Dupixent (dupilumab) is a brand-name injection that is used for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and other conditions in adults and certain children. As with other drugs, Dupixent can cause side effects, such as injection site reactions.

Dupixent can cause certain side effects (also known as adverse effects), some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Dupixent in clinical trials. These side effects can vary depending on the condition the drug is being used to treat.

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for atopic dermatitis (eczema) include:

  • injection site reactions*
  • eye-related side effects*
  • increased risk of cold sores on the lips and around the mouth, if you have oral herpes†

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps include:

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for asthma include:

  • throat pain or soreness
  • injection site reactions*
  • high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils*

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for eosinophilic esophagitis include:

  • upper respiratory infection
  • injection site reactions*
  • joint pain*
  • increased risk of symptoms of oral herpes or herpes zoster (commonly known as shingles) if you have either virus†

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for prurigo nodularis include:

  • nasopharyngitis (inflammation in the nose and throat)
  • dizziness
  • muscle pain
  • eye-related side effects*
  • increased risk of symptoms of oral herpes or herpes zoster (shingles) if you have either virus†

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include:

* For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
† Dupixent does not cause infection with the herpes virus. It can cause the virus to become active and cause symptoms if the virus is already present in your body.

Mild side effects can occur with Dupixent. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Dupixent’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Dupixent include:

  • throat pain or soreness
  • insomnia
  • toothache
  • gastritis (stomach inflammation)
  • upper respiratory infection
  • nasopharyngitis (inflammation in the nose and throat)
  • dizziness
  • muscle pain
  • injection site reactions*
  • joint pain*
  • high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils*
  • increased risk of cold sores on the lips and around the mouth, if you have oral herpes†
  • increased risk of symptoms if you have other herpes viruses, such as herpes zoster (commonly known as shingles)†

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Dupixent and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
† Dupixent does not cause infection with the herpes virus. It can cause the virus to become active and cause symptoms if the virus is already present in your body.

Dupixent may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Dupixent’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Dupixent, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you are having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Dupixent, and are discussed in “Side effect specifics” below, include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Dupixent injections can cause an allergic reaction.

But this side effect was rare in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Dupixent, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Dupixent may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Is it possible to have side effects after stopping Dupixent, or long-term side effects?

It is possible, depending on what the side effect is.

In general, most side effects of Dupixent are short term and should go away after you stop treatment, especially mild side effects.

It is possible to keep experiencing some side effects after stopping Dupixent, though. And in rare cases, the drug can cause side effects that may be long lasting. These side effects may include:

  • eye-related side effects, such as changes in vision and new or worsening eye conditions
  • eosinophilic conditions such as vasculitis (swelling and inflammation of blood vessels)

A clinical trial showed that side effects from Dupixent were similar whether the drug was used short term or long term.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about treating any side effects as they come up. If you have side effects that continue after you stop using Dupixent, be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

Note: Dupixent is not known to cause withdrawal. (Withdrawal refers to negative effects that can happen if you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on.) However, if you are taking a corticosteroid with Dupixent, stopping the corticosteroid could cause withdrawal. Be sure to follow your doctor’s dosing instructions for all medicines you take.

Should I expect to gain weight when taking Dupixent?

It is unlikely you’ll gain weight as a side effect of using Dupixent. People using the drug in its original clinical trials did not report weight gain.

Since the drug was approved, a very small studyTrusted Source found a possible link between weight gain and Dupixent treatment in people with atopic dermatitis (eczema). But more research is needed to determine whether Dupixent or a different factor caused the weight gain.

Some other drugs that treat the same conditions Dupixent is prescribed for can cause weight gain. These other drugs include corticosteroids such as prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol).

If you have questions or concerns about weight gain or your Dupixent treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Dupixent cause hair loss?

People using Dupixent in clinical trials did not report hair loss as a side effect. But since Dupixent was approved, there have been rare reports of people experiencing hair loss after starting the drug.

