Syndros, Marinol

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Amber Watson, PharmD
Updated on August 12, 2023

Dronabinol (droe NAB i nol) is a generic medication prescribed for lack of appetite and nausea and vomiting in certain people. Dronabinol belongs to a group of drugs called cannabinoids.

Side effects of dronabinol

Dronabinol may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of dronabinol and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about dronabinol’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for dronabinol listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of dronabinol are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about dronabinol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for dronabinol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Dronabinol oral capsule’s mild side effects include:

• abnormal thinking
• dizziness
• euphoria (feeling “high” or extremely happy)
• sleepiness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for dronabinol” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of dronabinol are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about dronabinol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for dronabinol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, dronabinol’s serious side effects include:

• changes in blood pressure or heart rate that can lead to fainting
• new or worsening abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
• problems thinking clearly or operating vehicles or machinery
• seizures
• worsening mental health conditions
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for dronabinol” section.

Uses of dronabinol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as dronabinol for certain conditions. Approved uses for dronabinol are described below.

Use for nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

Doctors may prescribe dronabinol oral capsule for treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy (traditional drugs prescribed to treat cancer) when other treatments haven’t worked. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment during chemotherapy treatment.

With chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting are very common side effects. They can become severe and lead to complications, such as dehydration (low fluid level). They can also reduce your quality of life while you have cancer treatment. Dronabinol can help manage these side effects.

Doctors may not prescribe dronabinol oral capsule in certain situations, such as for people who are allergic to sesame oil.

Use for weight loss due to anorexia in people with AIDS

Doctors may prescribe dronabinol oral capsule for treating weight loss due to anorexia (lack of appetite) in people with AIDS. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With AIDS, advanced HIV causes several problems that can lead to weight loss and wasting. Lack of appetite is one of these factors. People with HIV wasting syndrome are also often weak and have fevers, diarrhea, or both. Dronabinol can help stimulate appetite and weight gain in these people.

Doctors may not prescribe dronabinol oral capsule in certain situations, such as for people who are allergic to sesame oil.

Common questions about dronabinol

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about dronabinol.

What brand names are available for dronabinol?

Dronabinol oral capsule is available as the brand-name drug Marinol. There is also a liquid form available as the brand-name drug Syndros.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs usually cost less compared with brand-name drugs.

To learn more about the brand-name versions of dronabinol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is dronabinol safe for older adults?

It’s possible. Older adults (ages 65 years and older) may be more sensitive to some of the side effects of dronabinol. These include low blood pressure, problems thinking clearly, dizziness, and sleepiness. As a result, older adults may have a higher risk of falls while taking dronabinol. Because of this, doctors often start by prescribing lower dosage of the medication to older adults.

If you’re an older adult and have questions about taking dronabinol, talk with your doctor.

How does dronabinol work? And how long does it take to start working?

Dronabinol works in the brain. It affects areas that manage appetite, nausea, and vomiting. This is how the drug works to treat a lack of appetite or nausea and vomiting. It can also affect the heart and blood vessels and areas of the brain involved in memory and thinking. This is how the drug causes some of its side effects.

Dronabinol usually starts to work within 1 hour of taking it. You should experience its peak effects around 2-4 hours after taking it, and its effects should last about 6 hours. The drug’s effects on appetite can last up to 24 hours.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is misuse, withdrawal, or dependence possible with dronabinol?

Yes, misuse, withdrawal, and dependence are possible with dronabinol.

With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s prescribed. Dependence means your body needs the drug to function as usual. Withdrawal symptoms can occur if your body is dependent on a drug and you stop taking it.

Due to these risks, dronabinol is a Schedule III prescription drug, which is a type of controlled substance. A controlled substance is a drug the government regulates due to the risk of dependence or misuse. 

If you have more questions about misuse, withdrawal, or dependence with dronabinol, talk with your doctor.

Interactions and warnings for dronabinol

Below, you’ll find information about dronabinol’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of dronabinol

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take dronabinol, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for dronabinol” section below.

Warnings for dronabinol

Some people should not take dronabinol, and others should take it cautiously.

Dronabinol could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether dronabinol is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for dronabinol, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Dronabinol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to dronabinol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe dronabinol. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to dronabinol, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of dronabinol

If you take dronabinol by mouth, you should not take more dronabinol than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much dronabinol, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and dronabinol

Information about dronabinol and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Dronabinol and pregnancy

Dronabinol should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with dronabinol.

Dronabinol and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether dronabinol should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about dronabinol or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What drug interactions should I avoid when taking dronabinol?
• How should I take dronabinol?
• Am I at higher risk of side effects from dronabinol than other people?

Resources

• Dronabinol capsules, USP for oral use, CIII. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/3c06ccda-4819-40f8-b2db-fa294bb8a2fa/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.