mesna
Other Name: Generic brand(s) available, Uromitexan®
- To prevent urinary tract problems or bladder damage, caused by the anticancer drugs cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide.
- Mesna is not an anticancer drug.
- Tell your doctor if you have / had any allergies.
Injection:
- Your chemotherapy nurse will inject mesna into a vein, at specific times before/during and after cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide treatments.
Oral:
- You may be asked to drink the mesna solution instead of having an injection. Mesna must be swallowed at specific times, as your doctor will tell you. Read the instructions carefully and make sure you understand them.
- Mesna may be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
- To mask the taste, each dose of mesna may be mixed in juice or cola immediately before you take it. Remember to finish the entire dose.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- If you have diabetes, and use a urine ketone test to monitor your blood sugar levels, you should be careful on the days when your are given mesna. Mesna may cause false readings in urine ketone tests. The colour reaction is reddish purple rather than purple.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
- Since mesna is used with chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide, most of the side effects may be related to the chemotherapy. Also refer to the information sheets on cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide.
- The following side effects are common or severe. You may not have all of the side effects. Other side effects may occur. If you have any unusual or bothersome symptoms, discuss with your doctor.
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Unpleasant taste (with oral use)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Pains or cramps in the belly
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Diarrhea
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (more common with oral use)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Flu-like feeling
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Facial flushing with mesna injection |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rash; dry, itchy skin (may be severe in some cases)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Reactions at the injection site (pain, irritation, burning, redness or swelling)
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Eye problems |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||||
Allergic reaction (severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness)
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Fast heartbeat, dizziness or mild drop in blood pressure with mesna injection
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For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.