Originally posted November 27th, 2023

It’s been two weeks since I received the “loading dose” of Dupixent for my severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). Here’s how it’s going:

⁃ The first dermatologist I saw is an absolute jackass and made it sound like we’d have to be drawing the medicine from a vial. Wrong. It’s in an auto-injector pen and is infinitely easier to manage with neuropathy than trying to handle needles and vials. That dermatologist was one of the worst providers I’ve ever seen in the last 20+ years, though. In fact, that appointment was so horribly devastating because of how crass and argumentative the doctor was, that I think it might’ve actually “broken” the universe into cooperating with me for once. More on that in another post. Point being, Dupixent comes in an auto-injection pen and would be very easy for a majority of patients to self-administer.

⁃ I’d still recommend having a partner/parent/caregiver/friend/etc. help administer the medication if you’re nervous about getting poked with needles or if pulling back is a risk. Once the pen is engaged, the medication doesn’t stop coming- so if you accidentally un-stick yourself at any point before it’s done and clicks, you can’t get the dose back.

⁃ The injection process takes about 10-15 seconds. I was so jacked on adrenaline and happy brain chemicals from such uncontainable excitement during my first loading dose that I didn’t feel a goddamn thing the first time, even while having both legs stabbed in the same sitting. Didn’t even bleed or bruise. It was fabulous.

⁃ However, that was NOT the case for my single two-week follow-up dose, lol. It stings quite a bit, not gonna lie; and the little bugger bled this time, too. Had Chris not been the one doing the administering, I absolutely would have recoiled and jerked that needle right out of my leg and wasted a whole dose based on pure shock alone. I was so NOT expecting the pain, but I also wasn’t anywhere near being as high on emotion as I was the first time.

⁃ What I had been told & heard about the immediate effects of Dupixent on the itching feeling, and my personal experience with the decrease in itching, were two very different things. Nearly everyone from dermatologists to patients made it sound like Dupixent would stop the itch in 12-48 hours. I’m on the highest dose and the itching is my biggest complaint, so I expected there would be a drastic change after that loading dose and there really wasn’t.

⁃ While I did get almost a total break from itching the first day (again, likely due to the high emotions and adrenaline), my itching kept me awake that night and has continued to be a bit bothersome for me. If I’m being perfectly honest, that first night really bummed me out. I truly believed that itch feeling was going to go away completely because that’s how everyone made it sound like it was going to work.

⁃ That said, there’s still a significant decrease in the intensity and amount of itching that I feel overall, and it’s absolutely worth continuing the medication to see if there will be further improvement. The pharmacist that I spoke with during my refill call was very encouraging and told me that it can take a little while to work like it should, so to keep up with my dosing every two weeks- which I fully intended on doing anyhow, lol. Even a 5% decrease in itching is worth it to me.

⁃ So far, I haven’t experienced anything I’d consider to be a side effect, other than the typical injection site tenderness and 1/3 deciding to bleed & bruise. I’d say that Botox treatment for migraines is exponentially ‘worse’, and I *miss* having Botox available as a tool, even if it’s not exactly the most comfortable experience getting poked in my forehead, head, neck, and shoulders every 3 months, lol. Again, worth it.

⁃ I’m curious to see how I do on Dupixent alone and without the help of Prednisone. My taper ends and I’ll be off it very soon, so I’ll likely give an update at the 4 week mark unless my body has other plans and my skin becomes destroyed before then.

⁃ My hands are itchy as I’m typing this. Even though I’ve itched them a bit, it’s not the same type of intensity, nor does the itching last as long as before I started this treatment. The flaking, dryness, patchy rashes, and sparsely scattered scabs are still factors, but I’ve been able to manage them better with my usual topical, and I know it’s partly because the Dupixent is doing its thing. Still getting some flakes in my clothes, but no more waking up to a blanket of skin flake snow in my bed 🥹

⁃ I also found out that one of my hair care products works fantastic as a lotion (it’s formulated for this!), which is a huge win because it’s the only thing I can use outside of A&D. I much prefer it, as A&D makes my skin super greasy and it forces a routine where I have to stand around in my birthday suit for 15+ minutes before blotting myself off with paper towels so I can wrangle clothes onto my sticky body. LOMA’s Calming Crème is SO much better and absorbs a lot easier. I’ve been using their products religiously for almost 20 years because of the brand’s clean formulas and gentleness on my skin (it’s quite literally the only shampoo & conditioner I can use). Have no clue why it took me this long to discover that I could use the Calming Crème as a lotion, I’m just overjoyed that I did. LOMA is based here in Washington State, so I’m technically shopping local, too! Definitely recommend giving their products a try if you haven’t yet.

*This isn’t sponsored or anything, I just really really love LOMA’s products. But my 4+ ft. of hair and I would happily accept a deal if offered, tho 😉

** This post is NOT sponsored by Dupixent, either. I’ve been asked by followers of the page to share my experiences with it, and I’m happy to oblige.

All in all, I’d say Dupixent has still been a revolutionary addition to my healthcare plan. I don’t expect it to be a cure, and am trying to be patient in waiting for the itching feeling continuing to decrease. It’s incredibly refreshing to have such a positive outlook on a management plan for my eczema, so hopefully as I receive more doses, my skin will keep healing and improving.

If after reading this you’re considering trying Dupixent for atopic dermatitis, please talk to your dermatologist. It’s not the easiest medication on the body since it’s an immunosuppressant, and there are pros and cons to this medication, as with any. Your dermatologist will be able to help you make the best decision for your healthcare plan 🩵🥄