Dupixent (dupilumab) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain inflammatory conditions in adults and some children. Dupixent comes as a subcutaneous injection. The dosage can vary depending on what condition the drug is prescribed to help treat.
Dupixent is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:
- moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) in people ages 6 months and older
- certain forms of moderate to severe asthma* in people ages 6 years and older
- chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps* in adults
- prurigo nodularis in adults
- eosinophilic esophagitis in people ages 12 years and older
Dupixent is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called interleukin-4 receptor alpha antagonists. Dupixent is not available in a biosimilar version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Dupixent, including its strengths and how to inject the medication. For a comprehensive look at Dupixent, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Dupixent provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When receiving Dupixent, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
* For this purpose, Dupixent is prescribed with other medications.
Below are the recommended dosages of Dupixent. But your doctor will recommend the best dosage for you based on certain factors.
Dupixent form
Dupixent comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled syringe or a prefilled pen. It’s given by subcutaneous injection.
Dupixent strengths
Dupixent syringes are available in the following strengths:
- 100 milligrams in 0.67 milliliters of solution (100 mg/0.67 mL)
- 200 mg/1.14 mL
- 300 mg/2 mL
Dupixent pens are available in the following strengths:
- 200 mg/1.14 mL
- 300 mg/2 mL
Typical dosages
Depending on the condition you’re taking Dupixent for, your doctor may start you on a loading (starting) dose of the drug. A loading dose is a higher dose of medication that’s given at the beginning of treatment. This allows the medication to start working quickly.
If you receive a loading dose, you’ll then continue treatment with maintenance doses. These are lower doses that maintain a consistent level of the drug in your body over time. Regardless of whether your doctor prescribes a loading dose, they will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Depending on the condition you’re using Dupixent to treat, you may take a dose every week, every other week, or every 4 weeks. But be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage schedule to fit your needs.
Dupixent dosage for atopic dermatitis in adults and children
Dupixent is approved for treatment of atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) in adults and children ages 6 months and older.
Dosage for adults
The loading dose of Dupixent for atopic dermatitis in adults is 600 mg (two 300-mg injections). After this starting dose, the typical maintenance dosage for atopic dermatitis is 300 mg every other week.
Dosage for children
Dupixent’s pediatric dosage (dosage for children) is based on age and body weight in kilograms (kg).* Below is a chart showing the dosing recommendations for children ages 6 years to 17 years, including loading dose.
| Body weight | Loading (starting) dose | Maintenance dosage |
| 15 kg to 29 kg (about 33 pounds [lb] to 65 lb) | 600 mg, given as two 300-mg injections | 300 mg every 4 weeks |
| 30 kg to 59 kg (about 66 lb to 131 lb) | 400 mg, given as two 200-mg injections | 200 mg every other week |
| 60 kg (about 132 lb) or more | 600 mg, given as two 300-mg injections | 300 mg every other week |
* 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
Below is another chart showing the dosing recommendations for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Note that no loading dose is required for this age group.
| Body weight | Dosage |
| 5 kg to 14 kg (about 11 lb to 32 lb) | 200 mg every 4 weeks |
| 15 kg to 29 kg (about 33 lb to 65 lb) | 300 mg every 4 weeks |
Dupixent dosage for asthma in adults and children
Dupixent is approved for certain forms of asthma in adults and children ages 6 years and older.
Dosage for people 12 years and older
For moderate asthma in adults and children 12 years and older, the typical loading dose of Dupixent is 400 mg (two 200-mg injections). After this, the maintenance dosage for moderate asthma is typically 200 mg every other week.
Your doctor may recommend you take a higher dose of Dupixent in the following situations:
- You have severe asthma.
- You have asthma and atopic dermatitis.
- You take oral corticosteroids to manage asthma symptoms.
- You have asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
In such cases, doctors typically prescribe a loading dose of 600 mg (two 300-mg injections). After this, the typical maintenance dosage for this use is 300 mg every other week.
Dosage for children 6 years to 11 years
For children ages 6 years to 11 years, Dupixent’s dosage for asthma is based on the child’s weight, as shown in the table below.
| Body weight | Dosage |
| 15 kg to 29 kg (about 33 lb to 65 lb) | 100 mg every other week, or 300 mg every 4 weeks |
| 30 kg (about 66 lb) or more | 200 mg every other week |
Dupixent dosage for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in adults
The dosage of Dupixent for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in adults is 300 mg every other week. Dupixent isn’t approved to be used in children who have this condition.
