cell)
• dizziness
• diarrhea
• muscle pain

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. If they are more severe or do not go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Dupixent are not common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• Eosinophilic conditions, including pneumonia and vasculitis. Symptoms can include: fever
• fever
• Psoriasis. Symptoms can include: buildup of silvery scales called plaques on your skin itchiness skin discoloration
• buildup of silvery scales called plaques on your skin
• itchiness
• skin discoloration
• Psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms can include: joint pain joint stiffness swollen fingers skin lesions
• joint pain
• joint stiffness
• swollen fingers
• skin lesions

This list does not include all potential serious side effects of Dupixent. For more details, see Dupixent’s prescribing information.

The Dupixent dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the type and severity of the condition you’re using Dupixent to treat
• your age
• body weight in children
• other medical conditions you may have

For some of the conditions Dupixent helps treat in adults, treatment starts with a loading dose. With a loading dose, or starting dose, you receive a higher dose of medication as the first dose of treatment. This loading dose helps the drug start working quickly.

After a loading dose, you receive one maintenance (ongoing) dose every other week. This helps maintain a consistent level of medication in your body so it can be effective.

As with all medications, the cost of Dupixent can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Dupixent or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A program called Dupixent MyWay is available for this drug. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-DUPIXENT (844-387-4936) or visit the program website.

If you can become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are using birth control, it’s important to consider whether Dupixent is a safe choice for you.

It’s unknown whether it’s safe to take Dupixent during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Learn more about Dupixent and reproductive health.

Like most drugs, Dupixent has certain interactions. An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.

Before starting Dupixent treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with live vaccines

Dupixent is known to interact with live vaccines. As such, it’s important not to receive any live vaccines while using Dupixent.

Before starting Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need. You should get any live vaccines you need before you start Dupixent.

Examples of live vaccines you should avoid during Dupixent treatment include:

• measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• chickenpox
• rotavirus

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Dupixent. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while using Dupixent. If you drink alcohol and have questions about how much is safe to consume while using Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

This drug comes with several precautions. Before using Dupixent, discuss your health history with your doctor. Dupixent may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• new or worsening eye conditions
• parasitic infections, such as tapeworm infections
• recent vaccination or planned vaccination with a live vaccine, such as chickenpox and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• asthma attacks
• acute (sudden) flare-ups of COPD symptoms
• a family history of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis
• previous allergic reaction to this drug or a similar one
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding

It depends. You should not get any live vaccines while using Dupixent. Live vaccines contain a small amount of a virus or bacterium, so your body can learn to fight it.

You should not receive live vaccines while using Dupixent, as it may reduce your immune response. If this happens, your body may not respond properly to the vaccine, and you may become sick.

However, it is typically safe to receive inactive vaccines during Dupixent treatment. Inactive vaccines do not contain live viruses or bacteria. Examples include the flu shot (injected form of the flu vaccine) and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what vaccines you may need. It’s best to get certain vaccines before starting Dupixent.

You might. Often, people use Dupixent along with topical corticosteroids that they apply to their skin to treat atopic dermatitis. Topical corticosteroids can help treat problem areas that already exist. Dupixent works inside your body by reducing the inflammation that causes atopic dermatitis.

Some examples of topical corticosteroids include:

• hydrocortisone
• fluocinonide
• triamcinolone (Kenalog)
• desoximetasone (Topicort)

Dupixent (dupilumab) is a prescription injection used to treat inflammatory conditions like eczema, asthma, and nasal polyps. It works by blocking specific proteins in the immune system that cause swelling and irritation. While the medication helps many patients manage long-term symptoms, it can cause side effects such as injection site reactions, cold sores, or eye redness. Doctors determine the correct dosage based on a patient’s age and weight, typically scheduling shots every one to four weeks. Because Dupixent is a brand-name biologic drug, it can be expensive, but insurance and financial assistance programs can help reduce the cost.

Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.