Prescription Cannabinoid

Aka: Prescription Cannabinoid, Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Dronabinol, Marinol, Syndros, Nabilone, Cesamet, Cannabidiol, Epidiolex

II. Indications: Synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

  1. See Cachexia in Cancer
  2. See Geriatric Failure to Thrive
  3. See Nausea in Terminally Ill Patients
  4. Anorexia in Chronic Renal Failure
  5. Chemotherapy induced Nausea or Vomiting
  6. Cachexia in AIDS

III. Indications: Purified Cannabidiol (CBD, Epidiolex)

  1. Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome (rare Seizure disorder)
    1. Devinsky (2018) N Engl J Med 378(20):1888-97 [PubMed]
  2. Dravet Syndrome (rare Seizure disorder)
    1. Devinsky (2017) N Engl J Med 376(21):2011-20 [PubMed]

IV. Mechanism: Two product types derived from Marijuana and hemp

  1. Synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
    1. Will generate a positive Urine Drug Screen
  2. Purified Cannabidiol (CBD)
    1. Does not cause the "high" seen with THC
    2. Typically will not generate a positive Urine Drug Screen (but may if trace THC in product)

V. Preparations: Cannabidiol (CBD)

  1. Epidiolex oral solution
    1. FDA approved in U.S. as of 2018, with a cost of $32,000/year
  2. OTC products (various forms)
    1. Legal status depends on U.S. State
    2. Not regulated or studied for efficacy and safety

VI. Preparations: Synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

  1. Nabilone (Cesamet, FDA CII) 1-2 mg orally every 12 hours
  2. Dronabinol
    1. Marinol capsules (FDA CIII as misuse is less likely due to formulation)
      1. Dose: 5-10 mg orally, rectally or sublingual every 6-8 hours
    2. Syndros liquid (FDA CII)

VII. Drug Interactions: Cannabidiol (CBD)

  1. Cannabidiol inhibits CYP2C19, CYP2C8, CYP2C9
    1. Increases levels of Citalopram, Phenytoin, Amitriptyline, Valproic Acid, Warfarin
  2. Cannabidiol levels may be lowered
    1. Strong CYP3A4 Inducers lower CBD levels (e.g. St. John's Wort, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Rifampin)
    2. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors raise CBD levels (e.g. Clarithromycin)

VIII. Adverse Effects: CBD

  1. Drowsiness or sedation (esp. in combination with other CNS Depressants)
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Liver Function Test abnormalities

IX. Safety

  1. Avoid THC and CBD in pregnancy, Lactation and those taking multiple medications
  2. Check CBD product for a certificate of analysis that reports CBD levels, THC levels and contaminants

X. Resources

  1. Simplified Guideline for prescribing Medical Cannabinoids in Primary Care
    1. http://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/64/2/111.full.pdf
    2. Allan (2018) Can Fam Physician 64(2): 111-20 [PubMed]

XI. References

  1. (2019) Presc Lett 26(6)
  2. (2018) Presc Lett 25(4)
  3. (2018) Presc Lett 25(9):51

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

dronabinol (on 5/17/2017 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
DRONABINOL 10 MG CAPSULE Generic $7.86 each
DRONABINOL 2.5 MG CAPSULE Generic $2.86 each
DRONABINOL 5 MG CAPSULE Generic $4.85 each
FPNotebook does not benefit financially from showing this medication data or their pharmacy links. This information is provided only to help medical providers and their patients see relative costs. Insurance plans negotiate lower medication prices with suppliers. Prices shown here are out of pocket, non-negotiated rates. See Needy Meds for financial assistance information.

Ontology: Tetrahydrocannabinol (C0039663)

