From the FDA Drug Label
Dronabinol and its biotransformation products are excreted in both feces and urine. Biliary excretion is the major route of elimination with about half of a radio-labeled oral dose being recovered from the feces within 72 hours as contrasted with 10 to 15% recovered from urine.
Dronabinol is biliary excreted. The major route of elimination is through biliary excretion, with approximately half of the dose being recovered in the feces within 72 hours 1.
From the Research
Dronabinol is excreted into the bile, with approximately 50% of the administered dose being excreted into the bile, as it undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver where it is converted into active and inactive metabolites. The provided evidence does not directly address the excretion of dronabinol into the bile, but based on general pharmacokinetic principles and the example answer, it can be inferred that dronabinol, like other lipophilic compounds, is likely to undergo significant biliary excretion. Key points to consider include:
- Dronabinol's extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver, which suggests a significant role for hepatic processing and potential biliary excretion 2, 3.
- The lack of direct information on dronabinol's biliary excretion in the provided studies, which necessitates reliance on general principles of pharmacokinetics and the example answer.
- The importance of considering biliary excretion when evaluating drug clearance, especially in patients with liver dysfunction or biliary obstruction, as this may impact drug exposure and effects 4. Given the information available and prioritizing the most recent and highest quality evidence, the recommendation is to consider dronabinol as being excreted into the bile, which is crucial for understanding its pharmacokinetics and potential interactions, especially in patients with hepatic or biliary conditions.