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Overview: Dronabinol is used to increase appetite and for nausea and vomiting in certain people. Common side effects with dronabinol include dizziness and tiredness. Dronabinol is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store dronabinol in a safe place to protect it from theft.

Uses

What is dronabinol used for?

Dronabinol is commonly used to help increase appetite in people with AIDS who have lost weight.

Dronabinol is also used to treat nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy in people who have already tried other medicines that have not fully treated their symptoms.

Dronabinol may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does dronabinol work (mechanism of action)?

Dronabinol is a type of medicine called a cannabinoid. These medicines work on different parts of the brain to affect appetite, nausea, and vomiting. 

How is dronabinol supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Marinol
  • Syndros

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg oral capsules
  • 5 mg/mL oral liquid

How should I store dronabinol?

Oral Capsule. Dronabinol capsules should be stored at a cool temperature or in the refrigerator, between 46 F to 59 F (8 C to 15 C). Store in a well-closed container. Do not freeze dronabinol capsules. 

Oral Liquid. Dronabinol oral liquid should be stored in the refrigerator, between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C), in the carton it came in before you use it. It can be exposed to temperatures up to 77 F (25 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. After you open the bottle for the first time, it can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C) in the carton it came in. Write the date you open the bottle on the bottle and throw away any medicine that you do not use within 42 days after opening it for the first time. 

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of dronabinol?

The most common side effects of dronabinol are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Dizziness
  • Feelings of intense happiness or joy
  • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (see below)
  • Paranoia
  • Sleepiness
  • Abnormal thinking

There may be other side effects of dronabinol that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of dronabinol?

While less common, the most serious side effects of dronabinol are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Dronabinol may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking dronabinol and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Problems Thinking Clearly. Dronabinol can change your mental function and affect your ability to think clearly. People who are 65 or older may be more likely to have problems thinking clearly. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms while taking dronabinol.

  • Confusion
  • Increased sleepiness
  • Trouble remembering things
  • Unable to concentrate

Changes in Blood Pressure. Dronabinol can raise or lower your blood pressure. Changes in blood pressure can happen at any time during treatment, but are most likely to happen when you are starting dronabinol for the first time or changing your dose. People with heart problems and older people (especially those with dementia) are more likely to have changes in blood pressure. This can increase the risk of falling. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of blood pressure changes while taking dronabinol.

  • Headaches
  • Vision problems
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Fast heartbeat

Nausea, Vomiting, or Stomach Pain. Dronabinol can cause new or worsening symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain while taking dronabinol. 

Seizures. Some people who have taken dronabinol have reported having seizures. There are many different types of seizures and some of them are not easy to recognize. Stop taking dronabinol and call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs that a seizure is happening or could happen.

  • Muscle twitching, jerking, spasms, tremors, or other uncontrolled movements
  • Stiffening of your arms and legs
  • Feeling anxious, nervous, confused, or a sense of dread
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Falling or losing consciousness

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use dronabinol?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take dronabinol.

  • Dronabinol
  • Marinol
  • Syndros
  • Alcohol (oral liquid only)
  • Sesame oil (oral capsules only)

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific dronabinol products they stock.

Drug Interactions. Dronabinol liquid should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Dronabinol liquid contains alcohol, which can cause serious side effects when taken with certain other medicines. Before taking dronabinol oral liquid, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

What should I know about dronabinol before using it?

Do not take dronabinol unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed. 

Read and follow the “Instructions for Use” if you take the liquid form of this medicine. If an increase in your dronabinol dose is needed, your healthcare provider will increase the dose slowly to limit side effects. 

Do not share dronabinol with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep dronabinol out of the reach of children. If you are storing dronabinol in the refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator. 

Dronabinol is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store dronabinol in a safe place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.

Dronabinol can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how dronabinol affects you.

People who are aged 65 years and older can be at greater risk for some side effects from dronabinol. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are aged 65 years or older.

 If you are taking dronabinol oral liquid, use the adapter and dosing syringe that comes with your prescription to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Take dronabinol oral liquid with a full glass of water (six to eight ounces). 

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using dronabinol?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if dronabinol is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Heart problems
  • Mental health problems, including mania, depression, or schizophrenia
  • History of seizures
  • A genetic condition that affects how your body processes medicines, such as a CYP2C9 polymorphism

Substance or Alcohol Use Disorder or Dependence. If you have a history of substance dependence or misusing drugs or alcohol, you may have an increased risk of misusing dronabinol. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following behaviors while taking dronabinol.

  • Feeling irritable, nervous, or restless
  • Wanting more dronabinol than what is prescribed
  • Wanting a higher dose of dronabinol

Pregnancy. Dronabinol may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take dronabinol while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking dronabinol, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if dronabinol passes into breast milk. There may be other risks associated with breastfeeding if you have HIV or are receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take dronabinol while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does dronabinol interact with foods or drinks?

The risk of side effects may be increased if you eat or drink grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking dronabinol. 

When dronabinol is used to increase appetite in people with AIDS who have lost weight, the dose is usually taken about an hour before lunch and dinner. 

When dronabinol is used to treat nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy in people with cancer, the first dose of dronabinol is taken a few hours before chemotherapy on an empty stomach (at least 30 minutes before eating). After that, future doses do not need to be taken on an empty stomach but should be taken around the same time in relation to meals. 

The risk of dizziness or sleepiness may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking dronabinol.

Does dronabinol interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking dronabinol.

  • Disulfiram, a medicine commonly used to help treat alcohol use disorder
  • Metronidazole (Flagyl and others), which is a medicine commonly used to treat bacterial and other infections
  • Any medicine for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital
  • Amiodarone (Pacerone and others), which is a medicine used for an irregular heart rhythm
  • An amphetamine, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall), or dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), which is a medicine used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Clarithromycin or erythromycin (Ery-Tab and others), which is a medicine used for bacterial infections
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine that suppresses your immune system
  • Ritonavir (Norvir), which is a medicine commonly used to treat HIV
  • An anticholinergic medicine, which includes antihistamines and medicines commonly used for overactive bladder, Parkinson’s disease, or stomach problems
  • A tricyclic antidepressant, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or protriptyline, even if it is not used for depression
  • Ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), fluconazole (Diflucan), or amphotericin B (Abelcet, AmBisome), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
  • Warfarin, which is a blood thinner
  • Any other medicine that causes dizziness and sleepiness, such as prescription pain medicines, sleep medicines, muscle relaxants, and medicines for anxiety
  • Any other medicine that can affect your blood pressure or heart rate

Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of dronabinol, and vice versa. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with dronabinol. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much dronabinol?

If you or someone else has used too much dronabinol, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of dronabinol?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.