Formulary
Mesna: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Mesna clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Mesna: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Mesna clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Cytotoxic induced urothelial toxicity**
- **Adult** (By Mouth, Or By Intravenous Injection): Dose to be calculated according to oxazaphosphorine (cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide) treatment (consult product literature).
**Urothelial toxicity following oxazaphosphorine therapy for mesna**
- **Child** (By intravenous injection, or by continuous intravenous infusion): (consult local protocol).
**Mucolytic in cystic fibrosis for mesna**
- **Child** (By inhalation of nebulised solution): 3-6 mL twice daily, use a 20% solution.
Side effects
Common or very common Appetite decreased; arthralgia; asthenia; chest pain; chills; concentration impaired; conjunctivitis; constipation; cough; dehydration; diarrhoea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; dyspnoea; dysuria; fever; flatulence; flushing; gastrointestinal discomfort; haemorrhage; headache; hyperhidrosis; influenza like illness; laryngeal discomfort; lymphadenopathy; malaise; mucosal irritation; myalgia; nasal congestion; nausea; oral irritation; pain; palpitations; respiratory disorders; sensation abnormal; skin reactions; sleep disorders; syncope; vision disorders; vomiting Frequency not known Acute kidney injury; angioedema; drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS); hypotension; hypoxia; oedema; tachycardia; ulcer
Interactions
**Other interactions (5):**
- The systemic effects of oxazaphosphorines are not affected by mesna.
- In clinical trials it was shown that overdoses of mesna did not diminish the acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, leucocytic activity, and immunosuppressive efficacy of oxazaphosphorines.
- Animal studies with ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide on a variety of tumours have also demonstrated that mesna does not interfere with their antineoplastic activity.
- Mesna also does not affect the antineoplastic efficacy of other cytostatics (e.g.
- Food does not influence the absorption and urinary elimination of mesna.
Pregnancy
Not known to be harmful. See also Pregnancy and reproductive function in Cytotoxic drugs .
Medicinal forms
Solution,Tablet,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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