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Medical Uses of Marinol

Marijuana is a plant that contains over 400 different chemicals. One of those chemicals is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been found to be helpful in relieving side effects of cancer chemotherapy like nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. In order to prevent exposure to the other chemicals in marijuana, some of which are cancer-causing themselves, scientists created synthetic THC (Dronabinol). Solvay Pharmaceuticals sells dronabinol under the brand name of Marinol as nausea medicine.

  1. Nausea and Vomiting Relief

    • Cancer chemotherapy attempts to kill cancer cells by affecting only cells that multiply rapidly. Unfortunately, the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the intestines) also multiply rapidly. One of the side effects of chemotherapy is that the cells in the gastrointestinal tract are killed, leading to the patient having nausea and vomiting bouts. Marinol is used to treat nausea and vomiting because dronabinol binds to receptors in the nervous system, preventing them from triggering the symptoms.

    Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss

    • Marinol is also licensed for use in the treatment of loss of appetite and the ensuing weight loss in people with AIDS. People with AIDS lose their appetite because of the many infections and other conditions they develop. Marinol triggers neurotransmitters (chemicals involved in brain function) in the brain to make the person feel hungry. Combine this with the suppression of nausea and vomiting, and people with AIDS, who are also on medication for their conditions, can benefit greatly from Marinol.

    Medical Marijuana

    • Advocates of the decriminalization of medical marijuana point to the success of Marinol and other THC-based medications in the treatment of nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Other conditions may also be aided by THC, such as chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration points to the success in the use of synthetic THC as a reason to stay away from smoking marijuana and going with THC-only therapy.

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