Dronabinol and Nausea: What Users Say

• Ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

Dronabinol for Anorexia "My father was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma that had spread to his spinal fluid and put pressure on his brain. He was nauseous and unable to eat (and sometimes drink) for weeks before the final diagnosis. Once they figured it out and started heavy steroids, he wasn’t particularly nauseous but he wouldn’t eat. Since there is no effective treatment for the cancer, we were looking for quality of life. Marinol got rid of the last of his queasiness and stimulated his appetite, allowing him to start eating again. Although we’ll lose him soon, at least he has more energy to sit with his friends and occasionally play the piano. It has made a big, positive difference."

• krb...
• August 16, 2013

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "Ask your doctor to prescribe Marinol (dronabinol) to cure you of your MAJOR nausea problem. If you are taking large doses of medicines for cancer or HIV/AIDS, then you probably get nauseous a lot! We all know that it's hard to get anything done when you are nauseated all day. This medicine is a game-changer and a lifesaver. I would go as far as to say that this is a miracle. I'm still in shock how well it is helping my nausea since nothing I ever took before helped as much as this medicine!"

• Moo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2017

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I am surprised this isn't oncologists' 'go-to' drug. After my first A/C infusion for breast cancer, I had severe nausea and vomiting immediately. The doctor prescribed 25 mg of promethazine orally and rectally (in case I couldn't hold down the pill). All it did was make me sleep for hours, induce a migraine status headache, and cause severe stomach pain/cramping, and I would still wake up vomiting. Then my doctor prescribed Dronabinol 5 mg. It was a miracle drug. The stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting completely stopped. It made me slightly tired in the beginning, but the feeling was more relaxed than tired, therefore I could continue to function normally. It also stimulated my appetite, which is very important for chemotherapy patients."

• Anonymous
• March 19, 2012

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I have never personally taken this medication. However, my mother recently was prescribed Marinol after other medications provided no relief from chemo-induced nausea. Her first dose took about 3 hours to kick in (which is a long time when you're nauseated), but after that, she's been a brand new person. I'm guessing it takes those first few hours to get fully in your system. She takes it twice a day and has had little to no nausea."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2017

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have PTSD, 2 double lung transplants, bronchomalacia, gastroparesis, and Nissen fundoplication. A-fib, A-flutter, vertigo, pulmonary artery stent, cardiac arrest, sternal wires, and artificial right hip. Extruded and mangled L4 and L5. Two back surgeries, smashed thoracic vertebrae, and broken toes. Broken ribs, CMV, donor-specific antibodies. Blah blah blah. A lot more to go, but Marinol has been a savior. Keeps me from puking daily, knocks out most of my pain, and does wonders for my anxiety. Screw taking Klonopin, Norco, and Zofran. This covers most of the bases very well."

• Anonymous
• May 28, 2009

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I used Marinol for nausea during cancer therapy. I have to take some narcotics for excessive pain, and Marinol still keeps the nausea down that the narcotics create. It makes my life quite a bit easier."

• luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2014

Dronabinol "I've had chronic pancreatitis for about 7 years. I've struggled with nausea and vomiting for so long. Reglan, scopolamine, Phenergan, Zofran-I've been on all of them. Yes, they worked at first, but Marinol is best for me. For the first time in years, I'm not sick! I don't have an appetite like some do, it does make me giddy for an hour or two, but I'm finally not sick at my stomach!"

• Air...
• May 23, 2010

For Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I was just put on this medicine about 2 weeks ago. So far, it has helped a lot with the nausea and a little bit of the vomiting (so far). It has also helped with my appetite a little, seeing that I can seem to eat only one meal a day. This will be a welcome effect if it keeps working or even starts to work better for that. The biggest hurdle or trouble I had was with the insurance company not wanting to pay for it, I could not afford to pay it either (about ten dollars a pill, the entire 30 pills were almost 300 dollars). So after getting prior authorization denied, I asked my doctor to write a letter to the insurance company stating why she feels I should be on it, it finally went through. So I would recommend this to anyone suffering! Stop suffering."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "My doctor prescribed dronabinol off-label for PTSD-related anxiety and insomnia while I wait for my medical cannabis card to come. I’ve never used marijuana or THC before. I was instructed to take 1-2 before bed as needed. I started with 1. Nothing happened. No tiredness, no groggy feeling, no munchies, and definitely no high. Next, I tried 2, as prescribed. It was horrid. I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep. I woke up after 90 minutes feeling dizzy, nauseous, confused, paranoid, sweaty, and anxious. The muscles in the bottoms of my eyes felt like they were spasming when they were fully open (they weren’t). I felt disconnected from my body, in spite of the fact that I was feeling very ill. I was sick to my stomach, dizzy, and had no appetite the following day. This drug made me very sick. I hope the full plant has better therapeutic effects once I am eligible."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "My doctor prescribed dronabinol off-label for PTSD-related anxiety and insomnia while I wait for my medical cannabis card to come. I’ve never used marijuana or THC before. I was instructed to take 1-2 before bed as needed. I started with 1. Nothing happened. No tiredness, no groggy feeling, no munchies, and definitely no high. Next, I tried 2, as prescribed. It was horrid. I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep. I woke up after 90 minutes feeling dizzy, nauseous, confused, paranoid, sweaty, and anxious. The muscles in the bottoms of my eyes felt like they were spasming when they were fully open (they weren’t). I felt disconnected from my body, in spite of the fact that I was feeling very ill. I was sick to my stomach, dizzy, and had no appetite the following day. This drug made me very sick. I hope the full plant has better therapeutic effects once I am eligible."

• Two...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2025

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "I was fighting nausea and wanted to stop my pain medication (Suboxone), a powerful drug that takes a long time to come off of. When I started Marinol, it was a miracle drug. Not only did it help the nausea, it gave me a huge appetite, it also helped with the withdrawals. It was a great step for me. My dose was increased from 2.5 mgs to 5 mgs, that's when I started noticing the relief. I agree with many others, marijuana should be legalized. For the people that can't smoke it, the edibles will work the same, if not better. I thank the doctors and the pharmaceutical industry for Marinol."

• Del...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2024

For Nausea/Vomiting "I use it not just for nausea/vomiting but also as an emergency antispasmodic for diarrhea. I have IBD, nonalcoholic CP, and SOD, with erosive gastritis. It does make my gastritis slightly worse and can make SOD hurt more because D9 makes you release bile. But it will be the difference between taking hydrocodone for pain and not having to have any at all. It's amazing for me. It works very quickly. I also have an inhaler with D11/10/9 in it (where Dronabinol is itself D9) which also does the same thing but much faster for pain shock due to bowel pain. It's amazing for that too. The less I use, the stronger it is when I need it, so I have to be conservative. I don't recommend having it on an empty stomach at all, you will get sick. At least drink some tea and not water/soda - that's what I do. Most hospitals have this on hand in my experience, which is a bonus."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2016

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "Recently diagnosed advanced lung adenocarcinoma. After surgery, began chemotherapy. This med helps allay anxiety, nausea, stimulates appetite, and helps me sleep. My mood is improved."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2015

Dronabinol for Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced "My husband has chemo-induced weight loss, he weighed 117 lbs two months ago, and now he weighs 131 lbs, and it helps with nausea somewhat. He takes two 10 mg capsules daily."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2015

Dronabinol for Anorexia "I have osteomyelitis/MRSA. This was excellent... Great for nausea and definitely gives an appetite without upsetting the stomach."