Can you drink alcohol on Dupixent?

Dupixent (generic name: dupilumab) has not been reported to have a drug interaction with alcohol. Case reports of facial flushing (facial redness) have been reported in people who used Dupixent and drank alcohol, but it is not known if this was caused by the medicine. If you choose to drink, it is always best to drink in moderation and check with your healthcare provider if you take any medication.

Side effects like facial rash, redness, swelling, itching, burning and pain were also reported in the package insert after Dupixent was approved by the FDA and put on the market. A definite link between alcohol use, Dupixent, and facial skin reactions is not known.

Use of alcohol can also be dangerous if you have liver disease or if you take medicines that can cause liver disease. In long-term studies, Dupixent has not been reported to cause liver toxicity, which could also be worsened by drinking alcohol.

If you choose to drink, it is always best to drink in moderation and check with your healthcare provider if you take any medication. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Tell them about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, and dietary herbal supplements.

Learn more: Drug Interactions with Dupixent (in more detail)

Is Dupixent steroid-free?

Yes, Dupixent (dupilumab) is a steroid-free, injectable biologic drug. This is an advantage as steroids, often used to lower inflammation (swelling), can cause serious side effects. It is given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection that can be given at home, after adequate training.

It is classified as an interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor alpha antagonist. Dupixent works by lowering inflammation that can lead to symptoms in the various conditions it is approved to treat.

Dupixent is approved by the FDA to treat:

• Adult and pediatric patients aged 6 months and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) whose disease is not adequately controlled
  with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Can be used with or without topical corticosteroids
• Adult and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe asthma characterized by an eosinophilic phenotype or with oral corticosteroid dependent asthma. Not for use for sudden breathig emergencies like acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.
• Adult and pediatric patients aged 1 year and older, weighing at least 15 kg, with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). EoE can led to Inflammation and trouble swallowing
• Adults with prurigo nodularis, a skin condition that consists of hard and extremely itchy nodules that can worsen and spread.
• Adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Used as an add-on maintenance treatment in patients with inadequately controlled COPD and an
  eosinophilic phenotype. Not for the relief of acute bronchospasm.
• Adolescent patients aged 12 to 17 years and adults with chronic rhinosinusitis (long-term sinus inflammation) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), which are non-cancerous growths on the sinuses, as an add-on maintenance treatment.
• Adult and children aged 12 years and older with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who continue to have symptoms despite H1 antihistamine treatment. Not indicated for other forms of urticaria.

Use Dupixent exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

This is not all the information you need to know about Dupixent (dupilumab) for safe and effective use and does not replace your doctor's directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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