Why is this medication prescribed?

Dupilumab Injection is used to treat eczema symptoms in adults and children six months of age and older who are unable to take other medications for their condition or whose eczema has not improved with other treatments. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin disease that causes dry, itchy skin that can occasionally develop red, scaly rashes. It is also used in conjunction with other medications to prevent adults and children aged 6 and up who have specific types of asthma and whose symptoms are not controlled by conventional means from experiencing wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. In addition, adults whose symptoms do not improve with other medications can receive dupilumab injection in addition to other treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (constant runny nose, sinus swelling, and/or nasal congestion, with or without a diminished sense of smell or pain and pressure in the face). Furthermore, it is utilized in the treatment of adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who have eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a disorder characterized by elevated blood cell levels in the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) that may harm esophageal tissues. Adults with prurigo nodularis, a skin disorder characterized by crusty lumps on the skin and excruciating itching, can also be treated with dupilumab injection. The injectable dupilumab belongs to a group of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. It functions by preventing the body’s natural production of chemicals that lead to inflammation.

How should this medicine be used?

Dupilumab injection is supplied as a prefilled pen and syringe for subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. Adult eczema patients are typically treated with one injection every two weeks after receiving two injections for the initial dose. In children aged 6 to 17, the recommended course of treatment for eczema is two injections for the initial dose, then one injection every two or four weeks, based on the child’s weight; in children aged six months to five, the recommended course of treatment is one injection every four weeks. Asthma treatment for adults and children 12 years of age and up typically consists of one injection every two weeks after the initial dose of two injections. Injections are often administered once every two or four weeks, depending on the child’s weight, for the treatment of asthma in children aged six to eleven. It is typically administered as a single injection every two weeks to people with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. One injection, once a week, is often administered for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children aged 12 and up. Typically, the first dose of treatment for prurigo nodularis consists of two injections, with a follow-up injection every two weeks. Make sure you carefully follow the instructions on the label of your prescription, and ask your pharmacist or doctor to clarify anything you are unsure about. As prescribed, administer dupilumab injection precisely. Never inject more or less of it, or inject it more frequently than your physician has advised.

If you have asthma and are using dupilumab, make sure you take all other prescribed drugs as directed by your doctor to treat your asthma. Until your doctor instructs you otherwise, do not stop taking any of your drugs or adjust their dosages. Injections of dipilumab are helpful in preventing asthma attacks, but they cannot halt an attack that has already begun. Using dupilumab injection during an asthma episode is not advised. During asthma episodes, your doctor will prescribe an inhaler for you to use.

Dupilumab injections may be administered to you in the doctor’s office for the first time. After that, your doctor might let you give the injections at home yourself or with help from a caregiver. Read the patient handbook that comes with the drug before administering dupilumab injection on your own for the first time. Request an injection instruction manual from your physician or pharmacist for yourself or the person administering the drug.

Use the pen and syringe only once each. Throw away used pens and syringes in a container that can withstand punctures. For information on how to get rid of the puncture-resistant container, speak with your pharmacist or doctor.

When using a prefilled syringe or prefilled pen that has been refrigerated, place it on a flat surface without taking off the needle cap and let it come to room temperature before injecting the medication. This should take 30 minutes for a 100 mg or 200 mg prefilled syringe or 45 minutes for a 300 mg prefilled syringe or prefilled pen. The medication should not be warmed by heating it in a microwave, submerging it in hot water, or using any other technique.

A syringe or pen containing dupilumab should not be shaken.

Prior to injecting, dupilumab solution should always be inspected. Verify the liquid’s clarity, colorlessness, or faint yellowness, as well as whether the expiration date has not past. It should be impossible to see any particles in the liquid. A syringe or pen should not be used if it is cracked or broken, has expired or frozen, or if the liquid is hazy or includes tiny particles.

Dupilumab injections can be administered anywhere on the belly (stomach) or front of the thighs (upper leg), with the exception of the navel and the 2 inches (5 cm) surrounding it. Alternatively, the back of the upper arm may be utilized if the drug is injected by a caregiver. For each injection, utilize a different site to lessen the possibility of discomfort or redness. Avoid injecting into areas of your body where you have scars or stretch marks, or if your skin is firm, red, bruised, or painful.

Request a copy of the patient’s manufacturer’s information from your pharmacist or physician.

Other uses for this medicine

You should speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the possible usage of this drug.

What special precautions should I follow?

When taking Dupilumab Injection, it’s essential to follow certain precautions:

• If you have an allergy to any of the ingredients in dupilumab injectable, other drugs, or dupilumab itself, let your doctor and pharmacist know. Get an ingredient list from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies you now take or intend to use. Your doctor might need to carefully monitor you for any negative effects or adjust the dosages of your medications.
• Inform your physician if you currently have or have ever had any of the following conditions: genital herpes (a herpes virus infection that occasionally results in sores forming around the genitalia and rectum); herpes zoster (shingles), genital herpes, or any other herpes virus infection; or if you have an infection with hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, or threadworm (worms that live inside the body). if atropic dermatitis is the reason you are taking dupilumab. Inform your doctor if you also have asthma if you have chronic rhinosinusitis along with nasal polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis, or prurigo nodularis.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Contact your physician if you become pregnant while taking dupilumab injectable.
• See your doctor if there are any immunizations you should get. Avoid being immunized while undergoing treatment without first seeing your physician.

Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions and ask any questions you have about using Dupilumab safely and effectively.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Maintain your regular diet unless advised otherwise by your physician.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Inject the missing dose as soon as you remember it and go back to your regular schedule if you miss a dose that is administered every two or four weeks. On the other hand, if the missed dose was more than seven days ago, skip it and stick to your usual dosing plan. Never take two doses to make up for one that you missed.

If a once-weekly dose is missed, inject the missed dose as soon as you remember it and resume your treatment according to a new weekly schedule starting on the day the last dose was given.

If you forget a dose and are unsure of what to do, give your doctor a call.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Dupilumab Injection, like any medication, can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them. Common side effects of dutasteride may include:

• Redness or pain at the injection site
• Sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, or other sign of infection
• Mouth or lip sores
• Toothache
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Facial redness or rash
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• New or worsening eye problems, including eye pain, blurred vision, pink or red eye(s), red or swollen eyelids, or changes in vision
• Rash, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, feeling of pins and needles, or numbness in arms or legs
• New or worsening joint pain

Should you encounter any of these signs, cease taking the dupilumab injection right once, give your doctor a call, or seek emergency care:

• Swelling of the face, eyelids, tongue, or throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Tightness in the chest or throat
• Rapid heartbeat
• Itching
• Rash
• Hives
• Fainting, dizziness, or feeling lightheaded
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Flat, firm, hot, red and painful skin lumps
• Fever

Injections of dipilumab may have additional adverse effects. If you have any odd side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor.

It’s important to discuss any concerns about side effects with your healthcare provider. They can provide guidance on managing side effects and determine if Dupilumab Injection is the right medication for you based on your individual medical history and needs.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication away from children’s reach and in the original container it came in, locked tightly. For up to 14 days, keep dupilumab injectable refrigerated or at room temperature. Keep from freezing. To shield them from light, keep the pens and syringes in their original cartons.

As many prescription containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and small children can readily open them, it is crucial to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children. Always lock the safety caps on medications to prevent poisoning in small children. Then, put the drug in a secure spot that is up high and out of their reach.

It is important to dispose of unnecessary prescriptions in a specific manner so that children, dogs, and other people cannot ingest them. But this drug is not something you should flush down the toilet. The best way to get rid of your medication is to use a service called medicine take-back. To find out more about take-back initiatives in your area, speak with your pharmacist or get in touch with the recycling and trash department.

In case of emergency/overdose

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. In the event that the sufferer has passed out, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be coaxed awake, dial 911 right away.

What other information should I know?

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

Refrain from giving your medication to anyone else. If you have any questions concerning filling your prescription, ask the pharmacist.

It is crucial that you maintain a written record of every medication you take, including over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs, as well as any dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals. This list should accompany you to all doctor appointments and hospital admissions. Additionally, having this information on hand is crucial in case of an emergency.