Definition (CHV) an organic chemical extracted from Marihuana
Definition (CHV) an organic chemical extracted from Marihuana
Definition (CHV) an organic chemical extracted from Marihuana
Definition (CHV) an organic chemical extracted from Marihuana
Definition (CHV) an organic chemical extracted from Marihuana
Definition (MSH) A psychoactive compound extracted from the resin of Cannabis sativa (marihuana, hashish). The isomer delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active form, producing characteristic mood and perceptual changes associated with this compound.
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A synthetic pill form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient in marijuana that is used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.
Definition (NCI) A synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive substance found in Cannabis sativa. Dronabinol acts directly on the appetite and vomiting control centers in the brain to stimulate appetite and prevent emesis. (NCI04)
Definition (PDQ) A synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive substance found in Cannabis sativa. Dronabinol acts directly on the appetite and vomiting control centers in the brain to stimulate appetite and prevent emesis. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39707&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39707&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C867" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D013759
SnomedCT 386846008, 72024007, 108415005, 96225007
LNC LP16059-5, MTHU003348
English delta(1)-Tetrahydrocannabinol, delta(1)-THC, delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol, delta(9)-THC, THC, 6H-Dibenzo(b,d)pyran-1-ol, 6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-, (6aR-trans)-, 9 ene Tetrahydrocannabinol, 9-ene-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Synthetic delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, DELTA THC 09, dronabinol (medication), DRONABINOL, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Dronabinol, dronabinol, Dronabinol [Chemical/Ingredient], (-)-.DELTA.9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Dronabinol (product), Dronabinol (substance), Tetrahydrocannabinol (substance), delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (substance), delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Swedish Tetrahydrocannabinol
Spanish delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol (sustancia), delta-9-tetrahidrocanabinol sintético, delta-9-tetrahidrocanabinol, delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahidrocanabinol (sustancia), Dronabinol, Tetrahidrocannabinol, Not Translated[Dronabinol], dronabinol (producto), dronabinol (sustancia), dronabinol, tetrahidrocanabinol (sustancia), tetrahidrocanabinol, THC, delta(9)-THC
Czech tetrahydrokanabinol
Finnish Tetrahydrokannabinoli
Italian THC, Delta(1)-THC, Delta(1)-tetraidrocannabinolo, Delta(9)-THC, Delta(9)-tetraidrocannabinolo, 9-ene-tetraidrocannabinolo, Dronabinolo, Tetraidrocannabinolo
Russian TETRAGIDROKANNABINOL, DRONABINOL, ТЕТРАГИДРОКАННАБИНОЛ, ДРОНАБИНОЛ, DELTA (9)-THC, THC
Japanese テトラヒドロカンナビノール, デルタ9THC, ドロナビノール, Δ1-3,4-trans-テトラヒドロカンナビノール
German DELTA THC 09, Delta(9)-THC, Dronabinol, THC, Tetrahydrocannabinol
Polish Tetrahydrokannabinol
French D9-THC, THC (TétraHydroCannabinol), Dronabinol, Tétrahydrocannabinol
Portuguese Not Translated[Dronabinol], Tetra-Hidrocanabinol, Dronabinol, THC, delta (9)-THC
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: nabilone (C0068333)

Definition (NCI) A synthetic cannabinoid and dibenzopyrane derivative with anti-emetic activity. Although the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated yet, it has been suggested that nabilone is a highly selective and strong agonist for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, both of which are coupled to Gi/o proteins. The CB1 receptors are expressed predominantly in central and peripheral neurons and receptor stimulation has been implicated in the reduction of chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Definition (PDQ) A synthetic cannabinoid and dibenzopyrane derivative with anti-emetic activity. Although the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated yet, it has been suggested that nabilone is a highly selective and strong agonist for the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, both of which are coupled to Gi/o proteins. The CB1 receptors are expressed predominantly in central and peripheral neurons and receptor stimulation has been implicated in the reduction of chemotherapy-induced nausea. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39760&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39760&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C1171" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C011941
SnomedCT 322124005, 395806009
English 3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-6,6a,7,8,10,10a- hexahydro-1-hydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-9H-dibenzo(b,d)pyran-9-one, nabilone, NABILONE, nabilone [Chemical/Ingredient], Nabilone, Nabilone (product), Nabilone (substance)
Spanish nabilona (producto), nabilona (sustancia), nabilona
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Marinol (C0728767)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D013759
Italian Marinolo, Tetraidrocannabinolo, Solvay
English marinol, Marinol, Solvay Brand of Tetrahydrocannabinol
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Cesamet (C1263104)

Concepts Organic Chemical (T109) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
MSH C011941
English cesamet, Lilly Brand of Nabilone, Cesamet
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (C1720260)

Concepts Organic Chemical (T109) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
SnomedCT 421537003, 422207008
English Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (product), Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (substance), Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist
Spanish agonista sintético del receptor canabinoide (producto), agonista sintético del receptor canabinoide, agonista sintético del receptor canabinoide (sustancia)
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Pharmacology

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