Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Mesna adverse reaction data are available from four Phase 1 studies in which single intravenous doses of 600-1200 mg mesna injection without concurrent chemotherapy were administered to a total of 53 healthy volunteers and single oral doses of 600-2400 mg of MESNEX tablets were administered to a total of 82 healthy volunteers. The most frequently reported side effects (observed in two or more healthy volunteers) for healthy volunteers receiving single doses of mesna injection alone were headache, injection site reactions, flushing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, somnolence, diarrhea, anorexia, fever, pharyngitis, hyperesthesia, influenza-like symptoms, and coughing. In two Phase 1 multiple-dose studies where healthy volunteers received MESNEX tablets alone or intravenous mesna followed by repeated doses of MESNEX tablets, flatulence and rhinitis were reported. In addition, constipation was reported by healthy volunteers who had received repeated doses of intravenous mesna.
Additional adverse reactions in healthy volunteers receiving mesna alone included injection site reactions, abdominal pain/colic, epigastric pain/burning, mucosal irritation, lightheadedness, back pain, arthralgia, myalgia, conjunctivitis, nasal congestion, rigors, paresthesia, photophobia, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, extremity pain, malaise, chest pain, dysuria, pleuritic pain, dry mouth, dyspnea, and hyperhidrosis. In healthy volunteers, mesna was commonly associated with a rapid (within 24 hours) decrease in lymphocyte count, which was generally reversible within one week of administration.
Because mesna is used in combination with ifosfamide or ifosfamide-containing chemotherapy regimens, it is difficult to distinguish the adverse reactions which may be due to MESNEX from those caused by the concomitantly administered cytotoxic agents.
Adverse reactions reasonably associated with mesna administered intravenously and orally in four controlled studies in which patients received ifosfamide or ifosfamide-containing regimens are presented in .
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in ≥ 5% of Patients Receiving Mesna in combination with Ifosfamide-containing Regimens |
Mesna Regimen | Intravenous-Intravenous-Intravenous Intravenous dosing of ifosfamide and mesna followed by either intravenous or oral doses of mesna according to the applicable dosage schedule. [see Dosage and Administration (2)]. | Intravenous-Oral-Oral |
N exposed | 119 (100.0%) | 119 (100%) |
Incidence of AEs | 101 (84.9%) | 106 (89.1%) |
Nausea | 65 (54.6) | 64 (53.8) |
Vomiting | 35 (29.4) | 45 (37.8) |
Constipation | 28 (23.5) | 21 (17.6) |
Leukopenia | 25 (21.0) | 21 (17.6) |
Fatigue | 24 (20.2) | 24 (20.2) |
Fever | 24 (20.2) | 18 (15.1) |
Anorexia | 21 (17.6) | 19 (16.0) |
Thrombocytopenia | 21 (17.6) | 16 (13.4) |
Anemia | 20 (16.8) | 21 (17.6) |
Granulocytopenia | 16 (13.4) | 15 (12.6) |
Asthenia | 15 (12.6) | 21 (17.6) |
Abdominal Pain | 14 (11.8) | 18 (15.1) |
Alopecia | 12 (10.1) | 13 (10.9) |
Dyspnea | 11 (9.2) | 11 (9.2) |
Chest Pain | 10 (8.4) | 11 (9.2) |
Hypokalemia | 10 (8.4) | 11 (9.2) |
Diarrhea | 9 (7.6) | 17 (14.3) |
Dizziness | 9 (7.6) | 5 (4.2) |
Headache | 9 (7.6) | 13 (10.9) |
Pain | 9 (7.6) | 10 (8.4) |
Sweating Increased | 9 (7.6) | 2 (1.7) |
Back Pain | 8 (6.7) | 6 (5.0) |
Hematuria | 8 (6.7) | 7 (5.9) |
Injection Site Reaction | 8 (6.7) | 10 (8.4) |
Edema | 8 (6.7) | 9 (7.6) |
Edema Peripheral | 8 (6.7) | 8 (6.7) |
Somnolence | 8 (6.7) | 12 (10.1) |
Anxiety | 7 (5.9) | 4 (3.4) |
Confusion | 7 (5.9) | 6 (5.0) |
Face Edema | 6 (5.0) | 5 (4.2) |
Insomnia | 6 (5.0) | 11 (9.2) |
Coughing | 5 (4.2) | 10 (8.4) |
Dyspepsia | 4 (3.4) | 6 (5.0) |
Hypotension | 4 (3.4) | 6 (5.0) |
Pallor | 4 (3.4) | 6 (5.0) |
Dehydration | 3 (2.5) | 7 (5.9) |
Pneumonia | 2 (1.7) | 8 (6.7) |
Tachycardia | 1 (0.8) | 7 (5.9) |
Flushing | 1 (0.8) | 6 (5.0) |