Prescription medication · Cannabinoid Antiemetic
nabilone
Also sold as Cesamet. Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1,963
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 11
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
nabilone (Cesamet) is a prescription Cannabinoid Antiemetic, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (1,963 FDA reports), with 11 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
nabilone (Cesamet) is a prescription Cannabinoid Antiemetic. Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
Cesamet contains nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid. It helps reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other medicines don't work.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
Common side effects
Drowsiness, Vertigo (feeling dizzy), Dry mouth
Key warnings
Cesamet can change your mental state.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from nabilone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,963 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for nabilone, by number of reports
- Pain
Pain
473 reports
- Musculoskeletal Stiffness
Musculoskeletal Stiffness
285 reports
- Insomnia
Insomnia
265 reports
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
265 reports
- Drug Hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity
254 reports
- Gait Disturbance
Gait Disturbance
244 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
230 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
222 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
220 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
193 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for nabilone each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where nabilone sits
nabilone has more FDA adverse-event reports than 12% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is nabilone; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,963 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
1,963
Reports Mentioning Death
102
5.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
782
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PAIN | 473 |
| 4 | MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS | 285 |
| 5 | INSOMNIA | 265 |
| 6 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 265 |
| 7 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 254 |
| 8 | GAIT DISTURBANCE | 244 |
| 9 | NAUSEA | 230 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 222 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 220 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 193 |
| 13 | WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT ABNORMAL | 193 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 177 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 177 |
| 16 | VOMITING | 153 |
| 17 | BACK PAIN | 138 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Mechanism: Both of these drugs affect the brain and can cause an increased level of sleepiness when taken at the same time.
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Mechanism: These medications both slow down the central nervous system, which can lead to a combined effect of increased tiredness or dizziness.
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Mechanism: Using these drugs together can cause a combined increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, along with extra sleepiness.
Drug Interactions Potential interactions between Cesamet 2 mg, and diazepam 5 mg; sodium secobarbital 100 mg; alcohol 45 mL (absolute laboratory alcohol); or codeine 65 mg, were evaluated in 15 subjects. Psychomotor function was particularly impaired with concurrent use of diazepam.
Mechanism: Both drugs slow down the brain and body, which can lead to a combined effect that makes it much harder to move or think clearly.
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Mechanism: These medications both act on the brain to cause sleepiness, and taking them together increases this effect.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I use Cesamet for nausea from other causes?
Can I drive while taking Cesamet?
Can I drink alcohol while taking Cesamet?
How long will Cesamet stay in my system?
Is Cesamet addictive?
Can I take Cesamet with other medications?
What should I do if I feel anxious or paranoid while taking Cesamet?
How quickly does Cesamet work?
Can I take Cesamet as needed?
What do the numbers on the capsule mean?
What are the common side effects of nabilone?
Does nabilone interact with other medications?
What drug class is nabilone?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for nabilone?
Related Medications in Cannabinoid Antiemetic
Other drugs grouped near nabilone - same-class peers and common alternatives.
alosetron
Lotronex
Alosetron (Lotronex) is a medicine for women with severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Compare with nabilone →
aprepitant
Emend
Aprepitant (Emend) is a medicine that helps prevent nausea and vomiting.
Compare with nabilone →
bisacodyl
Dulcolax
Bisacodyl is a medicine that helps you have a bowel movement.
Compare with nabilone →
bismuth subsalicylate
Pepto-Bismol
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is a medicine that can treat diarrhea and upset stomach.
Compare with nabilone →
cimetidine
Tagamet
Cimetidine (Tagamet) reduces stomach acid.
Compare with nabilone →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for nabilone: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 1,963.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 5.20%.
- desloratadine Δ 0.02 pts · 10,248 reports · Second-Generation Antihistamine 5.22%death share
- valbenazine Δ 0.03 pts · 24,340 reports · VMAT2 Inhibitor 5.22%death share
- cabergoline Δ 0.05 pts · 4,670 reports · Dopamine Agonist (Prolactin) 5.25%death share
- oxytocin Δ 0.06 pts · 2,902 reports · Oxytocic Hormone 5.13%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for nabilone
The FDA label for nabilone (sold under brand names such as Cesamet) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Cannabinoid Antiemetic class. Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Drowsiness, Vertigo (feeling dizzy), Dry mouth.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,963 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 19, 2021
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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