Rx only
Fact box
- Therapeutic class
- Nitrogen mustard analogues
- Action class
- Alkylating Drug
- Mechanism
- Alkylating Activity
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Available as
3000 MG · Injection1000 MG · Injection60 ML · Injection20 ML · Injection
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
⚠ Boxed warningWARNING: MYELOSUPPRESSION, ENCEPHALOPATHY, NEPHROTOXICITY and UROTOXICITY • Myelosuppression can be severe and lead to fatal infections. Monitor blood counts prior to and at intervals after each treatment cycle [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. • Encephalopathy can be severe and may result in death. Monitor for CNS toxicity and discontinue treatment for encephalopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. • Nephrotoxicity can be severe and result in renal failure. Hemorrhagic cystitis can be severe and can be reduced by the prophylactic use of mesna [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. WARNING: MYELOSUPPRESSION, ENCEPHALOPATHY, NEPHROTOXICITY and UROTOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning . • Myelosuppression can be severe and lead to fatal infections ( 5.1 ) • Encephalopathy can be severe and may result in death ( 5.2 ) • Nephrotoxicity can be severe and result in renal failure. Hemorrhagic cystitis can be severe. ( 5.3 )
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ifosfamide for Injection is indicated for use in adults in combination with certain other approved antineoplastic agents for third-line chemotherapy of germ cell testicular cancer. Ifosfamide for Injection is an alkylating drug indicated for use in adults in combination with certain other approved antineoplastic agents for third-line chemotherapy of germ cell testicular cancer. ( 1 )
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Ifosfamide is a prodrug that requires metabolic activation by hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzymes to exert its cytotoxic activity. Activation occurs by hydroxylation at the ring carbon atom forming the unstable intermediate 4‑hydroxyifosfamide and its ring-opened aldo tautomer, which decomposes to yield the cytotoxic and urotoxic compound acrolein and an alkylating isophosphoramide mustard isophosphoramide mustard. The exact mechanism of action of ifosfamide has not been determined, but its cytotoxic action is primarily through DNA crosslinks caused by alkylation by the isophosphoramide mustard at guanine N-7 positions. The formation of inter- and intra-strand cross-links in the DNA results in cell death.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Administer Ifosfamide for Injection with extensive hydration consisting of at least 2 liters of oral or intravenous fluid per day to reduce the incidence or severity of bladder toxicity. ( 2.1 , 5.3 ) • Administer mesna with Ifosfamide for Injection to reduce the incidence or severity of hemorrhagic cystitis. ( 2.1 , 5.3 ) • Administer Ifosfamide for Injection as a slow intravenous infusion (at least 30 minutes) at a dose of 1.2 grams per m 2 per day for 5 consecutive days. Repeat every 3 weeks or after recovery from hematologic toxicity. ( 2.2 ) • Individualize the dose and dosing schedule of Ifosfamide for Injection based on patient risk factors and adverse reactions. ( 2.2 ) • See Full Prescribing Information for instructions on preparation and administration. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Administer Ifosfamide for Injection with extensive hydration consisting of at least 2 liters of oral or intravenous fluid per day to reduce the incidence or severity of bladder toxicity. Administer Ifosfamide for Injection with mesna to reduce the incidence or severity of hemorrhagic cystitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. 2.2 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage of Ifosfamide for Injection is 1.2 grams per m2 per day administered as a slow intravenous infusion (lasting at least 30 minutes) for 5 consecutive days. Treatment is repeated every 3 weeks or after recovery from hematologic toxicity. Individualize the dose and dosing schedule of Ifosfamide for Injection based on patient risk factors and adverse reactions. 2.3 Preparation and Administration Ifosfamide for Injection is a hazardous drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures.1 Skin reactions associated with accidental exposure to Ifosfamide for Injection may occur. To minimize the risk of dermal exposure, always wear impervious gloves when handling vials and solutions containing Ifosfamide for Injection. If Ifosfamide for Injection solution contacts the skin or mucosa, immediately wash the skin thoroughly with soap and water or rinse the mucosa with copious amounts of water. Prepare Ifosfamide for Injection for intravenous use by adding Sterile Water for Injection, USP or Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (benzyl alcohol or parabens preserved) to the vial and shaking to dissolve. Before