If you have certain types of eczema, asthma, or sinusitis, your doctor might suggest Dupixent (dupilumab) as a treatment option for you. Along with other questions you may have about the drug, you could be wondering about its side effects.

Dupixent is a prescription medication that is used to treat a number of conditions.

  • “Moderate to severe eczema that is not responding well to or can’t be treated with prescription medications applied to the skin.”
  • moderate to severe asthma that’s eosinophilic (involves high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils) or needs regular treatment with corticosteroids taken by mouth

Dupixent is used in adults to treat.

Dupixent is a biologic medication, which means it’s made using living cells. It treats the conditions listed above by helping to reduce inflammation.

You’ll receive Dupixent by an injection under your skin. Your doctor can teach you how to give yourself the injections at home. If Dupixent works for you without causing troublesome side effects, you’ll likely use it long term.

For more information about Dupixent, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Dupixent can cause mild or serious side effects. If you know more about these, you can decide if this is a good option for you. Dupixent has side effects.

“Mild or serious side effects may occur during the treatment. Dupixent’s side effects are more commonly reported.”

* To learn more about this side effect, see “Side effects explained” below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see “Eye-related side effects” under “Side effects explained” below.

Mild side effects have been reported with Dupixent.

See the side effects explained below for more information.

These side effects should be temporary. Some may be easy to manage. If you have any symptoms that bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Unless your doctor recommends it, you should not stop using Dupixent.

The list above doesn’t include all side effects of Dupixent. For more information on the drug’s side effects, see the Dupixent patient information.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Dupixent, visit MedWatch.

There have been serious side effects reported with Dupixent.

  • There are serious eye-related side effects.
  • The conditions of the eosinophils.
  • allergic reaction*

See the side effects explained below for more information.

If you develop serious side effects, you should call your doctor. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call the emergency number.

The answers to some frequently asked questions about Dupixent are here.

Is weight gain a side effect of Dupixent?

No, weight gain isn’t a known side effect of Dupixent. It wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.

However, weight gain is a common side effect of steroid medications taken by mouth. These are often used to treat severe eczema, asthma, and rhinosinusitis, which Dupixent also treats.

If you are concerned about gaining weight with your medication, talk to your doctor. They can suggest ways to lose weight.

Can Dupixent cause hair loss?

No, Dupixent isn’t known to cause hair loss. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies of this medication. In fact, Dupixent is under study to see if it can help with hair growth in people who have alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair to fall out. It can cause hair loss on the body.

“This condition occurs when a person’s immune system attacks their hair. Dupixent works on an immune system molecule that may be involved in a disease.”

How long do Dupixent’s side effects last? Are any long term?

The mild side effects of Dupixent should get better on their own. Some may need treatment to clear up. If you have side effects that last longer than a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor.

Some serious side effects of Dupixent, such as keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), may last a long time, even with treatment. Exactly how long side effects last will depend on how they respond to any treatments you may use for them.

“If you have questions about how long Dupixent’s side effects will last, talk to your doctor.”

Will using Dupixent give you headaches or make you feel fatigued?

Headaches and fatigue weren’t reported in studies of Dupixent. But that’s not to say these side effects won’t happen with this drug. These are common side effects that can be caused by many medications. And they’re also a common problem in people with long-term conditions.

If you have headaches or fatigue during Dupixent treatment, talk to your doctor. They can look for the cause and suggest ways to fix the problem.

Can using Dupixent increase your risk for cancer?

No, that’s not likely. Studies haven’t found any increased risk of cancer in people who receive Dupixent.

There is an increased risk of cancer with certain immunosuppressant medications used to treat severe eczema or asthma. Immunosuppressants reduce certain functions of your immune system, which is your body’s defense against disease. These medications can reduce your body’s ability to find and kill cancerous cells.

“Dupixent doesn’t weaken your immune system. It only affects a few immune system genes. It is unlikely to affect your body’s ability to find and destroy cancer cells.”

There are some side effects Dupixent may cause.

Joint It is a pain.

Some people may have joint It is a pain. while receiving Dupixent. But in studies, this side effect was reported only in people who took Dupixent for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.* And it wasn’t particularly common.

* Rhinosinusitis is swelling in the nasal passages and sinuses. Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths in the nose.

What might help

If you have joint It is a pain. while receiving Dupixent, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to manage it. Some remedies may help.

  • applying hot or cold packs to affected joints
  • Getting some exercise, such as swimming.
  • practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises

If you have troublesome joint It is a pain., ask your pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter It is a pain. reliever. Examples include Tylenol (acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatory gels, such as Voltaren (diclofenac). However, if you have asthma, avoid taking oral anti-inflammatories such as Advil (ibuprofen). (“Oral” means taken by mouth.)

Eye-related side effects

Dupixent can cause eye-related side effects. Mild or serious side effects can occur.

There have been reports of eye-related side effects with Dupixent.

There have been serious eye-related side effects reported with Dupixent.

If keratitis isn’t treated, it can damage your eyesight or cause other problems, such as corneal ulcers.

In studies, eye-related side effects were more common in people who took Dupixent for eczema than for other uses. Conjunctivitis was reported more often than other eye-related side effects.

Eye-related side effects may include:

What might help

If you have any eye problems, talk to your doctor before starting Dupixent treatment. They can tell you if Dupixent is right for you. They can suggest ways to avoid eye problems.

If you have eye-related symptoms, you should see your doctor right away during Dupixent treatment. Your doctor will check your eyes to see if you have any symptoms.

Eosinophilic conditions

Dupixent can sometimes increase the number of eosinophils in your blood. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell.

