Dupixent (dupilumab) helps manage symptoms of conditions such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. You should refrigerate Dupixent in the long term. But if needed, you can keep the drug at room temperature for up to 14 days.

Dupixent contains the active ingredient dupilumab. Doctors may prescribe this medication to help manage the symptoms of various conditions, such as severe atopic dermatitis and asthma.

Dupixent is a biologic medication, so it’s sensitive to temperature. Manufacturers make biologics from the cells of other living organisms, such as bacteria. Temperatures that are too warm or cold can cause the molecules in the medication to change shape. This means they will no longer interact with the right molecules in your body, making the medication ineffective.

Dupixent comes as a liquid solution in prefilled syringes and pens for injection under your skin. For the medication to be most effective, you should store it appropriately and inject it according to its labeling instructions.

This article explains the recommended ways to store Dupixent safely.

It’s important to store Dupixent syringes or pens at the proper temperature and in the original packaging. The packaging helps protect the medication from harmful light exposure (for example, when opening the refrigerator door). It also typically notes the expiration date of the medication.

Storing in the fridge

You can keep Dupixent in the refrigerator until you need to give yourself a dose. The recommended temperature for storing Dupixent is 36ºF to 46ºF (2ºC to 8ºC).

Do not freeze Dupixent syringes or pens. This weakens the medication’s effectiveness even after thawing.

Use unopened, refrigerated Dupixent by the expiration date on the packaging.

Storing out of the fridge

If needed, store Dupixent at room temperature at or below 77°F (25°C). You can it at this temperature for up to 14 days.

The medication is not safe to inject at temperatures higher than this or when left out of the fridge for more than 14 days. In those situations, you should dispose of it because it is not safe to inject or effective to use.

If you leave a prefilled syringe or pen out of the fridge, you should use it within 14 days. And if you remove Dupixent from the fridge, you should not return it to the fridge if the medication reaches room temperature.

Right before injecting

Before injecting Dupixent, you can leave it out of the fridge for a short period. As noted here, you should remove the syringe or pen from the fridge ahead of time. The following strengths are in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).

  • 300 mg/2 mL: 45 minutes before injecting
  • 200 mg/1.14 mL: 30 minutes before injecting

This allows Dupixent to come to room temperature. This helps prevent discomfort and pain that the cooled solution may cause injected under the skin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against using medications, including Dupixent, after their expiration date.

Follow these tips to be sure you’re using Dupixent safely:

  • Give yourself your Dupixent dose within 14 days after removing it from the fridge. In the meantime, keep it at a room temperature of 77°F (25°C) or lower.
  • Do not inject Dupixent if you can see that the liquid solution appears cloudy or discolored, or contains visible flakes or particles. (Dupixent is typically clear, colorless, or pale yellow.)
  • Dispose of any medication remaining in a Dupixent syringe or pen after giving a dose. Do not inject it later.
  • Unopened, refrigerated Dupixent remains safe and effective to use until the expiration date on the packaging.
  • See “Disposing of Dupixent” for information on proper disposal of the medication and its supplies.

When it’s time to dispose of Dupixent, or it expires, place used syringes or pens, needles, and needle caps in a sharps container. Do not discard Dupixent or any of these items in household trash. Also, dispose of Dupixent if it looks altered or your healthcare professional stops your treatment.

Dupixent’s prescribing information provides more disposal tips. Be sure to follow your community’s guidelines for discarding a sharps container.

Dupixent is a biologic medication that helps lower inflammation levels in your body.

You can keep Dupixent in the refrigerator at temperatures of 36ºF to 46ºF (2ºC to 8ºC). Use unopened, refrigerated Dupixent by the expiration date on the packaging.

Once you remove Dupixent from the fridge, you can keep it at a room temperature of 77°F (25°C) or lower. It is safe to use within 14 days.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.