administration, the substance must be completely dissolved. Use the quantity of diluents shown in below to reconstitute the product: Table 1: Ifosfamide for Injection Quantities for Dilution and Final Concentrations Dosage Strength Quantity of Diluent Final Concentration 1 gram 20 mL 50 mg per mL 3 grams 60 mL 50 mg per mL Solutions of ifosfamide may be diluted further to achieve concentrations of 0.6 to 20 mg/mL in the following fluids: • 5% Dextrose Injection, USP • 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP • Lactated Ringer’s Injections, USP • Sterile Water for Injection, USP Because essentially identical stability results were obtained for Sterile Water admixtures as for the other admixtures (5% Dextrose Injection, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, and Lactated Ringer’s Injection), the use of large volume parenteral glass bottles, VIAFLEX bags or PAB bags that contain intermediate concentrations or mixtures of excipients (e.g., 2.5% Dextrose Injection, 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, or 5% Dextrose and 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection) is also acceptable. Refrigerate constituted or constituted and further diluted solutions of Ifosfamide for Injection and use within 24 hours. Benzyl-alcohol-containing solutions can reduce the stability of ifosfamide. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common (≥ 10%) adverse reactions were alopecia, nausea/vomiting, hematuria, leukopenia, anemia, CNS toxicity, infection. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Baxter Healthcare at phone: 1 866 888 2472 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted from 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 clinical practice. The adverse reactions in Table 2 below are based on 30 publications describing clinical experience with fractionated administration of ifosfamide as a single agent with a total dose of 4 to 12 g/m 2 per course. Table 2: Adverse Reactions in Patients Treated with Single Agent Ifosfamide for Injection Adverse Reaction Single Agent Ifosfamide for Injection % (number of patients) Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Alopecia 90% (540/603) Dermatitis 0.08% (1/1317) Papular rash 0.08% (1/1317) Gastrointestinal Disorders Nausea/Vomiting 47% (443/964) Diarrhea 0.7% (9/1317) Stomatitis 0.3% (4/1317) Renal and Urinary Disorders Hemorrhagic cystitis Includes dysuria and pollakiuria Hematuria - without mesna 44% (282/640) - with mesna 21% (33/155) Macrohematuria - without mesna 11% (66/594) - with mesna 5% (5/97) Renal dysfunction Includes acute renal failure, irreversible renal failure (fatal outcomes) serum creatinine increased, BUN increased, creatinine clearance decreased, metabolic acidosis, anuria, oliguria, glycosuria, hyponatremia, uremia, creatinine clearance increased -- Renal structural damage Includes acute tubular necrosis, renal parenchymal damage, enzymuria, cylindruria, proteinuria -- Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders Leukopenia Includes neutropenia, granulocytopenia, lymphopenia, and pancytopenia (any) -- Leukopenia <1 x 10 3 /µL 44% (267/614) Anemia Includes anemia and decrease in hemoglobin/hematocrit 38% (202/533) - with mesna 21.3% (33/155) Thrombocytopenia Includes severe or fatal bleeding (any) -- Thrombocytopenia, 50 x 10 3 /µL 4.8% (35/729) Nervous System Disorders Central nervous system toxicity Includes coma and death Includes abnormal behavior, affect lability aggression, agitation, anxiety, aphasia, asthenia, ataxia, cerebellar syndrome, cerebral function deficiency, cognitive disorder, coma, confusional state, convulsions, cranial nerve dysfunction, depressed state of consciousness, depression, disorientation, dizziness, electroencephalogram abnormal, encephalopathy, flat affect, hallucinations, headache, ideation, lethargy, memory impairment, mood change, motor dysfunction, muscle spasms, myoclonus, progressive loss of brainstem reflexes, psychotic reaction, restlessness, somnolence, tremor, urinary incontinence 15% (154/1001) Peripheral neuropathy 0.4% (5/1317) Infections and Infestations Infection 10% (112/1128) General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Phlebitis Includes phlebitis and irritation of the venous walls 2.8% (37/1317) Neutropenic fever Includes granulocytopenic fever 1% (13/1317) Fatigue 0.3% (4/1317) Malaise Unable to calculate Hepatobiliary Disorders Hepatotoxicity Includes increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 1.8% (22/1190) Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Anorexia 1.1% (15/1317) Cardiac Disorders Cardiotoxicity Includes severe or fatal congestive heart failure, tachycardia, pulmonary edema 0.5% (7/1317) Vascular Disorders Hypotension Includes shock and death 0.3% (4/1317) 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Ifosfamide for Injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequ
Safety advice
Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.
PregnancyUnsafe
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] , and human and animal data (see Data) , Ifosfamide for Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fetal growth retardation and neonatal anemia have been reported following exposure to ifosfamide‑containing chemotherapy regimens during pregnancy. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Animal studies indicate that ifosfamide is capable of causing gene mutations and chromosomal damage in vivo . In pregnant mice, resorptions increased and anomalies were present at day 19 after a 30 mg/m 2 dose of ifosfamide was administered on day 11 of gestation. Embryo-lethal effects were observed in rats following the administration of 54 mg/m 2 doses of ifosfamide from the 6th through the 15th day of gestation and embryotoxic effects were apparent after dams received 18 mg/m 2 doses over the same dosing period. Ifosfamide is embryotoxic to rabbits receiving 88 mg/m 2 /day doses from the 6th through the 18th day after mating. The number of anomalies was also significantly increased over the control group.
BreastfeedingCaution
…Lactation: Advise not to breastfeed.…
AlcoholCaution
…nephrotoxic treatments including cisplatin, CNS active drugs, or alcohol use.…
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyCaution
…Renal impairment: Closely monitor for adverse reactions and consider dosage modifications.…
LiverCaution
…Veno-occlusive Liver Disease can occur.…
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Myelosuppression: Monitor blood counts prior to treatment, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. ( 5.1 ) • Encephalopathy: Monitor for signs and symptoms of CNS toxicity during and after Ifosfamide for Injection treatment. Dose interruption or permanent discontinuation may be required based on individual safety and tolerability. ( 5.2 ) • Nephrotoxicity and Urotoxicity: Monitor signs and symptoms. Monitor serum and urine chemistries. (2.1, 5.3 ) • Cardiotoxicity: Arrhythmias, other ECG changes, and cardiomyopathy can occur and result in death. Cardiotoxicity is dose dependent and the risk is increased in patients with preexisting cardiac, treatment with other cardiotoxic agents, radiation, and renal impairment. ( 5.4 ) • Pulmonary toxicity: Interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary toxicity with fatal outcomes can occur. Monitor for signs and symptoms of pulmonary toxicity and treat as clinically indicated. ( 5.5 ) • Secondary malignancies can occur. ( 5.6 ) • Veno-occlusive Liver Disease can occur. ( 5.7 ) • Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise of potential risk to a fetus and use of effective contraception. ( 5.8 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) • Infertility: Can impair male and female reproductive function. ( 5.9 ) • Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions have been reported. ( 5.10 ) 5.1 Myelosuppression Ifosfamide for Injection can cause myelosuppression that results in severe or fatal infections including sepsis or septic shock. Ifosfamide‑induced myelosuppression includes leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia (with bleeding events), and anemia. The nadir of the leukocyte count usually occurs during the second week after administration of Ifosfamide for Injection. The risk of myelosuppression is dose‑dependent and increased in patients with reduced renal function, bone marrow metastases, prior radiation, and concomitant or prior therapy with other cytotoxic agents. Monitor complete blood counts, including leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, and hemoglobin prior to each administration of Ifosfamide for Injection, at appropriate intervals during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Myelosuppression may require dosage delays. Avoid administration of Ifosfamide for Injection to patients with a WBC count below 2000/µL, a platelet count below 50,000/µL, or when signs or symptoms of active infection or severe immunosuppression are present. 5.2 Encephalopathy Ifosfamide for Injection can cause encephalopathy which may be fatal. Signs and symptoms may include confusion, somnolence, coma, hallucination, blurred vision, psychotic behavior, extrapyramidal symptoms, urinary incontinence, and seizures. Risk factors include high ifosfamide dosage, hypoalbuminemia, impaired renal function, poor performance status, bulky abdominal-pelvic disease, nephrotoxic treatments including cisplatin, CNS active drugs, or alcohol use. Signs and symptoms may occur or recur within hours to days after administration of Ifosfamide for Injection. Continue supportive care until complete resolution of CNS signs and symptoms. Monitor for signs and symptoms of encephalopathy during and after Ifosfamide for Injection treatment. Dose interruption or permanent discontinuation may be required based on individual safety and tolerability. Consider methylene blue for treatment of encephalopathy. 