If you have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and asthma, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of Dupixent. For details, see “Dupixent dosage for asthma in adults and children” above.
Dupixent dosage for prurigo nodularis in adults
The loading dose of Dupixent for prurigo nodularis in adults is 600 mg (two 300-mg injections). After this starting dose, the typical maintenance dosage for this condition is 300 mg every other week. Dupixent isn’t approved to treat prurigo nodularis in children.
Dupixent dosage for eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children
The dosage of Dupixent for eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and children ages 12 years and older is 300 mg every week. For this use, a person must weigh at least 40 kg (about 88 lb).
What to do when you miss a dose of Dupixent depends on how often you receive the drug and whether you give yourself injections. This section outlines what to do if you miss a dose of Dupixent. But if you’re not sure you should take a missed injection of Dupixent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They’ll be able to recommend how to continue your dosing.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app.
What to do if you give yourself Dupixent
If you receive Dupixent once per week and miss a dose, take a dose as soon as you remember. You’ll then need to change your dosing schedule as follows: going forward, give yourself an injection of the drug once per week on the same day of the week as you took your missed dose.
If you receive Dupixent every other week and you miss a dose, you can take your missed dose within 7 days. Then, you can continue with your typical dosing schedule. But if it’s been more than 7 days since your missed dose, skip the dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
If you receive Dupixent every 4 weeks and miss a dose, you can take it at any time. But you should try to take the missed dose within 7 days of its scheduled day because:
- If you take your missed dose within 7 days, you can continue with your regular dosing schedule going forward.
- If you take your missed dose more than 7 days later, you’ll start a new 4-week dosing schedule on the day you take your missed dose.
What to do if you receive Dupixent at a doctor’s office
If you receive Dupixent at a doctor’s office, try to keep your appointments. If you miss an appointment for your dose, call the office right away to reschedule your appointment.
The Dupixent dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the condition you’re using Dupixent to treat
- your age
- any other medications you’re taking
- any other medical conditions you may have
- body weight (for children using Dupixent)
Your doctor will determine the best dosage for you based on these factors.
Dupixent is given as a subcutaneous injection. It comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled syringe or a prefilled pen. Dupixent should be stored in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) and kept away from light.
Your first dose of Dupixent will be given in your doctor’s office. Your doctor or a healthcare professional may teach you how to inject Dupixent so that you can give yourself the injections at home.
Before injecting Dupixent, let the medication come to room temperature. This usually takes 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
You should take Dupixent injections in your thigh or your abdominal area. If you’re using the abdominal area, don’t inject Dupixent within 2 inches of your belly button.
If you receive Dupixent injections from a healthcare professional or a caregiver, the drug can be injected into the upper arm. But you shouldn’t give yourself Dupixent into your upper arm on your own.
Be sure to change your injection site with each dose. And don’t give an injection into any areas that are bruised, scarred, or tender.
For detailed instructions on how to use Dupixent syringes and pens, see the manufacturer’s website.
Giving Dupixent doses to a child
Your child may be able to receive their Dupixent doses at home.
The prefilled pen is approved for use in children ages 2 years and older. The prefilled syringe is approved for use in children ages 6 months and older. (Both forms are also approved for adults.)
It’s recommended that you give your child their Dupixent dose if they are younger than 12 years old. If your child is age 12 years or older, they can learn to give themselves injections of the drug. However, it’s recommended that you supervise your child when they inject their dose.
For more details about administering Dupixent at home, see the section just above.
It’s important that you don’t use more Dupixent than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Dupixent
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken or received too much Dupixent. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Dupixent for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Dupixent without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Dupixent that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Dupixent. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Dupixent. For information about other aspects of Dupixent, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Dupixent, you can look at this article. You can also look at the Dupixent prescribing information.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Dupixent and cost, see this article.
- Interactions. For details about what Dupixent interacts with, see this article.
- Details on your condition.
- For details on asthma, see the Medical News Today asthma and allergies hub, as well as this list of related articles.
- To learn more about atopic dermatitis and eczema, see this list of related articles.
- For more information on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps, these ear, nose, and throat articles may be helpful.
- To find out more about skin conditions such as prurigo nodularis, refer to our dermatology hub.
- For more about eosinophilic esophagitis and other inflammatory conditions, you may find useful information in our immune system and vaccines hub.
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.