If you have too many eosinophils (a condition called eosinophilia), this can sometimes cause inflammatory conditions. Examples of these include pneumonia (a lung condition) and vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).

Although rare, in early studies of Dupixent, these conditions were reported in people who took the drug to treat asthma. The conditions may have been related to people taking a lower dosage of oral steroid medications as Dupixent eased their asthma symptoms. (“Oral” means taken by mouth.) But it’s not known for sure if these conditions were caused by Dupixent.

Symptoms of eosinophilic conditions may include:

What might help

If you have any symptoms of eosinophilic conditions, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will look into your symptoms and may prescribe treatment if necessary.

If you’re taking an oral steroid medication, do not reduce your dose or stop taking it unless your doctor recommends it. (You can see details about Dupixent’s typical dosages in this article.)

Injection site reactions

You may have injection site reactions during Dupixent treatment. In studies, this was the most common side effect reported in people who received Dupixent for any condition. It occurred most often with the initial dose of the drug.

The symptoms that may occur in the area where you have a Dupixent injection are listed.

  • Change in skin color.
  • It is a pain.
  • It was bruised.
  • swelling
  • It was itching.

Injection site reactions are usually mild and get better over time.

What might help

If you give yourself a dose of Dupixent, you should inject into a different area each time. This is a rotating injection site. You can make a note of the date and site you use to remember.

If you want to inject into areas of skin that are tender, bruised, damaged, or scarred, avoid it. Rub the injection site after the injection.

“If you have an injection site reaction that is causing pain, it is possible to apply a cold pack to the area. If you have a reaction that doesn’t get better, you should contact your doctor.”

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Dupixent can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Mild or serious symptoms can be present.

  • There is a There is a skin rash..
  • It is itchy.
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • “It’s swelling under your skin, usually in your lips, hands, or feet.”
  • It can be hard to breathe if you have swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. To manage your symptoms, they may suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Or they may recommend a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If your doctor confirms you had an allergic reaction to Dupixent, they will decide if you should continue using it.

If you have a severe allergic reaction, you should call the emergency number. These symptoms could be life threatening and need immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Dupixent, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

Keep notes on any side effects you have during your treatment. You can share this information with your doctor. This is helpful when you are starting to use a combination of treatments.

Side effect notes can include things.

  • What dose of drug did you take when you had the side effect?
  • How soon after starting that dose did you experience side effects?
  • What were your symptoms after the side effect?
  • How did it affect your daily activities?
  • What other drugs were you taking?
  • Other information is important to you.

Sharing notes with your doctor will help him learn more about how a drug affects you. Your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan.

If you have a medical condition that affects your health, dupixent may not be right for you. Before you start Dupixent treatment, you should talk to your doctor about your health history. The list has factors to consider.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Dupixent or any of its ingredients, you should not receive Dupixent. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Parasitic infections. If you have a parasitic infection, such as a tapeworm infection, it should be treated before you start Dupixent. If you develop a parasitic infection during Dupixent treatment, contact your doctor. It’s possible to treat the infection while you’re still receiving Dupixent. But if the infection doesn’t go away, you may need to stop Dupixent until the infection clears up.

Vaccines. Dupixent can weaken part of your immune system. As a result, you should not get live vaccines while you’re receiving Dupixent because they could cause infections. (A live vaccine contains a weakened form of the germ the vaccine is designed to protect against.)

Examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), typhoid, yellow There is a high degree of fever., chickenpox, rotavirus, and the nasal spray flu vaccine. (The injected flu vaccine is not a live vaccine.)

It is best to catch up on your vaccinations before you start Dupixent treatment. Talk to your doctor about any vaccinations you may need.

New or worsened joint It is a pain.. Joint It is a pain. can be a side effect of Dupixent treatment. Dupixent can also make current joint It is a pain. worse. Tell your doctor if you have a history of joint It is a pain., or if you have any new or worsening joint It is a pain. with Dupixent treatment. They might recommend that you see a specialist or stop using Dupixent, if your symptoms don’t get better.

Asthma attacks. Do not use Dupixent to treat an asthma attack or breathing problems. This medication helps to reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks you may have. But it won’t work to relieve an asthma attack.

Alcohol use and Dupixent

“Alcohol isn’t known to affect your risk for side effects. If you are concerned about drinking alcohol while you are receiving Dupixent, talk to your doctor.”

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while receiving Dupixent

Dupixent is not known if it is safe to use during pregnancy. It is not known if Dupixent can cause side effects in a breastfed child.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Dupixent. Let them know if you are going to breastfeeding.

If you use Dupixent while pregnant, you may want to join the drug’s pregnancy registry. A pregnancy registry monitors the health of people who take a certain drug during pregnancy. To learn more or sign up, you can call 877-311-8972 or visit the registry’s website. You can also talk with your doctor.

Mild and easily managed side effects of Dupixent are usually the ones that are common. There are no serious side effects associated with this medication.

If you want to know more about the possible side effects of Dupixent, you should talk to your doctor. They can help you decide if this medication is a good choice for you.

You might like to ask some questions.

  • Side effects can be caused by stopping Dupixent treatment.
  • How can I prevent eye problems with Dupixent?
  • Can Dupixent make asthma worse?
  • Do I need to get any vaccines before starting Dupixent?

If you have asthma and want tips for managing your condition, news about treatments, and more, sign up for Healthline’s online newsletter.

Q:

What should I do if I get a pink eye?

Anonymous

A:

If you think you may have conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye) while taking Dupixent, you should contact your doctor. Symptoms include Red eyes., itchy or watery eyes, and Eye discharge.

If you have a eye problem, your doctor will recommend a prescription eye cream or eye drop.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.