On the other hand, Dupixent has been found to reduce hair loss in some people. Research has looked at people with atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata (an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss). In some cases, Dupixent reduced both hair loss and atopic dermatitis symptoms. Because of this finding, the drug has been studied to determine whether it can treat alopecia areata.

At present, it is not known if Dupixent can cause hair loss or if the drug may treat hair loss. If you’d like to learn more about Dupixent and hair loss, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is fatigue a side effect of Dupixent?

It is not likely that you will have fatigue as a side effect of taking Dupixent. People using the drug in clinical trials did not report having fatigue.

But fatigue is a side effect of a similar drug called mepolizumab (Nucala). Mepolizumab is approved to treat severe eosinophilic asthma.

If you have questions or concerns about your energy level while taking Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to help boost it.

What side effects can I expect when using Dupixent for asthma?

More common side effects in people taking Dupixent for asthma include:

For a full list of side effects Dupixent may cause in people with asthma, you can view the drug’s prescribing information. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information, see “Eosinophilic conditions” in the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Are headaches a possible side effect of using Dupixent?

It is unlikely you will experience headaches as a side effect of Dupixent. People taking the drug in clinical trials did not report having headaches.

But headache is a common side effect of similar drugs called Fasenra (benralizumab) and Nucala (mepolizumab). These drugs are approved to treat some of the same conditions that Dupixent treats. These include severe eosinophilic asthma and rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

If you have questions or concerns about headaches while taking Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is cancer one of Dupixent’s side effects?

No, cancer is not known to be a side effect of Dupixent. People using the drug in its clinical trials did not report developing cancer.

But another drug used to treat asthma or nasal polyps, Xolair (omalizumab), may increase your risk of certain types of cancer. These include breast cancer and skin cancer.

If you have concerns about your risk of cancer or questions about Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Dupixent may cause.

Injection site reactions

Dupixent may cause an injection site reaction. In clinical trials, injection site reactions were some of the most commonly reported side effects of Dupixent.

Injection site reactions reported with Dupixent include:

  • pain
  • swelling and inflammation
  • itchy skin
  • redness or discoloration

What you can do

Dupixent’s injection site reactions are typically mild and temporary. In most cases, this side effect should go away on its own within a few hours.

If you experience an injection site reaction that is persistent or bothersome, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect.

Eye-related side effects

Dupixent could cause ocular (eye-related) side effects, including:

Symptoms of these side effects can include eye redness, discharge, pain, and watery eyes.

In general, eye-related side effects were not common in clinical trials. Pink eye was more commonly reported in people who took Dupixent for atopic dermatitis or prurigo nodularis. But, eye-related side effects including pink eye may still occur in people taking the drug for other conditions.

What you can do

If you experience symptoms of eye-related side effects while taking Dupixent, talk with your doctor immediately. They can help determine the right treatment. This may include having you stop using Dupixent.

Joint pain

Although joint pain is not common with Dupixent, it can still occur. This side effect was reported in clinical trials by some people who used the drug for eosinophilic esophagitis or long-term rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

People receiving Dupixent for atopic dermatitis (eczema) or asthma did not report joint pain, but it could occur.

What you can do

If you have joint pain while using Dupixent, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a treatment, such as an over-the-counter pain reliever. But if your joint pain does not go away, they may recommend you stop using Dupixent.

Eosinophilic conditions

Eosinophilic conditions are a rare side effect of Dupixent when the drug is used to treat asthma. Examples of eosinophilic conditions are pneumonia and vasculitis (swelling and inflammation in your blood vessels).

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that help your body fight infection. Having high levels of eosinophils can cause problems with inflammation.

Symptoms of eosinophilic conditions can include:

What you can do

If you develop any symptoms linked to eosinophilic conditions while using Dupixent, talk with your doctor right away. If your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Before starting treatment with 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:

Like most medications, Dupixent may cause side effects. Most side effects caused by Dupixent are mild and typically go away on their own. However, there are some rare but serious side effects reported by people using the drug in clinical trials.

If you’d like to learn more about Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.