Mesnex®
(mesna) Tablets

Read this information carefully before you start taking Mesnex (mesna) (MES-nex) and each time you get more Mesnex (mesna) . There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. If you have any questions about Mesnex (mesna) , ask your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if Mesnex (mesna) is right for you.

What is the most important information I should know?

• It is important to drink at least a quart (4 cups) of liquid a day whenever you take Mesnex (mesna) , whether it is intravenous (through a tube placed in a vein) or oral (by mouth).
• A small number of patients who take Mesnex (mesna) get blood in their urine (hematuria). Therefore, it is important that your doctor check your urine in the laboratory each day that you get Mesnex (mesna) . The laboratory test can find low levels of blood in the urine that you cannot see just by looking at it.
• If you notice that your urine has turned a pink or red color, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Certain prescription medicines and foods, such as red beets, may also cause your urine to change color. A laboratory test of your urine will show if the source of the color is due to one of these causes or hematuria.
• You need to take your Mesnex (mesna) Tablets at the exact times your doctor tells you. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, and contact your doctor for more instructions. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
• If you vomit within 2 hours of taking oral Mesnex (mesna) , contact your doctor right away.

What is Mesnex (mesna) ?

Mesnex (mesna) reduces the chance of your getting one of the side effects of another medicine, IFEX® (ifosfamide) for Injection.

IFEX is used to treat certain types of cancers. Mesnex (mesna) should only be given with IFEX.

Mesnex (mesna) reduces the chance of your getting hemorrhagic cystitis from IFEX. This condition causes bloody urine from damage to the bladder lining. The damage to the bladder may show up as blood in your urine (hematuria). If a very small amount of blood is in your urine, you may not be able to see it, but your doctor or nurse can test for it in the laboratory. If there is a larger amount of blood in your urine, you will see that the urine has turned a pink or red color. Mesnex (mesna) does not reduce the chance of getting other side effects of cancer chemotherapy.

When IFEX is given without Mesnex (mesna) , hematuria occurs in a large number of patients. Therefore, it is very important to always take Mesnex (mesna) when getting IFEX treatment.

Who should not take Mesnex (mesna) ?

Do not take Mesnex (mesna) if you have had an allergic reaction to Mesnex (mesna) or other medicines that contain sulfur.

Before beginning treatment with Mesnex (mesna) , check with your doctor if you are:

• Pregnant. You and your doctor should discuss if Mesnex (mesna) is right for you.
• Breast-feeding. Your doctor may advise you to stop breast-feeding or not to use Mesnex (mesna) .
• Have an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), or nephritis (a type of kidney problem).You may be more likely to get an allergic reaction from Mesnex (mesna) .

How should I take Mesnex (mesna) ?

Take Mesnex (mesna) at the exact times in the exact amounts your doctor tells you to. If your first dose is intravenous and the other doses are oral, you will get the intravenous dose at the same time as the IFEX. You should take the tablets 2 and 6 hours after the IFEX.

• The dose of Mesnex (mesna) depends on the amount of the IFEX dose. Pay careful attention to the number of tablets your doctor instructs you to take. You may need to take half tablets for your dose. Each tablet has a groove in the middle that makes it easy to break the tablets in half.

For more information about how to take Mesnex (mesna) , see the section "What is the most important information I should know?"

What are the most common side effects of Mesnex (mesna) ?

The most common side effects reported for Mesnex (mesna) Tablets are headache; digestive symptoms such as nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea (frequent or watery stools or bowel movements), stomach pain and low or no appetite; flu-like symptoms including dizziness, flushing, and fever; sensitive skin; sleepiness; coughing; sore throat; cold-like symptoms; injection site reactions. Some patients may get allergic reactions, rash, con-stipation, paleness, fluid retention (water stays in your body), and decreased blood pressure. These are not all the possible side effects of Mesnex (mesna) . For a complete list, ask your doctor.

If you suspect that someone may have taken more than the prescribed dose of Mesnex (mesna) , contact your local poison control center or emergency room right away.

Storage

Store Mesnex (mesna) Tablets in a cool, dry place protected from excess moisture and heat. If possible do not store in the kitchen or bathroom. Throw away any unused portion after the expiration date.

General advice about prescription medicines

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use Mesnex (mesna) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Mesnex (mesna) to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about Mesnex (mesna) . If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about Mesnex (mesna) that is written for health professionals.

• IFEX® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

This Patient Information Leaflet has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/8/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.