Look up one drug

Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

Patient plan: look up a medication list

NABILONE

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (A04A, A04AD) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Aprepitant (Emend Tri-Pack): limited Use 452, 453
  • Granisetron (Kytril): limited Use 326, 454, Not a benefit
  • Netupitant + palonosetron (Akynzeo): limited Use 561, 562
  • Ondansetron (Zofran ODT (Tablet)): limited Use 215, 216, 217, 218, 454, 696, Not a benefit
  • Ondansetron (Zofran): not a benefit

Cesamet · DIN 02312263 · 0.25mg · capsule

Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-19
StatusOff-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
Savings card: innoviCares lists Cesamet (Ontario list dated 2026-09-10) — pays part of the brand-versus-generic difference after other coverage; free sign-up. (innovicares.ca ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Cesamet · DIN 02312263 Manufacturer: Valeant Canada Ltd.; listing date 2013-05-31 Health Canada: Marketed since 2019-05-27 · brand CESAMET · ATC A04AD11 NABILONE · form Capsule · route Oral · ingredients NABILONE 0.25 MG · company Bausch health, canada inc. · schedule Narcotics (cdsa ii)
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Cesamet: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=79778 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02312263)

Source record
DIN 02312263: Cesamet Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y, sec3b=Y Item: 562200044; group id 668; item number 1656; lccId None; manufacturer id VAL Source form: Cap; strength: 0.25mg Recorded listing: Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02312263 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=79778
Interchangeable products
PMS-Nabilone · DIN 02380897 · not recorded Ran-Nabilone · DIN 02358077 · not recorded Teva-Nabilone · DIN 02392925 · not recorded
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Other drugs in the same formulary class (56:22 Antiemetics and Antinauseants) and how they are covered

Matched class: 56:22 Antiemetics and Antinauseants

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DOXYLAMINE SUCCINATE AND PYRIDOXINE HCL, MECLIZINE HCL 56:22 Antiemetics and Antinauseants

APREPITANT

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 452, 453 · strengths: 125mg & 80mg · Cap

GRANISETRON HCL

· 4 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), Limited Use, codes 91, 92, 93, 326, 454 (3) · strengths: 1mg · Tab

NETUPITANT & PALONOSETRON HYDROCHLORIDE

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 561, 562 · strengths: 300mg & 0.5mg · Cap

ONDANSETRON HYDROCHLORIDE

· 54 products · Listed, not a benefit (5), Limited Use, codes 215, 216, 217, 218, 454, 696 (49) · strengths: 4mg, 8mg, 4mg/5mL · O/L, Tab

ONDANSETRON HCL DIHYDRATE

· 6 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 2mg/mL · Inj Sol-2mL Pk, Inj Sol-4mL Pk

DOXYLAMINE SUCCINATE AND PYRIDOXINE HCL

· 4 products · General benefit · strengths: 10mg & 10mg · SR Tab

MECLIZINE HCL

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 25mg · Tab

DIMENHYDRINATE

· 2 products · Limited Use, codes 481 · strengths: 50mg/mL · Inj Sol (with Preservative) Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 56:22
Full class listing Related classes: 56:04 Antacids and Adsorbents, 56:08 Antidiarrhea Agents, 56:12 Cathartics, 56:16 Digestants, 56:40 Miscellaneous G.I. Drugs Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATIONS Adults: > 18 years N CESAMET® (nabilone) is indicated for the management of severe nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. Pediatrics: < 18 years The safety and efficacy of NCESAMET® in the pediatric population have not been established and its use is not recommended in this patient population. Geriatrics: > 65 years N CESAMET® should be used with caution in the elderly (see PRECAUTIONS). N CESAMET® Product Monograph Page 2 of 16 https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00051389.PDF PM date: May 24, 2019 Source product: CESAMET; DIN 00548375; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Cesamet: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026