Your doctor might recommend Dupixent (dupilumab) as a therapy option for you if you suffer from specific types of eczema, asthma, or sinusitis.
You might be interested in learning more about the drug’s adverse effects in addition to any other queries you may have.
The following conditions are treated with the prescription drug dupixent in both adults and some children:
- mild to severe eczema that is unresponsive to or resistant to treatment with topical prescription medicines.
- Eosinophilic asthma, which is defined as having high amounts of the white blood cells known as eosinophils, or asthma that requires regular therapy with oral corticosteroids.
Adults who use Dupixent are also treated for:
- chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied by nasal polyps that is difficult to cure (Rhinosinusitis is swelling in the nasal passages and sinuses. Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths in the nose.)
Dupixent is a biologic drug, which means that living cells were used in its production. By aiding in the reduction of inflammation, it helps treat the aforementioned illnesses.
Dupixent will be injected under your skin for delivery to you. You can learn how to administer the injections on your own at home from your doctor. If Dupixent helps you and doesn’t have any negative side effects, you’ll probably keep using it.
See this in-depth article for more information on Dupixent, including specifics on its applications.
Dupixent can result in little or major side effects, much like other medications. You can decide if this treatment could be a good choice for you by learning more about these. For more information about the adverse effects of Dupixent, continue reading.
What are some typical Dupixent side effects?
During the course of their Dupixent medication, some patients may have minor or severe adverse effects. Examples of the side effects of Dupixent that are more frequently reported include:
- Reactions at the injection location
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
- Throat or mouth pain
- Herpes simplex
What are Dupixent’s minimal side effects?
Examples of minor adverse effects associated with Dupixent include:
- Reactions at the injection location
- minor adverse effects relating to the eyes, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye) or blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)*
- Herpes simplex
- Joint ache
- Throat or mouth pain
- toothache
- difficulty sleeping
- Gastritis (inflammation in the stomach)
- the eosinophilia (increased numbers of white blood cells called eosinophils)
These side effects should often be transient. Some may also be simple to handle. Conversely, if you experience any persistent or bothersome symptoms, see your doctor or pharmacist. Additionally, unless your doctor advises it, do not discontinue taking Dupixent.
Not all of Dupixent’s side effects are included above. Consult the Dupixent patient information for more details on the side effects of the medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors and reviews a drug’s side effects after giving it its approval. Visit MedWatch to alert the FDA of a side effect you experienced while taking Dupixent.
What are Dupixent’s harmful side effects?
Following are serious side effects associated with Dupixent:
- severe negative effects relating to the eyes*
- Eosinophilic ailments
- An allergic response
See “Side effects explained” below for further information on this side effect.
Call your doctor straight away if you have any severe adverse effects while receiving treatment with Dupixent. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if you believe you are experiencing life-threatening side effects or if you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency.
FAQs regarding the adverse effects of Dupixent
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the adverse effects of Dupixent.
Is Dupixent’s side effect of weight gain?
No, Dupixent does not have a recognised side effect of weight gain. It wasn’t mentioned in the drug’s research. But one typical negative effect of oral steroid medicines is weight gain. These are frequently employed in conjunction with Dupixent to treat severe cases of eczema, asthma, and rhinosinusitis.
Consult your doctor if you’re worried about gaining weight while taking your meds. They can offer advice on how to keep a healthy weight.
Can Dupixent lead to thinning hair?
Dupixent does not have a history of causing hair loss. Studies on this medicine didn’t record this side effect. In fact, Dupixent is being investigated to see if it helps promote hair growth in alopecia areata sufferers.
Hair thinning appears in rounded patches due to the condition alopecia areata. On the scalp or in other areas of the body, it may result in complete hair loss. This disorder develops when an individual’s immune system unintentionally destroys their hair follicles. The immune system protein that Dupixent targets may be connected to alopecia areata.
How long do the adverse effects of Dupixent last? Any of them long-term?
The majority of Dupixent’s minor side effects ought to go away on their own in a few days or weeks. However, some may require medical attention to get better. Consult your doctor if you experience side effects that persist for more than a few weeks despite receiving therapy.
Even with therapy, some serious adverse effects of Dupixent, such as keratitis (corneal inflammation), may persist for a very long time. How well side effects respond to whatever therapies you may use for them will determine how long they last. Consult your doctor if you are uncertain or worried about how long Dupixent’s adverse effects might remain.
Will you have headaches or exhaustion when using Dupixent?
