Farmacja Polska (Sep 2021)

Therapeutic Potential of Dronabinol: A Systematic Review of Human Trials

  • Julia Lewandowska,
  • Jan Maciej Kapała,
  • Łukasz Puchała

DOI
https://doi.org/10.32383/farmpol/142693
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 77, no. 8
pp. 477 – 490

Abstract

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Dronabinol is an isomer of tetrahydrocannabinol that seems to have potential for both somatic and psychiatric disorders treatment. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of collected articles with emphasis on the efficacy and safety of dronabinol pharmacotherapy. A literature review was performed in May 2021. Three databases (PubMed, ClinicalTrials and Cochrane Library) were searched using the following terms: “Dronabinol”, “Marinol", "Syndros" and "Namisol" for published studies in English in 2016 - 2021. Finally, 29 articles were included: 27 randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), one open label clinical trial and one combination of both previously mentioned designs. According to reviewed studies, dronabinol could be a therapeutic option for cannabis use disorder, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Tourette Syndrome (TS), relieving stress and anorexia treatment. This article reviewed plentiful studies which highlighted the promising potential of dronabinol as a therapeutic agent. According to reviewed studies, synthetic cannabinoid can be considered as a therapeutic option for cannabis use disorder, OSA, TS, relieving stress and anorexia treatment. However, it did not present a potential in opioid addiction, nausea and vomiting and dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms management. Results of clinical trials, which focused on analgesic potential of dronabinol are inconsistent. Additionally, dronabinol's impact on brain function was reviewed specifically on cognitive reappraisal, memory retrieval, extinction recall, intoxication of PFC and the threat extinction network. Undoubtedly, a beneficial characteristic of dronabinol is its relatively low toxicity. The side effects reported in the studies, if appeared, were mostly mild to moderate. The most common were dizziness, somnolence, heart arrhythmia, dry mouth, euphoric mood and nausea. Ongoing clinical trials should give a wider view of the thesis about the therapeutic potential of dronabinol and about the long-term effectiveness of therapy.

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