dronabinol vs nabilone
Side-by-side comparison of dronabinol and nabilone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Marinol
Cesamet
Dronabinol capsules contain a synthetic form of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. It is used to treat loss of appetite in AIDS patients and nausea/vomiting from chemotherapy.
Cesamet contains nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid. It helps reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other medicines don't work.
Dronabinol is used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in adults with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It also helps with nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other treatments don't work well. Dronabinol can help you eat more and feel less sick.
Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. You should only use it if other anti-nausea medicines have not worked for you. This medicine can change your mental state, so someone should watch over you when you first start taking it and when your dose changes.
Dronabinol works by activating cannabinoid receptors in your brain. These receptors affect appetite, mood, and the sensation of nausea. By activating these receptors, dronabinol can increase appetite and reduce nausea and vomiting.
Cesamet is a synthetic cannabinoid, similar to the active ingredient in marijuana. It works by affecting the parts of your brain that control nausea and vomiting. This helps to reduce these side effects of chemotherapy.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling very happy
- • Nausea
- • Feeling paranoid
- • Drowsiness
- • Vertigo (feeling dizzy)
- • Dry mouth
- • Euphoria (feeling "high")
- • Ataxia (loss of coordination)
- Feeling sick to your stomach 878
- Feeling very tired 696
- Loose, watery stools 604
- Death 593
- Throwing up 581
- Pain 473
- Drug not working 360
- Using the drug for a non-approved purpose 349
- Muscle and joint stiffness 285
- Trouble sleeping 265
Dronabinol can cause mental and mood changes. Tell your doctor if you have a history of mental illness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. This medicine can also affect your heart, causing changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Dronabinol may also increase the risk of seizures.
Cesamet can change your mental state. It has a high potential for abuse. Your doctor should watch you for signs of overuse or misuse, especially if you have a history of substance abuse or mental illness.
Dronabinol may harm your unborn baby. Avoid using this medicine if you are pregnant. If you are breastfeeding and have HIV, do not breastfeed due to the risk of passing HIV to your baby.
The effects of Cesamet during pregnancy and breastfeeding are not well known. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
How to Read This dronabinol vs nabilone Comparison
dronabinol is classified in the Cannabinoid Antiemetic drug class, while nabilone sits within the Cannabinoid Antiemetic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dronabinol has 3,352 submissions while nabilone has 1,732. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between dronabinol and nabilone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.