Dronabinol is an orally available cannabinoid agonist, an isomer of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major and most active isomer of the plant Cannabis sativa L., with potential antiemetic, analgesic and appetite stimulating effects. Upon administration, dronabinol, also called "delta-9-THC," targets and binds to cannabinoid receptors (CB1/CB2) in the central nervous system (CNS).
Dronabinol acts directly on the appetite and vomiting control centers in the brain to stimulate appetite and prevent vomiting. In addition, this compound induces analgesia. Dronabinol has relatively poor bioavailability; however, the synthetic THC analog nabilone has better bioavailability.