5.3 Nephrotoxicity and Urotoxicity Ifosfamide for Injection can cause severe or fatal nephrotoxicity and urotoxicity including glomerular or tubular dysfunction, tubular necrosis, renal parenchymal necrosis, acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, and hemorrhagic cystitis (requiring blood transfusion). Tubular damage may occur up to years after cessation of Ifosfamide for Injection treatment. The risk of nephrotoxicity is increased in patients with renal impairment or reduced nephron reserve. Hemorrhagic cystitis is dose‑dependent and the risk is increased with past or concomitant radiation of the bladder or busul
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Ifosfamide for Injection is contraindicated in patients with: • Known hypersensitivity to administration of ifosfamide. • Urinary outflow obstruction. • Known hypersensitivity to administration of ifosfamide. ( 4 ) • Urinary outflow obstruction. ( 4 )
Pediatric use
8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients. Renal rickets and growth retardation in pediatric patients treated with ifosfamide have been reported. Ifosfamide for Injection may cause temporary or permanent infertility in prepubertal girls or in females of child-bearing potential and may have an increased risk of developing premature menopause. Ifosfamide for Injection may cause abnormal secondary sexual characteristic development in prepubertal males. Sterility, azoospermia, and testicular atrophy have been reported in male patients. Azoospermia may be reversible in some patients, but may not occur for several years after cessation of Ifosfamide for Injection therapy.
⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.
Interactions (label text — not an interaction checker)
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • CYP3A4 Inducers: Monitor for increased toxicity when used in combination with CYP3A4 inducers. ( 7.1 ) • CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Use in combination with CYP3A4 inhibitors could decrease the effectiveness of ifosfamide. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Inducers of CYP3A4 CYP3A4 inducers may increase the metabolism of ifosfamide to its active alkylating metabolites. CYP3A4 inducers may increase the formation of the neurotoxic/nephrotoxic ifosfamide metabolite, chloroacetaldehyde. Closely monitor patients taking ifosfamide with CYP3A4 inducers for toxicities and consider dose adjustment. 7.2 Inhibitors of CYP3A4 CYP3A4 inhibitors may decrease the metabolism of ifosfamide to its active alkylating metabolites, perhaps decreasing the effectiveness of ifosfamide treatment.
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE No specific antidote for Ifosfamide for Injection is known. Patients who receive an overdose should be closely monitored for the development of toxicities. Serious consequences of overdosage include manifestations of dose-dependent toxicities such as CNS toxicity, nephrotoxicity, myelosuppression, and mucositis [see Warnings and Precautions (5) ]. Management of overdosage would include general supportive measures to sustain the patient through any period of toxicity that might occur, including appropriate state-of-the-art treatment for any concurrent infection, myelosuppression, or other toxicity. Ifosfamide as well as ifosfamide metabolites are dialyzable. Cystitis prophylaxis with mesna may be helpful in preventing or limiting urotoxic effects with overdose.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)
- IFEX (IFOSFAMIDE) INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION [BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION]
- IFOSFAMIDE INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION [BAXTER HEALTHCARE COMPANY]
- IFOSFAMIDE INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION [BAXTER HEALTHCARE COMPANY]
- IFOSFAMIDE INJECTION [HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS USA INC.]
- IFOSFAMIDE INJECTION, POWDER, LYOPHILIZED, FOR SOLUTION [FRESENIUS KABI USA, LLC]
6 marketed products on record (RxNorm)
Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.