If you’re experiencing any of these red flags, your moderate-to-severe asthma may not be under control
First, let’s break down what asthma actually is. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition usually characterized by airway inflammation. This inflammation may cause airways in the lungs to become constricted and narrow, making it harder to breathe properly. Symptoms can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. While asthma is not curable, it can be managed with medication and by avoiding known triggers. But not all asthma is well controlled — and some people may not even realize theirs isn’t. Although they might be taking daily medications and using a rescue inhaler during flare-ups, it still may not be enough to control their moderate-to-severe asthma.
Asthma 101
Asthma is a dynamic condition that can change over time, which means it requires ongoing monitoring. If symptoms or red flags persist or begin to interfere with daily life — even when following a prescribed treatment plan — it may be time to consult an asthma specialist, like a pulmonologist or allergist, about adjusting your approach.
How can moderate-to-severe asthma be managed?
f you’re living with asthma, you’re likely familiar with the feeling
of having trouble breathing — the tightness in your chest, the
struggle to take a full breath, even the sensation that you’re inhaling through a straw. For some, the experience is mild and occasional; for others, it can be life-threatening. In the U.S., nearly 25 million people have asthma, or about 1 in 13 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And more than 60 percent of them have asthma that isn’t well controlled. But what does that actually mean, and what can you do about it?
I
Is your moderate-to-severe asthma under control?
How to identify the red flags indicating it’s not well controlled and what you can do about it.
Partner Content From
If you need to use a quick-relief inhaler more than twice per week, that could be a sign your asthma is not well controlled.
Using a rescue inhaler too frequently
60%
of people living with asthma in the U.S. have asthma that isn’t well controlled.
As of 2019, more than
1 in 13
Americans
Nearly 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma, about
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Source: Centers for Disease Control
If you’ve had two or more asthma attacks in the past year that were treated with oral corticosteroids, you may have asthma that’s not well controlled.
Experiencing asthma attacks requiring oral corticosteroids
If you’re waking up at night due to asthma symptoms more than twice per month, that could be a sign your asthma is not well controlled.
Awakening at night
While those living with moderate-to-severe asthma may feel they’re managing their asthma symptoms as best as they can with their current treatment plan, they may actually be overlooking red flags that indicate their asthma is not well controlled. This includes reaching for a rescue inhaler more than twice a week, having two or more asthma attacks in the last year that required oral corticosteroids, or having two or more nighttime awakenings per month. If any of these apply, it could be time to take a trip to your doctor.
When moderate-to-severe asthma is not well controlled, it can interfere with daily activities, often more than people realize. Tools like an asthma diary can help track symptoms and pinpoint triggers — which may include allergies, air pollution, respiratory infections, or physical activity. Standardized questionnaires provided by a doctor can also reveal patterns that suggest asthma isn’t well managed. In some cases, a doctor may recommend spirometry: a simple, noninvasive test that measures lung function and helps assess how well the current treatment is working.
Identifying uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma
One treatment option to consider may be DUPIXENT® (dupilumab), an add-on maintenance treatment for adults and children 6 years of age and older with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid–dependent asthma. Dupixent is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace an inhaled rescue medicine. Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or any of the ingredients in Dupixent. The most common side effects in patients with asthma include injection site reactions, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain), and parasitic (helminth) infections. Dupixent can cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions, including skin reactions, that can sometimes be severe, inflammation of your blood vessels, psoriasis, and joint aches and pain.
Please see additional Important Safety Information below.
As the number one prescribed biologic for asthma,1 Dupixent helps block a key source of airway inflammation in the lungs. While everyone’s experience with Dupixent is different, some adults felt their asthma symptoms improve in as little as three days. Dupixent can help prevent asthma attacks, improve lung function for better breathing that lasts, and even potentially reduce or eliminate the use of oral corticosteroids. Individual results may vary.2 Unlike steroids or inhalers, Dupixent is an injectable add-on maintenance treatment that’s taken once or twice a month (200mg or 300mg), based on weight and age. Dupixent patients aged 12 years and older experienced up to 81% fewer asthma attacks through Week 24.3,4 As of October 2025, more than 198,000 patients have been prescribed Dupixent.
Hear from real Dupixent patients
Learn more about uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral corticosteroids-dependent asthma and Dupixent as a treatment option by visiting Dupixent.com.
Important Safety Information and Indication
Since taking Dupixent, [my daughter] Elle’s severe asthma is better controlled, and with less asthma attacks, we’ve been able to better manage her red flag moments.
Linda Parra, parent to Elle, severe asthma patient
Dupixent has helped keep my moderate asthma more controlled, allowing me to enjoy more of my favorite activities with my family.
Veena Crownholm, moderate asthma patient
With Dupixent, I’ve been able to breathe better and have had fewer asthma attacks. Now I can focus more on enjoying nature and less on my asthma flaring up.
Faith Connally, moderate asthma patient
Is your asthma under control?
Know the red flags indicating it’s not well controlled and what you can do about them
By Kathleen Owens
Since taking Dupixent, [my daughter] Elle’s asthma is better controlled, and with less asthma attacks, we’ve been able to better manage her red flag moments.
Linda Parra, parent to Elle, severe asthma patient
Dupixent has helped keep
my asthma more controlled, allowing me to enjoy more of my favorite activities with my family.
Veena Crownholm,
moderate asthma patient
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content from
Illustrations by Ibrahim Rayintakath, Animation by Annie Taberko
When you’re in control of your asthma, everyday life can feel different. It might mean climbing stairs, playing with your kids or grandkids, or simply blowing out birthday candles without worrying as much about an asthma attack. Finding a treatment that works for you is a key part of making that possible.
Illustrations by Ibrahim Rayintakath, Animation by Annie Taberko
Individual results may vary.
Linda Parra, parent to Elle, severe asthma patient
Data as of September 2025.
In a study of people dependent on oral corticosteroids, 86% in a clinical study with DUPIXENT 300 mg + Standard of Care vs 68% with placebo + Standard of Care. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back.
In those with high eosinophils (a type of white blood cell).
The annual rate of severe asthma attacks was 0.20 with DUPIXENT 300 mg Q2W + SOC vs 1.04 with placebo + SOC.
Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT®.
Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a "live vaccine" right before and during treatment with DUPIXENT.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby.
A pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy collects information about the health of you and your baby. To enroll or get more information call 1-877-311-8972 or go to https://mothertobaby.org/ongoing-study/dupixent/.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you are taking oral, topical, or inhaled corticosteroid medicines or use an asthma medicine. Do not change or stop your other medicines, including corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine, without talking to your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by those medicines to come back.
DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including:
Allergic reactions. DUPIXENT can cause allergic reactions, including skin reactions, that can sometimes be severe. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: breathing problems or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, fast pulse, fever, hives, skin rash, including rash that looks like a bullseye or painful red or blue bumps under the skin, general ill feeling, itching, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, joint pain, or cramps in your stomach area.
Inflammation of your blood vessels. Rarely, this can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. This may happen in people who also take a steroid medicine by mouth that is being stopped or the dose is being lowered. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get: rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, brown or dark colored urine, persistent fever, or a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs.
Psoriasis. This can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. Tell your healthcare provider about any new skin symptoms. Your healthcare provider may send you to a dermatologist for an examination if needed.
Joint aches and pain. Some people who use DUPIXENT have had trouble walking or moving due to their joint symptoms, and in some cases needed to be hospitalized. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or worsening joint symptoms. Your healthcare provider may stop DUPIXENT if you develop joint symptoms.
The most common side effects in patients with asthma include injection site reactions, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain), and parasitic (helminth) infections.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It’s an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider will decide if you or your caregiver can inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to prepare and inject DUPIXENT until you or your caregiver have been trained by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it’s recommended DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children 6 to less than 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given
by a caregiver.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
Indication DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in adults and children 6 years of age and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. DUPIXENT is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace an inhaled rescue medicine. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 6 years of age.
US.DUP.25.08.0320
Individual results may vary.
Individual results may vary.
As the number one prescribed biologic for asthma, Dupixent blocks a key source of chronic airway inflammation that makes asthma challenging to control and may
allow for easier breathing. While everyone’s experience with Dupixent is different, some people felt their asthma symptoms improve
in as little as three days. Dupixent can help prevent asthma attacks, improve lung function for better breathing that lasts,
and even potentially reduce or eliminate
the need for oral corticosteroids. Individual results may vary. Unlike steroids or inhalers, Dupixent is an injectable add-on treatment that’s taken
just once or twice a month (200mg or 300mg), based on weight and age. For many patients, it has proven effective: More than 175,000 people with asthma have been prescribed Dupixent, and 81 percent experienced fewer asthma attacks while
on the treatment.
When you’re in control of your asthma, everyday life can feel different. It might mean climbing stairs with less pausing, playing with your kids or grandkids longer,
or simply blowing out birthday candles. Finding a treatment that works for you is
a key part of making that possible.
Individual results may vary.
Individual results may vary.
