When you have sure sorts of eczema, asthma, or sinusitis, your physician would possibly counsel Dupixent (dupilumab) as a therapy possibility for you. Together with different questions you’ll have in regards to the drug, you would be questioning about its unwanted effects.
Dupixent is a prescription medicine that’s used to deal with the next circumstances in adults and sure kids:
- average to extreme eczema that’s not responding nicely to or can’t be handled with prescription drugs utilized to the pores and skin
- average to extreme asthma that’s eosinophilic (entails excessive ranges of white blood cells referred to as eosinophils) or wants common therapy with corticosteroids taken by mouth
Dupixent can also be utilized in adults to deal with:
Dupixent is a biologic medication, which suggests it’s made utilizing residing cells. It treats the circumstances listed above by serving to to scale back inflammation.
You’ll obtain Dupixent by an injection under your skin. Your physician can train you how you can give your self the injections at house. If Dupixent works for you with out inflicting troublesome unwanted effects, you’ll probably use it long run.
For extra details about Dupixent, together with particulars about its makes use of, see this in-depth article.
Like different medication, Dupixent could cause gentle or critical unwanted effects. Realizing extra about these will help you determine if this therapy could also be an excellent possibility for you. Maintain studying to study extra about Dupixent’s unwanted effects.
Some folks could expertise gentle or critical unwanted effects throughout their Dupixent therapy. Examples of Dupixent’s extra generally reported unwanted effects embrace:
* To study extra about this facet impact, see “Negative effects defined” beneath.
† To study extra about this facet impact, see “Eye-related unwanted effects” underneath “Negative effects defined” beneath.
Examples of gentle unwanted effects which were reported with Dupixent embrace:
* To study extra about this facet impact, see “Negative effects defined” beneath.
Usually, these unwanted effects ought to be momentary. And a few could also be simply managed, too. However when you have any signs which are ongoing or that hassle you, speak together with your physician or pharmacist. And don’t cease utilizing Dupixent until your physician recommends it.
The record above doesn’t embrace all unwanted effects of Dupixent. For extra info on the drug’s unwanted effects, see the Dupixent patient information.
Notice: After the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and evaluations unwanted effects of the medicine. In the event you’d prefer to notify the FDA a few facet impact you’ve had with Dupixent, go to MedWatch.
Severe unwanted effects which were reported with Dupixent embrace:
* To study extra about this facet impact, see “Negative effects defined” beneath.
In the event you develop critical unwanted effects throughout Dupixent therapy, name your physician instantly. If the unwanted effects appear life threatening or if you happen to suppose you’re having a medical emergency, instantly name 911 or your native emergency quantity.
Listed below are the solutions to some ceaselessly requested questions on Dupixent’s unwanted effects.
Is weight acquire a facet impact of Dupixent?
No, weight acquire isn’t a identified facet impact of Dupixent. It wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.
Nonetheless, weight acquire is a standard facet impact of steroid drugs taken by mouth. These are sometimes used to deal with extreme eczema, asthma, and rhinosinusitis, which Dupixent additionally treats.
In the event you’re involved about weight acquire with the drugs you’re taking, speak together with your physician. They will counsel methods to keep up a wholesome weight.
Can Dupixent trigger hair loss?
No, Dupixent isn’t identified to trigger hair loss. This facet impact wasn’t reported in studies of this medicine. In actual fact, Dupixent is underneath study to see if it might assist with hair progress in individuals who have alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a situation that causes hair to fall out in spherical patches. It may well result in complete hair loss on the scalp or different elements of the physique.
This situation happens when an individual’s immune system assaults their hair follicles by mistake. Dupixent works on an immune system protein that could be concerned in alopecia areata.
How lengthy do Dupixent’s unwanted effects final? Are any long run?
Most gentle unwanted effects of Dupixent ought to get higher on their very own inside a couple of days or a few weeks. However some may have therapy to assist them clear up. When you have unwanted effects that last more than a few weeks regardless of therapy, speak together with your physician.
Some critical unwanted effects of Dupixent, similar to keratitis (irritation of the cornea), could final a very long time, even with therapy. Precisely how lengthy unwanted effects final will depend upon how they reply to any therapies it’s possible you’ll use for them.
When you have questions or issues about how lengthy Dupixent’s unwanted effects could final, speak together with your physician.
Will utilizing Dupixent offer you complications or make you are feeling fatigued?
Complications and fatigue weren’t reported in studies of Dupixent. However that’s to not say these unwanted effects gained’t occur with this drug. These are frequent unwanted effects that may be brought on by many drugs. And so they’re additionally a standard drawback in folks with long-term circumstances.
When you have troublesome complications or fatigue throughout Dupixent therapy, speak together with your physician. They will search for the trigger and suggest methods to handle the issue.
Can utilizing Dupixent enhance your danger for most cancers?
No, that’s not going. Studies haven’t discovered any elevated danger of most cancers in individuals who obtain Dupixent.
