Daily Medication Pearl: Dronabinol (Syndros)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Dronabinol (Syndros)

Indication: Dronabinol (Syndros) is a cannabinoid indicated in adults for the treatment of: anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments.

Insight:

• Dosing: The recommended starting dosage is 2.1 mg up to 4.2 mg orally twice daily depending on the indication.
• Dosage forms: Oral solution 5 mg/ mL
• Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions are dizziness, euphoria, paranoid reaction, somnolence, thinking abnormal, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
• Mechanism of action: Dronabinol is an orally active cannabinoid, which has complex effects on the central nervous system, including central sympathomimetic activity. Cannabinoid receptors have been discovered in neural tissues and may play a role in mediating the effects of dronabinol.

Source: LABEL (fda.gov)