Marinol

devotion10
devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband (Stage 4 recurring colorectal cancer with mets to liver and lung) has recently been prescribed Marinol to help encourage appetite as he is only in his second month of chemotherapy and has lost ten pounds. He has not taken it yet as he has read that it can cause some psychic disturbances and that it is difficult to control the effects in the way that one can with taking a puff or so of actual marijuana. Because of his lung mets though his onc does not want him to be smoking ... can anyone give us their experiences with this medication? Thank you.

Comments

  • linandtom
    linandtom Member Posts: 67
    #2
    Another option
    Ask your doctor about trying Megace. Our oncologist said they always try Megace first before the others. Megace was first used to help pts with AIDS and weight loss. I understand they now have it in pill form and not just liquid.
  • bdee
    bdee Member Posts: 304
    #3
    Marinol
    After my fourth treatment of Oxaliplatin and my eighth treatment of 5FU, Avastin and Leucovorin I could not swallow solid food. I could not eat or drink anything cold, either. I lost 65 pounds in 5 months and my doctor tried everything. Marinol, Magese and my son bought some mj for me. Nothing worked. I just had to get up every morning, scramble an egg and try to force it down. If I could get it down, then at lunch I would try some chicken and rice or chicken and noodle soup or a homemade chicken soup I would make and freeze. If I could get it down and stay down, at supper I would try some boiled chicken or baked potatoe. As I said I did this for five months. After I could drink cold, I would drink lots of smoothies with protein powder or Ensure mixed in. Once I could start eating again, I took off and I've gained back 40 pounds in the last nine months. Now I wish I could lose again, just not in the way I lost the pounds before.

    Debbie in Arkansas
  • zenmonk
    zenmonk Member Posts: 198
    #4
    good experience
    Its pretty mild to me. It did help with the nausea and with increasing my appetite. I had no adverse effects whatsoever. MJ in its natural form is pretty powerful these days so the marinol pill was really nothing. Its better if you are in a position were smoking it is an option.
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #5
    no side effects
    I took it my first go around with chemo and it helped me, didnt have any side effects. I say try it, just to see if it might help him.

    Beth
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    Never tried it
    I have heard of people eating the regular pot in cookies, brownies, etc and I've heard of people using water pipes if they smoke it.

    PS: it's more effective (and a bit more fun dare I say) in it's natural state.

Discussion Boards