There may be an elevated danger of most cancers with sure immunosuppressant medications used to deal with extreme eczema or bronchial asthma. Immunosuppressants weaken your immune system, which is your physique’s protection towards illness. These drugs can cut back your physique’s capability to seek out and kill cancerous cells.
However Dupixent doesn’t weaken your complete immune system. It solely impacts a few immune system proteins. So it’s unlikely to have an effect on your physique’s capability to seek out and destroy cancerous cells.
Be taught extra about among the unwanted effects Dupixent could trigger.
Joint ache
Some folks could have joint pain whereas receiving Dupixent. However in studies, this facet impact was reported solely in individuals who took Dupixent for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.* And it wasn’t notably frequent.
* Rhinosinusitis is swelling within the nasal passages and sinuses. Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths within the nostril.
What would possibly assist
When you have joint ache whereas receiving Dupixent, speak together with your physician or pharmacist about methods to handle this. For instance, among the following treatments could assist:
- making use of hot or cold packs to affected joints
- getting light train, similar to swimming
- working towards rest methods, similar to meditation or respiration workout routines
When you have troublesome joint ache, ask your pharmacist to suggest an over-the-counter ache reliever. Examples embrace Tylenol (acetaminophen) and anti inflammatory gels, similar to Voltaren (diclofenac). Nonetheless, when you have asthma, keep away from taking oral anti-inflammatories similar to Advil (ibuprofen). (“Oral” means taken by mouth.)
Eye-related unwanted effects
Dupixent generally causes ocular (eye-related) unwanted effects. These unwanted effects could be gentle or critical.
Delicate eye-related unwanted effects which were reported with Dupixent embrace:
Severe eye-related unwanted effects which were reported with Dupixent embrace:
If keratitis isn’t handled, it might injury your eyesight or trigger different issues, similar to corneal ulcers.
In studies, eye-related unwanted effects have been extra frequent in individuals who took Dupixent for eczema than for different makes use of. Conjunctivitis was reported extra typically than different eye-related unwanted effects.
Signs of eye-related unwanted effects could embrace:
What would possibly assist
In the event you put on contact lenses or have any present eye issues, speak together with your physician earlier than beginning Dupixent therapy. They will advise you as as to whether Dupixent is best for you. They will additionally counsel methods to assist keep away from eye-related unwanted effects.
Throughout Dupixent therapy, see your physician instantly when you have eye-related signs or any new or worsening eye issues. Your physician will verify your eyes and suggest an acceptable therapy, relying on the signs you could have.
Eosinophilic circumstances
Dupixent can typically enhance the variety of eosinophils in your blood. Eosinophils are a sort of white blood cell.
When you have too many eosinophils (a situation referred to as eosinophilia), this may typically trigger inflammatory conditions. Examples of those embrace pneumonia (a lung situation) and vasculitis (irritation of blood vessels).
Though uncommon, in early studies of Dupixent, these circumstances have been reported in individuals who took the drug to deal with bronchial asthma. The circumstances could have been associated to folks taking a decrease dosage of oral steroid drugs as Dupixent eased their bronchial asthma signs. (“Oral” means taken by mouth.) However it’s not identified for certain if these circumstances have been brought on by Dupixent.
Signs of those eosinophilic circumstances could embrace:
- skin rash
- worsening shortness of breath
- chest pain
- fever
- sensations of tingling, prickling or numbness within the arms or legs
What would possibly assist
When you have signs of eosinophilic circumstances, see your physician instantly. Your physician will look into the reason for your signs and should prescribe therapy if wanted.
In the event you’re taking an oral steroid medicine, don’t cut back your dose or cease taking it until your physician recommends it.
Injection website reactions
You will have injection website reactions throughout Dupixent therapy. In studies, this was the most typical facet impact reported in individuals who acquired Dupixent for any situation. It occurred most frequently with the preliminary dose of the drug.
Injection website reactions could trigger the next signs within the space the place you could have a Dupixent injection:
- redness or change in pores and skin coloration
- ache
- bruising
- swelling
- itching
Injection website reactions are normally gentle and get higher inside a couple of days.
What would possibly assist
To assist keep away from injection website reactions, inject into a distinct space every time you give your self a dose of Dupixent. That is referred to as rotating injection websites. Make a remark of the date and the positioning you employ every time as a reminder.
Keep away from injecting into areas of pores and skin which are tender, bruised, broken, or scarred. And don’t rub the injection website after the injection.
When you have an injection website response that’s inflicting discomfort, it could assist to use a chilly pack to the world. Contact your physician when you have a response that’s extreme or doesn’t get higher.
Allergic response
Like most medication, Dupixent could cause an allergic response in some folks.
