Dupixent vs. Symbicort

Dupixent (dupilumab) injection and Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) are used to treat asthma.

Dupixent is also used to treat adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Dupixent can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.

Symbicort is also used to prevent bronchospasm in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Dupixent and Symbicort belong to different drug classes. Dupixent is an interleukin-4 receptor alpha-antagonist and Symbicort is a combination of a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

Side effects of Dupixent that are different from Symbicort include injection site reactions, pink eye (conjunctivitis), swollen or puffy eyelids, oral herpes, inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), eye itching, other herpes simplex virus infection, and dry eye.

Side effects of Symbicort that are different from Dupixent include headache, throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea, back pain, stuffy nose, muscle or joint pain, and changes in your voice.

Dupixent may interact with "live" vaccines, warfarin, and cyclosporine.

Symbicort may interact with antibiotics, antifungal medications, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and diuretics (water pills).

Common side effects of Dupixent include:

• injection site reactions,
• pink eye (conjunctivitis),
• swollen or puffy eyelids,
• oral herpes,
• inflammation of the cornea (keratitis),
• eye itching,
• other herpes simplex virus infection, and
• dry eye.

Common side effects of Symbicort include:

• headache,
• throat irritation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach upset,
• diarrhea,
• back pain,
• stuffy nose,
• muscle or joint pain, or
• changes in your voice.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of Symbicort including:

• white patches on tongue or in mouth,
• signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat),
• mental/mood changes (such as nervousness),
• trouble sleeping,
• vision problems (such as blurred vision),
• increased thirst or urination,
• muscle cramps, or
• shaking (tremors).

Dupixent (dupilumab) injection is aninterleukin-4 receptor alpha-antagonist indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Dupixent can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.

Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) is a combination of a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator used to prevent bronchospasm in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Symbicort combines an inhaled corticosteroid medicine, budesonide and a LABA medicine, formoterol.

• Inhaled corticosteroids help to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation in the lungs can lead to breathing problems.
• LABA medicines are used in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. LABA medicines help the muscles around the airways in your lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen when the muscles around the airways tighten. This makes it hard to breathe. In severe cases, wheezing can stop your breathing and may lead to death if not treated right away.

Dupixent may interact with:

• "live" vaccines
• ,
• warfarin, or
• cyclosporine

Symbicort may interact with antibiotics, antifungal medication, MAO inhibitor, antidepressants, beta-blockers, or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Symbicort should be used only when prescribed. Budesonide passes into breast milk. It is unknown if formoterol passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended dose of Dupixent is an initial dose of 600 mg (two 300 mg injections in different injection sites), followed by 300 mg given every other week.

For patients 12 years of age and older, the dosage of Symbicort is 2 inhalations twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart).