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Dronabinol

Dronabinol is a cannabinoid (a THC-based medicine) taken by mouth to treat loss of appetite with weight loss in adults with AIDS, and nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy when usual anti-nausea medicines haven't worked well enough.

Brand names MarinolSyndros
Drug class Cannabinoid
Rx Schedule CIII Forms 3
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 9 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 7, 2026
Dronabinol at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Dronabinol is man-made THC, the main active compound in cannabis, acting on the brain's cannabinoid receptors to treat appetite loss in adults with AIDS-related weight loss and, as a backup, chemotherapy nausea and vomiting when usual anti-nausea medicines fall short; an older standby on the market since the mid-1980s, it is available generically. Most people tolerate it reasonably well, though dizziness, sleepiness and a mild “high” are common at first, and older adults feel them more. Watch for mood or thinking changes such as paranoia or confusion, and for lightheadedness or a racing heart from blood pressure swings, and don't drive until you know how it affects you.

Clinical pearls

  • The oral solution contains alcohol, so avoid disulfiram and metronidazole from 14 days before starting until 7 days after stopping.
  • Opioids, benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam), sedating antihistamines and muscle relaxants all deepen its dizziness and sleepiness.
  • If you take warfarin, expect closer blood-clotting checks once dronabinol starts, since it can change how much active warfarin circulates.
  • New or worsening nausea, vomiting or belly pain can come from dronabinol itself, so report it rather than taking more.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asCapsule, Oral solution, Other oral form
Earliest FDA record1985
Companies listing it with the FDA7
FDA label last updatedMay 13, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Dronabinol, written from its FDA label.

What Dronabinol is used for

▾

Dronabinol is a cannabinoid used in adults for these conditions:

  • Anorexia (loss of appetite) with weight loss in people with AIDS: Marinol and dronabinol capsules, and Syndros and dronabinol oral solution.
  • Nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy in people who haven't responded adequately to conventional anti-nausea medicines: Marinol and dronabinol capsules, and Syndros and dronabinol oral solution.

How Dronabinol works

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Dronabinol is a cannabinoid that works by mouth and has complex effects on the central nervous system. Cannabinoid receptors are found in nerve tissue, and they may help mediate its effects.

It also affects appetite, mood, thinking, memory and perception.

Dronabinol dosage

▾

Dronabinol is taken by mouth as a capsule or oral solution. Follow your prescriber and your product's label.

  • For appetite loss: generally twice daily, about an hour before lunch and dinner.
  • For chemotherapy nausea: the first dose is taken 1 to 3 hours before chemotherapy on an empty stomach, then every 2 to 4 hours afterward for several doses a day.
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution: use the provided syringe and take with a full glass of water.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Dronabinol prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Syndros (oral solution): Anorexia associated with weight loss in adult patients with AIDS
    • Starting dosage 2.1 mg orally twice daily, one hour before lunch and one hour before dinner
    • May be increased gradually to 2.1 mg one hour before lunch and 4.2 mg one hour before dinner, and further to 4.2 mg one hour before lunch and 4.2 mg one hour before dinner, as tolerated
    • Maximum: 8.4 mg twice daily
    • In elderly patients or those unable to tolerate 2.1 mg twice daily, consider 2.1 mg once daily one hour before dinner or at bedtime
  • Syndros (oral solution): Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in adult patients who failed conventional antiemetics
    • Starting dosage 4.2 mg/m2 orally 1 to 3 hours prior to chemotherapy, then every 2 to 4 hours after chemotherapy for a total of 4 to 6 doses per day
    • Titrate in increments of 2.1 mg/m2
    • Maximum: 12.6 mg/m2 per dose for 4 to 6 doses per day
    • Give first dose on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating; subsequent doses without regard to meals. In elderly patients consider 2.1 mg/m2 once daily 1 to 3 hours prior to chemotherapy
  • Marinol (capsule): Anorexia associated with weight loss in adult patients with AIDS
    • Starting dosage 2.5 mg orally twice daily, one hour before lunch and dinner
    • May be increased gradually to 2.5 mg one hour before lunch and 5 mg one hour before dinner, and further to 5 mg before lunch and 5 mg before dinner, as tolerated
    • Maximum: 10 mg twice daily
    • In elderly patients or those unable to tolerate 2.5 mg twice daily, consider 2.5 mg once daily one hour before dinner or at bedtime
  • Marinol (capsule): Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in adult patients who failed conventional antiemetics
    • Starting dosage 5 mg/m2 orally 1 to 3 hours prior to chemotherapy, then every 2 to 4 hours after chemotherapy for a total of 4 to 6 doses per day
    • Titrate in increments of 2.5 mg/m2
    • Maximum: 15 mg/m2 per dose for 4 to 6 doses per day
    • Give first dose on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating; subsequent doses without regard to meals. In elderly patients consider 2.5 mg/m2 once daily 1 to 3 hours prior to chemotherapy
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administration ( 2.1 ): Always use the enclosed calibrated oral dosing syringe. The calibrated oral syringe measures a maximum dronabinol oral solution dose of 5 mg. If the prescribed dose is greater than 5 mg, the total dose will need to be divided and drawn up in two or more portions using the oral syringe. Take dronabinol oral solution with a full glass of water (6 to 8 ounces). Dronabinol oral solution can be administered via silicone enteral feeding tubes. Anorexia Associated with Weight Loss in Adult Patients with AIDS ( 2.2 ): The recommended starting dosage is 2.1 mg orally twice daily, one hour before lunch and dinner. See the full prescribing information for dosage titration to manage adverse reactions and to achieve desired therapeutic effect. Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Chemotherapy in Adult Patients Who Failed Conventional Antiemetics ( 2.3 ): The recommended starting dosage is 4.2 mg/m 2 , administered 1 to 3 hours prior to chemotherapy, then every 2 to 4 hours after chemotherapy for a total of 4 to 6 doses per day. Administer the first dose on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes prior to eating; subsequent doses can be taken without regard to meals. See the full prescribing information for dosage titration to manage adverse reactions and to achieve desired therapeutic effect. 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Oral Administration Always use the enclosed calibrated oral dosing syringe when administering dronabinol oral solution to ensure the dose is measured and administered accurately. The calibrated oral syringe measures a maximum dronabinol oral solution dose of 5 mg. If the prescribed dose is greater than 5 mg, the total dose will need to be divided and drawn up in two or more portions using the oral syringe. Take each dose of dronabinol oral solution with a full glass of water (6 to 8 ounces). For information on dosing dronabinol oral solution with regard to meals, see Dosage and Administration 2.2 and 2.3 . Administration via Feeding Tube (silicone only, greater than or equal to 14 French) Dronabinol oral solution can be administered via enteral feeding tubes that are manufactured using silicone, size greater than or equal to 14 French, such as Naso-Gastric (NG), Gastrostomy Tube (G-tube), Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy tube (PEG-tube) and Gastro-Jejunostomy tube (GJ-tube).

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Dronabinol side effects

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The most common side effects are:

Common side effects

  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • Feeling “high” or euphoric
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Abnormal thinking
  • Paranoid feelings
  • Fast heartbeat or palpitations
  • Euphoria (feeling “high”)

When to get medical help

  • Get help right away if you have a seizure, and stop the medicine.
  • Call your doctor if you notice new or worsening depression, mania, paranoia, confusion or other mood or thinking changes.
  • Call your doctor if you faint or feel lightheaded when you stand up, or if your heartbeat feels fast or irregular.
  • Call your doctor if nausea, vomiting or belly pain is new or gets worse on treatment.
  • Seek urgent care for signs of an allergic reaction, such as lip swelling, hives, rash or throat tightness.
  • Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) if you take too much.

Dronabinol warnings and precautions

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  • Mental and thinking effects: can worsen mania, depression or schizophrenia and impair driving and judgment.
  • Blood pressure and heart rate changes: low or high blood pressure, fainting or fast heartbeat, especially with heart conditions.
  • Seizures: reported, so weigh risks if you have a seizure history.
  • Misuse risk: higher in people with a history of substance or alcohol misuse.
  • Paradoxical symptoms: new or worse nausea, vomiting or belly pain may need a lower dose or stopping.
  • Oral solution: contains alcohol and propylene glycol, and should be avoided in preterm newborns.

Dronabinol interactions

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Several medicines and substances can change how dronabinol works or how you feel on it.

  • Disulfiram and metronidazole: can cause a disulfiram-like reaction with the oral solution because of its alcohol.
  • Sedating drugs (opioids, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, muscle relaxants): add to drowsiness and dizziness.
  • Amphetamines and tricyclic antidepressants: may add to heart effects.
  • CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, grapefruit juice): can raise or lower dronabinol levels.
  • Warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B: may need monitoring.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Dronabinol prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Disulfiram and metronidazole (or other drugs producing disulfiram-like reactions): Dronabinol oral solution contains 50% (w/w) dehydrated alcohol and 5.5% (w/w) propylene glycol, which can produce disulfiram-like reactions when co-administered. Discontinue products containing disulfiram or metronidazole at least 14 days before starting dronabinol oral solution and do not administer them within 7 days of completing treatment.
  • CYP2C9 inhibitors (e.g., amiodarone, fluconazole): May increase systemic exposure of dronabinol and/or its active metabolite, increasing dronabinol-related adverse reactions. Monitor for increased dronabinol-related adverse reactions.
  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, erythromycin, grapefruit juice): May increase systemic exposure of dronabinol and/or its active metabolite, increasing dronabinol-related adverse reactions. Monitor for increased dronabinol-related adverse reactions.
  • CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inducers: May decrease systemic exposure of dronabinol and/or its active metabolite, resulting in loss of efficacy. Monitor for loss of efficacy.
  • Highly protein-bound narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, amphotericin B): Dronabinol is highly bound to plasma proteins and might displace and increase the free fraction of other protein-bound drugs; this has not been confirmed in vivo. Monitor for increased adverse reactions when initiating treatment or increasing the dosage of dronabinol oral solution.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Inhibitors and Inducers of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 : May alter dronabinol systemic exposure; monitor for dronabinol-related adverse reactions or loss of efficacy. ( 7.2 ) Highly Protein-Bound Drugs : Potential for displacement of other drugs from plasma proteins; monitor for adverse reactions to concomitant narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., warfarin, cyclosporine, or amphotericin B) when initiating or increasing the dosage of dronabinol oral solution. ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Disulfiram and Metronidazole Dronabinol oral solution contains 50% (w/w) dehydrated alcohol and 5.5% (w/w) propylene glycol, which can produce disulfiram-like reactions when co-administered with disulfiram or other drugs that produce this reaction (e.g., metronidazole). Discontinue products containing disulfiram or metronidazole at least 14 days before starting treatment with dronabinol oral solution and do not administer these products within 7 days of completing treatment with dronabinol oral solution [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . When administered concomitantly with propylene glycol, ethanol competitively inhibits the metabolism of propylene glycol, which may lead to elevated concentrations of propylene glycol. However, the contribution of propylene glycol, if any, to the interaction between disulfiram and dronabinol oral solution is unknown. 7.2 Effect of Other Drugs on Dronabinol Dronabinol is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 enzymes. Inhibitors of these enzymes may increase, while inducers may decrease, the systemic exposure of dronabinol and/or its active metabolite resulting in an increase in dronabinol-related adverse reactions or loss of efficacy of dronabinol oral solution.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿151 supplements and herbs with documented Dronabinol interactions, ranked by severity Check Dronabinol against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Dronabinol

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  • Don't take it if you're allergic to dronabinol.
  • Don't take the oral solution if you're allergic to alcohol or have recently used disulfiram or metronidazole.
  • Tell your doctor about mental health history, heart problems, seizures, or substance misuse.
  • Avoid in pregnancy; it may cause fetal harm.
  • Women with HIV should not breastfeed.
  • Not established for children; older adults may be more sensitive.

Dronabinol overdose

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Too much dronabinol can cause drowsiness, euphoria, fast heartbeat, memory problems, slurred speech, low blood pressure on standing, panic reactions, and seizures in people with seizure disorders. The oral solution also contains alcohol and propylene glycol, so exceeding the dose may cause significant toxicity. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

What Dronabinol does in the body

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Dronabinol can cause fast heartbeat and red eyes, and its effect on blood pressure is inconsistent, sometimes causing lightheadedness on standing. It also has reversible effects on appetite, mood, thinking, memory and perception, which are dose-related. Tolerance develops to some of the heart and brain effects, but not to the appetite effect.

How your body processes Dronabinol

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Dronabinol is well absorbed by mouth, but only about 10 to 20% reaches the bloodstream because the liver breaks much of it down. Capsules start working in about 0.5 to 1 hour and peak at 2 to 4 hours. Appetite effects can last 24 hours or longer. It is broken down mainly by CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 and cleared mostly through bile and stool. Metabolites can linger for weeks. Food greatly increases the exposure to the oral solution.

How to store Dronabinol

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Store in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F); excursions permitted up to 25°C (77°F). stored at 25°C (77°F).

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

151

Supplements & herbs that interact with Dronabinol

151 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Dronabinol in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 3
  • Moderate · 107
  • Minor · 41
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major GRAPEFRUIT Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major ACACIA RIGIDULA Moderate ADRAFINIL Moderate AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate AMERICAN ELDER Moderate ASTAXANTHIN Moderate +143 more
Every supplement checked against Dronabinol — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 3 major · 107 moderate · 41 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Dronabinol against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Dronabinol: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Dronabinol — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is dronabinol for?

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It's used in adults for loss of appetite with weight loss from AIDS. It's also used for chemotherapy nausea and vomiting when other anti-nausea medicines haven't worked well enough.

How should I take it?

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It's taken by mouth. For appetite, it's usually taken about an hour before lunch and dinner. For chemotherapy nausea, you start before treatment and repeat through the day. If you use the oral solution, measure it with the syringe provided and take it with a full glass of water.

What side effects should I expect?

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Dizziness, sleepiness, feeling high, nausea, belly pain and unusual thinking are common. These often settle within a few days. Call your doctor if they're severe or don't go away.

Can I drive on it?

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Not until you know how it affects you. It can impair thinking and coordination, and sedating medicines can make this worse.

When should I call my doctor right away?

▾
Call if you have a seizure, fainting, a racing heartbeat, new paranoia, severe mood changes, or worsening nausea, vomiting or belly pain. Swelling of the lips, hives or throat tightness could be an allergic reaction and needs urgent help.

Is it safe in pregnancy?

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It's best avoided in pregnancy because it may cause fetal harm. Women with HIV are advised not to breastfeed, so talk with your prescriber about your situation.

Is Dronabinol available over the counter?

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No. Dronabinol is a prescription medicine: every Dronabinol product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

Is Dronabinol a controlled substance?

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Yes — Dronabinol is a federally controlled substance (Schedule III) in the United States, so how it is prescribed, refilled and dispensed is regulated by the DEA.

When was Dronabinol first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Dronabinol is from 1985: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Dronabinol was first used.

Who makes Dronabinol?

▾
7 companies currently list Dronabinol products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including ThePharmaNetwork, LLC, Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Dronabinol on HelloPharmacist

📊Dronabinol supplement interactions151 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerDronabinol vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Dronabinol NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Dronabinol Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Dronabinol forms and strengths (how it comes)

Dronabinol is available in 3 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Dronabinol inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Capsule

By mouth
Brands Marinol
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Marinol and dronabinol capsules are used in adults for appetite loss with weight loss in AIDS.
  • Marinol and dronabinol capsules are used for chemotherapy nausea and vomiting after conventional anti-nausea medicines have failed.
Important instructions
  • Marinol and dronabinol capsules for appetite loss are generally taken twice daily, one hour before lunch and dinner.
  • Marinol and dronabinol capsules for chemotherapy nausea start 1 to 3 hours before chemotherapy, then every 2 to 4 hours afterward.
  • For Marinol and dronabinol capsules, older adults or those who can't tolerate twice-daily dosing may start with once-daily dosing in the evening.
Available strengths 3 strengths
2.5 mg 5 mg 10 mg
33 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral solution

By mouth
Brands Syndros
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution are used in adults for appetite loss with weight loss in AIDS.
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution are used for chemotherapy nausea and vomiting after conventional anti-nausea medicines have failed.
Important instructions
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution must be measured with the calibrated oral syringe provided.
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution should be taken with a full glass of water (6 to 8 ounces).
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution can be given through silicone feeding tubes only, not polyurethane tubes.
  • Syndros and dronabinol oral solution contain alcohol and propylene glycol.
Available strengths 2 strengths
5 mg/mL 1 g/g
7 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Other oral form

By mouth
Available strengths 2 strengths
0.2 kg/0.2 kg 1 kg/kg
2 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Dronabinol on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Dronabinol appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

7 companies list 18 Dronabinol product records with the FDA, mostly as capsule, oral solution, other oral form; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1985. Brand names on the directory include Marinol, Syndros; the rest are generics.

3
Dose forms ⓘ
7
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
3
Brand names
18
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1985
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

ThePharmaNetwork, LLC33%
Ascend Laboratories, LLC17%
Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc17%
Major Pharmaceuticals11%
Wellhouse Pharma, LLC11%
Benuvia Operations, LLC6%
Other makers6%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Dronabinol is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Dronabinol is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Dronabinol is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

4,723
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$809,784 gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Dronabinol prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Dronabinol ranks #1,056 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 34% of them.

Where Dronabinol ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #1,056 of 1,601
#1,051 Alcohol 4,861 Rx #1,052 Temozolomide 4,846 Rx #1,053 Hydralazine / Isosorbi... 4,770 Rx #1,054 Teduglutide Injection 4,744 Rx #1,055 Rifapentine 4,737 Rx #1,056 Dronabinol 4,723 Rx #1,057 Trofinetide 4,625 Rx #1,058 Pilocarpine Ophthalmic 4,597 Rx #1,059 Malathion Topical 4,594 Rx #1,060 Betamethasone / Calcip... 4,570 Rx #1,061 Terbutaline 4,509 Rx

Utilization by Dronabinol product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 5 mg oral capsule is the most-dispensed Dronabinol product — about 44% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

dronabinol 5 MG Oral Capsule Most dispensed

2,073 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 44% of Dronabinol prescriptions shown $379,894 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $183 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 20 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197636

dronabinol 2.5 MG Oral Capsule

1,666 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 35% of Dronabinol prescriptions shown $160,410 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $96 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 23 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197635

dronabinol 10 MG Oral Capsule

984 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 21% of Dronabinol prescriptions shown $269,479 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $274 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 14 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197634

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Dronabinol, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 3 of 57 listed Dronabinol NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Dronabinol products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Dronabinol — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 18 of 18 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 18 Dronabinol NDCs →

Dronabinol recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Dronabinol recalls since July 2021.

✅No Dronabinol recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Dronabinol RxCUI 10402 2 dose forms · 4 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 371971 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 2.5 MG RxCUI 197635 5 MG RxCUI 197636 10 MG RxCUI 197634
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 1928947 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 5 MG/ML RxCUI 1928948

Look up RxCUI 10402 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Dronabinol costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule · Oral 2.5 mg $1.52 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 5 mg $3.35 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 10 mg $4.03 per capsule NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Dronabinol brand names

Dronabinol is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Marinol, Syndros. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Marinol Syndros

Who makes Dronabinol: manufacturers and labelers

7 companies list Dronabinol products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are ThePharmaNetwork, LLC, Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

ThePharmaNetwork, LLC 6 Ascend Laboratories, LLC 3 Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc 3 Major Pharmaceuticals 2 Wellhouse Pharma, LLC 2 Benuvia Operations, LLC 1 Chartwell RX, LLC 1

Dronabinol drug class (RxNorm)

Dronabinol belongs to the Cannabinoid class.

Pharmacologic class Cannabinoid
Drug family (ATC) Other antiemetics

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Dronabinol page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

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FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective May 13, 2026
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Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Dronabinol.
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Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
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Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Dronabinol after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
9
Finished products in the current FDA directory
18
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
7
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
7
Linked representative label ⓘ
Major Pharmaceuticals
Linked label effective
May 13, 2026
Composite sections available
23
Linked SPL Set ID
fd8c5d57-0173-4f62-8ff0-d8147986a976
Linked SPL Document ID
f9804c15-4d58-415f-be1b-28fd387774bd
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Major Pharmaceuticals is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →