Drug Database - Nabilone

Generic Name: nabilone (NAB-il-own)

Brand Names: Cesamet®

Classification: Synthetic Cannabinoid

Issue Date: 1979

Nabilone is a man-made form of cannabis (marijuana is an herbal form of cannabis). Nabilone causes many effects on your central nervous system.

Nabilone appears to be a beneficial, well-tolerated treatment option for Fibromyalgia patients, with significant benefits in pain relief and functional improvement.

Nabilone is used to treat severe nausea and vomiting that is caused by cancer chemotherapy. Nabilone is for use only when other medications have been unable to control the nausea and vomiting.

Nabilone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Nabilone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or habitual marijuana use. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Do not use nabilone if you have ever had an allergic reaction to natural or man-made marijuana.

Before taking nabilone, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• a history of mental illness
• drug addiction
• using other medicines that affect your central nervous system, such as:
• tranquilizer
• sleep medicine
• anti-psychotic medications

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Avoid using other medicines that affect the central nervous system such as:

• stimulants
• diet pills
• cold medicine
• pain medication
• muscle relaxers

• medicine for:
• seizures
• depression
• anxiety
• mental illness
• Parkinson's disease

These other drugs can add to the effects of nabilone. Nabilone causes effects that will impair your thinking or reactions. Do not drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert until the effects of nabilone wear off.

There are many other medicines that can add to the side effects of nabilone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Nabilone is usually given 1 to 3 hours before you receive your chemotherapy treatment. Your doctor may recommend that you take a small dose of nabilone on the night before your chemotherapy.

Nabilone may also be used 2 or 3 times each day of the chemotherapy treatment cycle, and for 48 hours after treatment ends, if needed.

The effects of nabilone may last for 48 to 72 hours, and this length of time may not be the same every time you take the medication.

Do not use nabilone if you have ever had an allergic reaction to natural or man-made marijuana such as dronabinol (Marinol®).

Before using nabilone, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• heart disease
• past or present mental illness such as:
• depression
• schizophrenia
• other psychotic disorders
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction
• using medicines that can affect your central nervous system, such as:
• a tranquilizer
• sleep medicine
• anti-psychotic medications

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use nabilone, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Nabilone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Nabilone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or habitual marijuana use. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether nabilone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be especially sensitive to the side effects of nabilone.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:

• skin rash or hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat

Stop using nabilone and call your doctor at once if you have any of these SERIOUS side effects:

• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
• paranoia, extreme fear
• fast heart rate
• feeling light-headed
• fainting
• unusual thoughts or behavior

Continue using nabilone and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• dizziness, drowsiness
• feeling "high"
• weakness
• lack of coordination
• depression
• anxiety
• confusion
• dry mouth
• headache
• trouble concentrating
• sleep problems (insomnia)

Before taking nabilone, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• amphetamines, including:
• stimulants and medicine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• prescription or over-the-counter weight loss aids (Dexatrim®, Meridia®)

• antidepressants such as:
• amitriptyline (Elavil®)
• amoxapine (Ascendin®)
• clomipramine (Anafranil®)
• desipramine (Norpramin®)
• imipramine (Tofranil®)
• nortriptyline (Pamelor®)

• barbiturates such as:
• butalbital (Fiorinal®)
• phenobarbital (Luminal®, Solfoton®)
• secobarbital (Seconal®)

• sedatives such as:
• Ativan®
• Dalmane®
• Halcion®
• Klonopin®
• Librium®
• ProSom®
• Restoril®
• Tranxene®
• Valium®
• Xanax®

• lithium
• theophylline (Respbid®, Slo-Bid®, Theo-24®, Theo-Dur®, Uniphyl®)
• buspirone (BuSpar®)
• atropine (Donnatal®, and others)
• belladonna, dicyclomine (Bentyl®)
• clidinium (Quarzan®)
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul®)
• hyoscyamine (Anaspaz®, Cystospaz®, Levsin®, and others)
• mepenzolate (Cantil®)
• methscopolamine (Pamine®), and scopolamine (Transderm-Scop®)
• methantheline (Provocholine®), propantheline (Pro-Banthine®)
• street drugs such as cocaine or Ectasy

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use nabilone, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect nabilone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.