Studies on Dupixent didn’t find any reports of headaches or weariness. However, this does not imply that this medication will not cause these adverse effects. These are typical adverse reactions that might be brought on by numerous drugs. Additionally, they are a prevalent issue for those with chronic illnesses.
As you receive therapy for Dupixent, let your doctor know if you experience persistent headaches or exhaustion. They can investigate the root of the issue and make management suggestions.
Can using Dupixent make you more likely to develop cancer?
That’s unlikely, therefore no. People who take Dupixent don’t have a higher chance of developing cancer, according to studies. Certain immunosuppressant drugs used to treat severe eczema or asthma carry a higher risk of malignancy. Immunosuppressants limit the immune system’s capacity to fight infection, which is your body’s line of defense. These drugs may lessen your body’s capacity to identify and eliminate malignant cells. However, Dupixent does not completely impair your immune system. Only a few immune system proteins are affected. Thus, it is unlikely to interfere with your body’s capacity to identify and eliminate malignant cells.
Possible side effects
Find out more about some potential adverse effects of Dupixent.
Aching joints
While taking Dupixent, some patients may have joint pain. However, only those who used Dupixent for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps were reported to experience this adverse effect in trials, and it wasn’t extremely common.
What may be useful
Discuss management options with your doctor or pharmacist if you experience joint pain while taking Dupixent. For instance, the following treatments could be beneficial:
- putting hot or cold compresses on aching joints
- engaging in light activity, like swimming
- using relaxation methods, such breathing exercises or meditation
Ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter pain medication if you experience persistent joint discomfort. Examples include acetaminophen products like Tylenol and anti-inflammatory gels like Voltaren (diclofenac). But if you have asthma, stay away from taking over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen). “Oral” refers to ingested by mouth.
Adverse effects on the eyes
Side effects from Dupixent are frequently ocular (eye-related). The negative consequences might range from minor to severe. Dupixent has been associated with a few mild eye-related adverse effects, including:
- Eye inflammation (pink eye)
- Blisteritis (eyelid inflammation)
- Arid eyes
- Dry eyes
The following serious adverse effects of Dupixent have been documented:
- Keratosis (inflammation of the cornea)
If keratitis is left untreated, it can impair your vision or lead to other issues including corneal ulcers.
People who used Dupixent for eczema exhibited eye-related adverse effects more frequently than those who used it for other purposes. Compared to other eye-related adverse effects, conjunctivitis was reported more frequently.
Symptoms of adverse effects on the eyes could be:
- Dark eyes
- Itching eyes
- eye drainage
- puffy, crusty eyelids
- a dry eye
- a headache;
- alterations in vision
What may be useful
Consult your doctor before beginning Dupixent medication if you use contacts or have any current eye issues. They can help you decide if Dupixent is the best option for you. They can also offer advice on how to assist prevent adverse effects on the eyes.
If you experience any eye-related symptoms or develop any new or worsening eye conditions while taking Dupixent, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Depending on the symptoms you present, your doctor will examine your eyes and advise a suitable course of treatment.
Eosinophilic circumstances
You may occasionally have more eosinophils in your blood if you use Dupixent. One variety of white blood cell is the eosinophil. Eosinophilia, a disorder marked by an excess of eosinophils, can occasionally result in inflammatory illnesses. Examples of this are vasculitis and the lung disease pneumonia (inflammation of blood vessels).Although uncommon, these problems were noted in persons taking Dupixent to treat asthma in early investigations. As Dupixent relieved the symptoms of their asthma, some patients may have taken less oral steroid medicine, which may have contributed to the problems. Although it’s not known for sure whether Dupixent contributed to these illnesses, “oral” refers to taken by mouth.
These eosinophilic diseases can present with symptoms like:
- A skin rash
- increasing breathlessness
- Chest ache
- fever
- tingling, pins-and-needles, or numbness in the arms or legs
What may be useful?
Visit your doctor as soon as possible if you experience signs of an eosinophilic disease. Your doctor will investigate the origin of your symptoms and, if necessary, recommend a course of action. Do not stop taking an oral steroid medicine or lessen the dosage unless your doctor advises you to.
Responses at the injections
Dupixent therapy may cause responses at the injection site. This was the side effect that persons who received Dupixent for any ailment most frequently reported in trials. The first dose of the medication was when it happened most frequently.
Following an injection with Dupixent, you may have the following symptoms as a result of an injection site reaction:
- Skin colour changes or redness
- pain
- bruising
- swelling
- itching
Typically, injection site responses are minor and resolve in a few days.
What may be useful?
When administering Dupixent to yourself, make sure to inject into a different place each time to help prevent injection site reactions. Rotating injection sites is the term for this. As a reminder, write down the time and the website you visit each time.
Do not inject into skin that is sensitive, bruised, harmed, or scarred. Additionally, avoid rubbing the injection site afterwards. Applying a cold pack to the area where your injection site response is hurting you could assist. If your reaction is severe or doesn’t improve, speak to your doctor right away.
An allergic response
Dupixent, like the majority of medications, can give some users an adverse response. The following symptoms, which can be minor or serious:
- A skin rash
- itchiness
- swishing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
- swollen areas under your skin, commonly on your hands, feet, lips, or eyelids
- Mouth, tongue, or throat swelling that may cause difficulty breathing
What may be useful?
Call your doctor right away if you experience any adverse reaction symptoms, even if they are slight, like a little rash. They might recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine you take orally, like Benadryl, to treat your symptoms (diphenhydramine). Or they might advise a lotion like hydrocortisone that you put on your skin.
If your doctor finds evidence of a minor allergic reaction to Dupixent, they will determine whether you should keep taking it. all 911 or your local emergency number as soon as you have symptoms of a severe allergic response, such as swelling or difficulty breathing. These symptoms might be life-threatening and necessitate prompt medical attention.
Your doctor might recommend switching to an alternative course of therapy if they find out you experienced a severe allergic response to Dupixent.
Warning about Dupixent
If you have specific medical conditions or other circumstances that affect your health, Dupixent might not be the best choice for you. Before beginning Dupixent treatment, discuss your medical history with your doctor. There are a few things to think about listed below.
An allergic response. Dupixent should not be administered to anyone who has previously experienced an adverse reaction to it or any of its constituents. Find out from your doctor which other medications would be best for you.
parasitic diseases. Prior to beginning Dupixent, any parasitic infections, such as a tapeworm infection, should be treated. Call your doctor if you have a parasite infection while taking Dupixent. While still on Dupixent, the infection may be treated. But if the infection persists, you might need to stop taking Dupixent until it goes away.
Vaccines. Your immune system may become compromised in some way if you use Dupixent. Therefore, you should avoid obtaining live vaccines while receiving Dupixent because they may result in infections. (A weaker version of the pathogen the vaccination is intended to protect against is present in a live vaccine.)
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), typhoid, yellow fever, chickenpox, rotavirus, and the nasal spray flu vaccine are some examples of live vaccines. (The flu vaccine given intravenously is not a live vaccine.)
It’s best to catch up on your vaccines before beginning Dupixent medication. Before beginning therapy, discuss any immunizations you might require with your doctor. Enhanced or new joint discomfort. A adverse effect of Dupixent therapy may include joint pain.
Additionally, Dupixent may exacerbate existing joint pain. Inform your doctor if you have a history of joint discomfort or if it gets worse or new during treatment with Dupixent.
If your symptoms don’t improve, they can advise you to stop taking Dupixent or consult a doctor.
Attacks of asthma. Dupixent should not be used to treat asthma attacks or breathing issues. You may experience fewer and less severe asthma attacks thanks to this treatment. However, it won’t help to stop an asthma attack.
Dupixent and drinking
Dupixent and alcohol don’t appear to interact or change the likelihood of side effects. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about drinking alcohol while taking Dupixent.
Breastfeeding while taking Dupixent during pregnancy
If Dupixent is safe to use while pregnant is unknown. Additionally, it is unknown if Dupixent can harm a nursing infant or if it goes into breast milk. Discuss the potential dangers and advantages of getting Dupixent with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Additionally, let them know if you are currently breastfeeding or plan to do so. You may want to sign up for the drug’s pregnancy registry if you take Dupixent while you are expecting. A pregnancy registry keeps track of the wellbeing of women who use a specific medication while pregnant.
What to ask your physician?
There are some typical adverse effects of dupixent, however they are typically minor and manageable. This drug doesn’t have a lot of severe adverse effects. Speak with your doctor if you want to learn more about the potential adverse effects of Dupixent. They can assist you in determining whether this drug is a viable choice for you.
You could want to ask things like the following, for instance:
- Can Dupixent adverse effects result from quitting treatment?
- How may Dupixent negative effects on the eyes be avoided?
- Can Dupixent aggravate asthma?
- Do I require any vaccinations before beginning Dupixent?
Disclaimer: Nouveau Santé has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information in this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider. The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.