What is Marinol?
Marinol is a prescription medication that is used to treat nausea and vomiting which is typically caused by cancer chemotherapy. There are many other drugs that are used to treat nausea and vomiting, but sometimes they are ineffective on some patients and thus, dronabinol (Marinol) is used. Additionally, Marinol is used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in patients with HIV.
What is the Difference Between Marinol and Marijuana?
For the aforementioned purposes, Marinol is FDA approved. The active ingredient is dronabinol which is a synthetic form of THC which has been noted for its potency in treating chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.
A major difference between Marinol and marijuana is that Marinol is FDA approved, whereas marijuana has not been approved at all on a federal level. Marinol (or dronabinol), does not match the marijuana plant in terms of what it contains. The medication has a synthetic form of THC as its active ingredient which is only one of many cannabinoids that are present in marijuana.
How is Marinol Used?
This medication is taken by mouth as directed by your doctor. It can be taken up to 4 to 6 times daily if the chief purpose of the medication is to treat vomiting and nausea. The frequency can be cut in half if the purpose is for appetite stimulation.
As always, the dosage is based entirely on your response to the medication and your doctor may adjust based on these parameters. As a rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to use the minimum effective dose with any medication.
Does Marinol Have Side Effects?
The side effects of Marinol range from minor to serious. The minor side effects are dizziness, confusion, feeling lightheaded, feelings of euphoria, vomiting, and nausea or stomach pain or distress. These effects are the result of your body getting adjusted to the medication. Should they worsen over time, immediately let your doctor know.
If you experience any serious side effects such as fainting or rapid heart rate, mental instability such as anxiety, hallucinations, nervousness, paranoia, etc. Then report this to your doctor as soon as possible. Serious reactions are extremely rare, however, if you experience severe dizziness or any type of allergic reaction such as a rash, then stop taking the medication.
Prescription Assistance Programs
The Rx Helper was founded to help the many Americans who are without adequate coverage for their prescription medicine needs. Prescription medication has been steadily getting more expensive over the years and unfortunately, for many people it breaks the bank to have to pay these exorbitant premiums on medications that are necessary. As a result, many people are without the medications they need to have a good quality of life.
We help these people by helping them get access to manufacturer discounts and prescription assistance programs that are offered by many drug makers to sell brand name drugs at a much, much cheaper price. Contact us today to see if you qualify so you can reap the benefits of these programs designed to aid the American public.