Signs could be gentle or critical and may embrace:
- pores and skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (momentary heat, redness, or deepening of pores and skin coloration)
- swelling underneath your pores and skin, sometimes in your eyelids, lips, palms, or toes
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which might make it exhausting to breathe
What would possibly assist
When you have gentle signs of an allergic response, similar to a gentle rash, name your physician instantly. To handle your signs, they could counsel an over-the-counter antihistamine you’re taking by mouth, similar to Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Or they could suggest a product you apply to your pores and skin, similar to hydrocortisone cream.
In case your physician confirms you had a gentle allergic response to Dupixent, they’ll determine if you happen to ought to proceed utilizing it.
When you have signs of a extreme allergic response, similar to swelling or bother respiration, name 911 or your native emergency quantity instantly. These signs might be life threatening and require speedy medical care.
In case your physician confirms you had a critical allergic response to Dupixent, they could have you ever swap to a distinct therapy.
Retaining monitor of unwanted effects
Throughout your Dupixent therapy, take into account retaining notes on any unwanted effects you’re having. Then, you possibly can share this info together with your physician. That is particularly useful to do whenever you first begin taking new medication or utilizing a mixture of therapies.
Your facet impact notes can embrace issues similar to:
- what dose of drug you have been taking whenever you had the facet impact
- how quickly after beginning that dose you had the facet impact
- what your signs have been from the facet impact
- the way it affected your day by day actions
- what different drugs you have been additionally taking
- another info you are feeling is vital
Retaining notes and sharing them together with your physician will assist your physician study extra about how a drug impacts you. And your physician can use this info to regulate your therapy plan if wanted.
Dupixent might not be best for you when you have sure medical circumstances or different components that have an effect on your well being. Discuss together with your physician about your well being historical past earlier than you begin Dupixent therapy. The record beneath contains components to think about.
Allergic response. In the event you’ve had an allergic reaction to Dupixent or any of its components, you shouldn’t obtain Dupixent. Ask your physician what different drugs are higher choices for you.
Parasitic infections. When you have a parasitic infection, similar to a tapeworm infection, it ought to be handled earlier than you begin Dupixent. In the event you develop a parasitic an infection throughout Dupixent therapy, contact your physician. It’s doable to deal with the an infection whilst you’re nonetheless receiving Dupixent. But when the an infection doesn’t go away, it’s possible you’ll must cease Dupixent till the an infection clears up.
Vaccines. Dupixent can weaken a part of your immune system. Consequently, you shouldn’t get reside vaccines whilst you’re receiving Dupixent as a result of they may trigger infections. (A reside vaccine accommodates a weakened type of the germ the vaccine is designed to guard towards.)
Examples of reside vaccines embrace measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), typhoid, yellow fever, chickenpox, rotavirus, and the nasal spray flu vaccine. (The injected flu vaccine shouldn’t be a reside vaccine.)
Earlier than you begin Dupixent therapy, it’s greatest to compensate for your vaccinations. Discuss together with your physician about any vaccinations it’s possible you’ll want earlier than beginning therapy.
Bronchial asthma assaults. Don’t use Dupixent to deal with an asthma attack or respiration issues. This medicine helps to scale back the quantity and severity of bronchial asthma assaults you’ll have. However it gained’t work to alleviate an bronchial asthma assault.
Alcohol use and Dupixent
Alcohol isn’t identified to work together with Dupixent or have an effect on your danger for unwanted effects. In the event you’re involved about ingesting alcohol whilst you’re receiving Dupixent, speak together with your physician.
Being pregnant and breastfeeding whereas receiving Dupixent
It’s not identified if Dupixent is secure to make use of throughout being pregnant. It’s additionally not identified if Dupixent passes into breast milk or if it might trigger unwanted effects in a breastfed youngster.
In the event you’re pregnant or planning to change into pregnant, speak together with your physician in regards to the doable dangers and advantages of receiving Dupixent. And allow them to know if you happen to’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Dupixent has some frequent unwanted effects, however these are normally gentle and simply managed. There aren’t many critical unwanted effects related to this medicine.
In the event you’d prefer to know extra in regards to the doable unwanted effects of Dupixent, speak together with your physician. They will help you determine if this medicine is an efficient possibility for you.
Examples of questions you would possibly prefer to ask embrace:
- Can stopping Dupixent therapy result in unwanted effects?
- How can I forestall eye-related unwanted effects with Dupixent?
- Can Dupixent make bronchial asthma worse?
- Do I must get any vaccines earlier than beginning Dupixent?
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made each effort to make sure that each one info is factually right, complete, and updated. Nonetheless, this text shouldn’t be used as an alternative choice to the data and experience of a licensed healthcare skilled. It’s best to at all times seek the advice of your physician or one other healthcare skilled earlier than taking any medicine. The drug info contained herein is topic to vary and isn’t supposed to cowl all doable makes use of, instructions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or hostile results. The absence of warnings or different info for a given drug doesn’t point out that the drug or drug mixture is secure, efficient, or applicable for all sufferers or all particular makes use of.