dronabinol
Brand names: Marinol
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.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$4.20/unit
Generic Available
Yes (2 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Dronabinol is used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in adults with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Common side effects
Abdominal pain, Dizziness, Feeling very happy
Key warnings
Dronabinol can cause mental and mood changes.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
For appetite loss, the usual starting dose is 2.5 mg twice a day, one hour before lunch and dinner. For nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, the starting dose is 5 mg/m² taken 1 to 3 hours before chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, take it every 2 to 4 hours for a total of 4 to 6 doses per day. Take the first dose on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before eating.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
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 continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store dronabinol capsules in the refrigerator between 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C). Do not freeze.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,504 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,819 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
7,819
Death-Related Reports
1,639
Hospitalization Reports
3,063
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 878 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 696 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 604 |
| 4 | DEATH | 593 |
| 5 | VOMITING | 580 |
| 6 | OFF LABEL USE | 490 |
| 7 | DECREASED APPETITE | 446 |
| 8 | PAIN | 427 |
| 9 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 413 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 377 |
| 11 | ASTHENIA | 375 |
| 12 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 319 |
| 13 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 314 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 310 |
| 15 | PNEUMONIA | 302 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
(7.3) Highly protein-bound drugs: Potential for displacement of other drugs from plasma proteins; monitor for adverse reactions to concomitant highly protein-bound drugs and narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B) when initiating or increasing the dosage of dronabinol capsules. Although this displacement has not been confirmed in vivo , monitor patients for increased adverse reactions to narrow therapeutic index drugs that are highly protein-bound (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B) when initiating treatment or increasing the dosage of dronab...
Mechanism: Dronabinol can push warfarin off the proteins in your blood that normally hold it. This leaves more active warfarin in your system, which can increase the risk of bleeding.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for side effects like unusual bruising or bleeding when starting or changing your dose.
Monitor for potentially increased dronabinol-related adverse reactions when dronabinol capsules are co-administered with inhibitors of CYP2C9 (e.g., amiodarone, fluconazole) and inhibitors of CYP3A4 enzymes (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, erythromycin, grapefruit juice).
Mechanism: Ketoconazole blocks the natural process your body uses to get rid of dronabinol. This can cause dronabinol levels to build up, making side effects more likely.
What to do: Watch for increased side effects like dizziness or confusion, and let your doctor know if you feel unusual while taking both drugs.
Monitor for potentially increased dronabinol-related adverse reactions when dronabinol capsules are co-administered with inhibitors of CYP2C9 (e.g., amiodarone, fluconazole) and inhibitors of CYP3A4 enzymes (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, erythromycin, grapefruit juice).
Mechanism: Fluconazole stops the liver from breaking down dronabinol, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for increased side effects when taking these drugs together.
(7.3) Highly protein-bound drugs: Potential for displacement of other drugs from plasma proteins; monitor for adverse reactions to concomitant highly protein-bound drugs and narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B) when initiating or increasing the dosage of dronabinol capsules. Although this displacement has not been confirmed in vivo , monitor patients for increased adverse reactions to narrow therapeutic index drugs that are highly protein-bound (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B) when initiating treatment or increasing the dosage of dronab...
Mechanism: Dronabinol may knock cyclosporine off the proteins it usually sticks to in your blood, making the cyclosporine more active.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you for signs of too much cyclosporine when you start or change your dronabinol dose.
Monitor for potentially increased dronabinol-related adverse reactions when dronabinol capsules are co-administered with inhibitors of CYP2C9 (e.g., amiodarone, fluconazole) and inhibitors of CYP3A4 enzymes (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, erythromycin, grapefruit juice).
Mechanism: Erythromycin slows down the liver enzymes that process dronabinol, which can cause the drug to stay in your body longer.
What to do: Monitor yourself for increased side effects and tell your doctor if you notice any changes.
Common Questions
Can I drive while taking dronabinol?
What should I do if I feel too high?
Can I take dronabinol with other medications?
How long does it take for dronabinol to start working?
What if dronabinol makes my nausea worse?
Can elderly patients take dronabinol?
What are the signs of a hypersensitivity reaction?
Is dronabinol the same as marijuana?
Can dronabinol cause mental health problems?
What should I do if I have side effects?
What are the common side effects of dronabinol?
Does dronabinol interact with other medications?
What drug class is dronabinol?
Is dronabinol safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Cannabinoid Antiemetic
Other drugs grouped near dronabinol — same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
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bisacodyl
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement.
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bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
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cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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💉 Procedure Costs
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What the FDA Data Shows for dronabinol
The FDA label for dronabinol (sold under brand names such as Marinol) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Cannabinoid Antiemetic class. Dronabinol is used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in adults with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Abdominal pain, Dizziness, Feeling very happy.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,504 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $4.20.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 7, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages