Dronabinol

Dronabinol is the generic name for synthetic delta-9 THC, approved as a prescription drug for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and for appetite loss with weight loss in people with AIDS.

It is chemically identical to the THC found in cannabis but manufactured rather than extracted, and it is supplied as capsules in sesame oil under the brand name Marinol and as an oral solution under the name Syndros. Because it is swallowed, absorption is slow and variable and much of the dose is converted by the liver to an active metabolite, so effects begin over an hour or more and can last several hours. Common effects include drowsiness, dizziness, euphoria, changes in mood and thinking, and rapid heart rate.

Dronabinol capsules are listed in Schedule III in the United States, a lower level than cannabis itself, reflecting their approved medical use. It has been studied off-label for pain, sleep apnea and other conditions in early trials. Dronabinol is not the same as nabilone, which is a THC analog, and it is entirely separate from hemp-derived CBD products, which contain at most trace THC and are not approved drugs.