• Mesna comes as a tablet of 400mg taken by mouth and also in an injection form which has to be given intravenously (into the vein). The injection is administered in three boluses (large volume) injections.
• Mesna tablets can be taken with the strong tasting liquid or mixed with carbonated beverages, juice or milk to mask its unpleasant taste.
• The dose has to be repeated if the patients vomit within 2 hours after taking mesna tablets.
• The intravenous injection comes in multidose vials containing 1g mesna (in a concentration of 100mg/ml).
• The intravenous injection is administered at a dosage equal to 20% of ifosfamide dose weight by weight during ifosfamide administration, and 4 hours and 8 hours after giving ifosfamide.
• The total daily dose of mesna in the intravenous dose schedule is 60% of ifosfamide dose.
Intravenous and oral dosage:
• Mesna injection is given with the dosage equal to 20% of the ifosfamide dose weight by weight during the time of administration of ifosfamide.
• This is followed by mesna tablets taken orally in a dose equal to 40% of the ifosfamide dose after 2 hours and again 6 hours after ifosfamide.
• The total daily dose of mesna in the intravenous and oral dosage schedule is 100% of ifosfamide dose.
• The treatment of hematuria (blood in urine) due to disease conditions such as thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)
• Patients allergic to mesna injection or tablets or medicines that contain a chemical group called thiol e.g. amifostine
• Neonates, premature infants, and infants with low birth weight due to the presence of benzyl alcohol which can be toxic in these babies and can result in gasping syndrome and even death.
• Mesna tablets can be taken with the strong tasting liquid or mixed with carbonated beverages, juice or milk to mask its unpleasant taste.
• The dose has to be repeated if the patients vomit within 2 hours after taking mesna tablets.
Dosage & When it is to be taken
Intravenous dosage:• The intravenous injection comes in multidose vials containing 1g mesna (in a concentration of 100mg/ml).
• The intravenous injection is administered at a dosage equal to 20% of ifosfamide dose weight by weight during ifosfamide administration, and 4 hours and 8 hours after giving ifosfamide.
• The total daily dose of mesna in the intravenous dose schedule is 60% of ifosfamide dose.
Intravenous and oral dosage:
• Mesna injection is given with the dosage equal to 20% of the ifosfamide dose weight by weight during the time of administration of ifosfamide.
• This is followed by mesna tablets taken orally in a dose equal to 40% of the ifosfamide dose after 2 hours and again 6 hours after ifosfamide.
• The total daily dose of mesna in the intravenous and oral dosage schedule is 100% of ifosfamide dose.
When it is not to be taken (Contraindications)
Mesna should not be used in:• The treatment of hematuria (blood in urine) due to disease conditions such as thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)
• Patients allergic to mesna injection or tablets or medicines that contain a chemical group called thiol e.g. amifostine
• Neonates, premature infants, and infants with low birth weight due to the presence of benzyl alcohol which can be toxic in these babies and can result in gasping syndrome and even death.
