COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Mesnex
GENERIC NAME(S): MESNA
Description: Mesna is used to prevent urothelial toxicity associated with oxazaphosphorine, ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide. It acts in the kidney; reacting with thiol groups of urotoxic metabolites (e.g. acrolein) of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide. It is used as a mucolytic in the management of some respiratory tract conditions e.g. cystic fibrosis where other mucolytics have failed. It acts by reducing the viscosity of pulmonary secretions; the drug’s free sulfhydryl group is thought to reduce disulfide linkages of mucoproteins.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Oral bioavailability: 45-79%. Time to plasma peak: 2-3 hr.
Distribution: No tissue penetration. Protein-binding: 69-75%.
Metabolism: In blood, rapidly oxidised to mesna disulfide and then reduced back to mesna after glomerular filtration into renal tubules.
Excretion: Via urine: As unchanged drug (18-26%) and metabolites. Half-life elimination: Mesna: 24 minutes; Mesna disulfide: 72 minutes.