Nabilone is used to alleviate nausea and vomiting brought on by cancer treatment in patients who have tried other drugs in the past without success. Nabilone belongs to the cannabinoids group of drugs. It functions by having an impact on the part of the brain that regulates nausea and vomiting.

Nabilone is available as a pill to swallow. During a chemotherapy cycle, it is often given two to three times a day with or without food. Nabilone therapy should start one to three hours prior to the first chemotherapy dosage and may last for up to 48 hours beyond the completion of the chemotherapy cycle. Take nabilone every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the nabilone directions precisely. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

If nabilone is prescribed for you, your doctor will likely start you out on a low dose and then gradually raise it as needed.

When used as prescribed, nabilone helps reduce nausea and vomiting brought on by cancer treatment. Even if you are not experiencing nausea or vomiting, you should still take nabilone as directed by your doctor.

Nabilone might become addictive. Don’t take the medication in excess of what your doctor has suggested in terms of dosage, frequency, or duration. If you discover that you desire to take additional medication, call your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking nabilone,

• Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies to nabilone, any other drugs, marijuana (cannabis), dronabinol (Marinol), or any of the components in nabilone capsules. Contact your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Amphetamines such as amphetamine (in Adderall), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, in Adderall), and methamphetamine (Desoxyn); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (in Limbitrol), amoxapine, desipramine (Norpramin), and fluoxetine (Prozac); antihistamines; codeine (found in some cough syrups and pain relievers); barbiturates, such as phenobarbital (Luminal) and secobarbital (Seconal, in Tuinal); buspirone (BuSpar); diazepam (Valium); digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); disulfiram (Antabuse); ipratropium (Atrovent); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol), narcotic painkillers, propranolol (Inderal), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop), muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquillizers, and theophylline are examples of medications. Other examples include medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems (TheoDur, Theochron, Theolair). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you or any members of your family regularly consume significant amounts of alcohol or use illicit substances like marijuana. Additionally, let your doctor know if you or anyone in your family is currently experiencing or has ever experienced depression, schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions), bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness. Moreover, let your doctor know if you suffer from high blood pressure or have ever had renal, liver, or cardiac illness.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while taking nabilone.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking nabilone if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that nabilone may cause changes in your mood, thinking, memory, judgement, or behaviour in addition to making you feel sleepy. These effects could linger for up to 72 hours after your nabilone medication is over. Throughout your nabilone treatment and for many days afterward, you must be under the supervision of an adult. Driving a car, using machinery, or engaging in other risky activities should be avoided while taking this drug and for a few days after your therapy is complete.
• if you are taking nabilone, avoid drinking alcohol. The negative effects of nabilone can be made worse by alcohol.
• You should be aware that nabilone may result in lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting if you stand up suddenly from a resting position. Get out of bed gradually, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up, to avoid this issue.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Nabilone could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Uncertain walking
• Drowsiness
• Issues with sleep
• Weakness
• Mouth ache
• Alterations in appetite
• Raised or “high” mood
• Having trouble concentrating
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Depression

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Rapid heart rate
• Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• Difficulties understanding reality and thinking clearly

Other negative effects of nabilone may also occur. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Nabilone should be kept in a secure location to prevent accidental or intentional theft. Count the remaining capsules so you’ll know if any are missing.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Hallucinations
• Anxiety
• Alterations in mood, conduct, or thought
• Confusion
• Decreased breathing
• Coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

No one else should take your medication. This medication cannot be renewed. Prior to starting each cycle of chemotherapy, make sure you visit your doctor for a new prescription.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.