Two medicines, side by side
Alosetron vs dronabinol
Alosetron has no indication this site maps; dronabinol has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of alosetron since 2000 and of dronabinol since 1985. Pharmacies paid $2.02 per alosetron HCl 0.5 mg tablet and $3.35 per dronabinol 5 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, alosetron is a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist and dronabinol a cannabinoid.
Check it at the source: the alosetron FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 23, 2026); the dronabinol FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026).
Highlights of the alosetron record
Alosetron (Lotronex) · label of March 23, 2026
SERIOUS GASTROINTESTINAL ADVERSE REACTIONS Infrequent but serious gastrointestinal adverse reactions have been reported with the use of LOTRONEX. These events, including ischemic colitis and serious complications of constipation, have resulted in hospitalization, and rarely, blood transfusion, surgery, and death.
Used for
From the label: indicationsLOTRONEX is indicated only for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who have: chronic IBS symptoms (generally lasting 6 months or longer), had anatomic or biochemical abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract excluded, and not responded adequately to conventional therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 9, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $2.02 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the dronabinol record
Dronabinol (Marinol) · label of May 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDronabinol capsules are indicated in adults for the treatment of: anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.35 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alosetron label of March 23, 2026, Dronabinol label of May 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alosetron and dronabinol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alosetron is a serotonin-3 receptor antagonist and dronabinol a cannabinoid.
How each works, in its label's words: Alosetron, “Alosetron is a potent and selective 5-HT 3 receptor antagonist. 5-HT 3 receptors are ligand-gated cation channels that are extensively distributed on enteric neurons in the human gastrointestinal …”; Dronabinol, “Cannabinoid receptors have been discovered in neural tissues.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Alosetron, “The terminal elimination half-life of alosetron is approximately 1.5 hours (plasma clearance is approximately 600 …”; Dronabinol, “Elimination The pharmacokinetics of dronabinol can be described using a two compartment model with an initial (alpha) …”
Only the alosetron label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: alosetron since 2015; dronabinol since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: alosetron none; dronabinol CII,CIII.
| Alosetron | Dronabinol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | Serotonin-3 Receptor Antagonist | Cannabinoid |
| How it works (label) | Alosetron is a potent and selective 5-HT 3 receptor antagonist. 5-HT 3 receptors are ligand-gated cation channels that are extensively distributed on enteric neurons in the human gastrointestinal tract, as well as other peripheral and … | Dronabinol is an orally active cannabinoid which has complex effects on the CNS, including central sympathomimetic activity. Cannabinoid receptors have been discovered in neural tissues. |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal elimination half-life of alosetron is approximately 1.5 hours (plasma clearance is approximately 600 mL/min). | Elimination The pharmacokinetics of dronabinol can be described using a two compartment model with an initial (alpha) half-life of about 4 hours and a terminal (beta) half-life of 25 to 36 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 9, 2000 | May 31, 1985 |
| First generic approved | May 4, 2015 | June 27, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 1 labeler |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.02 per tablet (Alosetron HCl 0.5 mg tablet) | $3.35 per capsule (Dronabinol 5 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | +13% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 908 | 7,995 |
| DEA schedule | none | CII,CIII |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to alosetron
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions