Learn about Dupixent from a User’s point of view
It is important to note that this article is from a personal perspective, and medical professional healthcare advice should always be sought after.
However, as someone who has been using Dupixent for the treatment of eczema, I understand how important it is to have a thorough understanding from a user’s point of view.
Sometimes, the information from a health professional is either too vague, generalised or even unhelpful.
In this article, I will be sharing my personal experience on how I inject Dupixent, when to inject it, how often is my injection, and how to store the medication.
Again, I want to reiterate, while my experience may be helpful, it should not replace the advice of a medical professional. It is always important to consult with your healthcare provider regarding the proper administration of any medication.
How to Inject Dupixent
Do’s
- Sit on a chair something hard
- Inject in stomach, at least two inches from belly button
- Let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before injection
- Store medication in a fridge
- Inject every two weeks (however, a day or two behind is ok)
- Dispose in a dedicated disposal (like a hospital).
Don’ts
- Sit on a soft cushion or something that you can fall back in
- Inject in arm or leg
- Store medication in a freezer
- Store medication at room temperature
- Stop medication unless medical health professional has advised
- Dispose of syringes in the bin
Can do, but not necessary
- Use an alcohol swab
- Use a sealed disposable injections little container
- Take injection exactly at the same time every two weeks
- Rotate injection area
From my personal experience with Dupixent, the medication should never be injected into any muscle area, such as the arm or leg. This is because Dupixent is designed to enter the bloodstream via fat, unlike other injections like the flu or COVID vaccine, which are typically administered into a muscle.
When I first began using Dupixent, I made the mistake of injecting it into my arm. However, I soon learned that this was not the proper technique for Dupixent, as it caused significant pain and discomfort at the injection site.
After consulting with my healthcare provider, I learned that the stomach is the most appropriate site for injecting Dupixent, as it contains a higher concentration of fat cells, which allows the medication to be absorbed properly into the bloodstream.
Since switching to injecting Dupixent into my stomach, I have found that the process is much more comfortable and efficient. I have also found that self-administering the medication in this way is relatively simple and straightforward, which has made managing my eczema much easier.
Guide
Here is my step-by-step process of how to properly inject Dupixent into the stomach:
1. Remove from fridge and let it sit
I take the Dupixent out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before injecting. I don’t warm it up with heat or hot water. You are meant to wait at least 30 mins, however, at the clinic where I first began taking Dupixent I was taking the injection at around 20 minutes, which seemed to work for me.
2. Have the syringe sit next to you
I place next to me my Dupixent syringe that is contained in a shield. (I previously used a pre-filled syringe that needed to be placed in a sharps container) and I have my plastic big box to store my used needle shields nearby. I don’t use any alcohol swab, nor do I wash the area that I intend to inject in. I do not recommend not swabbing if you get infected easily. However, in my case, I haven’t had any issues.
3. Find spot on stomach
I alternate every two weeks from left to right side of my stomach. I was advised that I ideally use quadrants and rotate, however I have chosen halves.
I sit down on a chair and find a spot on my stomach (left or right depending on the fortnight) that is at least two inches away from my belly button.
4. Remove needle cover
Remove the needle cover from the pre-filled syringe, and place back down on the side table.
5. Pinch stomach
I then pinch to create a fold for the injection area with my left hand (I’m right handed).
I always use my left hand, whether or not I am pinching the left side or the right side of my stomach.
6. Insert needle
While I’m holding the fold with my left hand, I take hold of the syringe, and at a 45-degree angle to the skin and insert the needle into the pinched skin, making sure to push it all the way in.
7. Release pinched skin
I release the pinched skin with my left hand. It no longer needs to be pinched after insertion.
8. Push down
Slowly press the plunger down until all the medication has been injected. I make sure, I press all the way down.
I do not release the spring laden needle, instead, I withdraw the needle from the skin first. I do not apply gentle pressure with a dry cotton ball or gauze pad to the injection site.
9. Pull out needle
After the syringe has been removed, I let the needle retract. I do this, because I find the automatic retraction slightly painful if in the skin.
10. Place in Plastic Box
I place the used shield needle in a plastic box, whereby I accumulate them until I dispose at a hospital.
It is important to note that the injection site should be rotated for each injection to avoid irritation or tissue damage. Additionally, if you have any concerns or questions about injecting Dupixent, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider.
Other Tips and Tricks
- Order your medication online, so that you can pick it up when they tell you it has arrived. I find this super convenient in Australia.
- If you are using Dupixent long term, you may be able to order two or more boxes at once. If you have a fridge large enough to store many boxes, it’s more convenient to order more than one box at once.
- If you find you don’t have much space in the fridge, throw out the insides of the box, so that you can store more than two syringes in it.
- Keep on a calendar, left and right side rotation. It helps to remember, but not crucial.
