Contrave for weight loss 

You can lose 5 to 10% of your starting body weight in 1 year with Contrave according to clinical trial data. That amount is based on the COR-1 study, which assessed Contrave’s safety and effectiveness for weight loss in healthy, nondiabetic patients with obesity. In the study, patients taking Contrave who made changes to their diet and exercise routines lost 5 to 10% of their initial body weight in 56 weeks. 

In the body, Contrave primarily works in the brain to suppress your appetite, though researchers aren’t sure of the exact mechanism. Its 2 active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion, are different medications — naltrexone an opioid antagonist, bupropion an antidepressant. Together, they work on areas of the brain that regulate when and how much you eat. The overall effect is fewer cravings and reduced appetite. 

No, Contrave isn’t the same as Wellbutrin, though they share 1 active ingredient — bupropion, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). Bupropion and brand-name Wellbutrin are FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). While some people report weight loss as an added benefit, Wellbutrin isn’t a weight loss medication and isn’t used as such.

Contrave, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for weight loss in people who are obese or overweight. It contains 2 active ingredients — antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) and naltrexone, an opioid antagonist. Together, these medications lead to weight loss by regulating your appetite, so you eat less and have fewer cravings.

According to clinical data, you could start losing weight within 4 weeks of starting Contrave. Reddit users who took Contrave say they noticed fewer cravings and reduced appetite after the first dose. But, it can take up to 16 weeks to be fully effective. 

In clinical trials, people taking Contrave for medically-supervised weight loss lost at least 5%, and sometimes up to 10%, of their body weight in just over a year (56 weeks). They also ate a reduced-calorie diet and exercised more.

Without insurance or other savings methods, Contrave costs around $668 for a 1-month supply. That’s according to drugs.com and with its discount card applied. There isn’t a cheaper generic version available. If you don’t have insurance, you can save on Contrave with savings cards, patient assistance programs, and/or coupons from prescription discount sites. Print or download your proof of savings and present it to your pharmacy to get Contrave at a discount.

According to Contrave reviews, its downside is side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, and headaches. These tend to be worse during the first few weeks of taking Contrave and go away over time. If you take it, and side effects persist or interfere with your daily life, talk to your healthcare provider about how to manage them. They may suggest stopping Contrave and trying an alternative prescription weight loss pill or injection.

To get a Contrave prescription from an online provider, you need to be evaluated by a board-certified healthcare professional licensed in your state. You can find one on healthcare platforms, like Klarity Health. Providers on Klarity Health can assess your health and weight loss needs to create a tailored medical weight loss program. If medication, like Contrave, is right for you, they’ll give you a prescription or send it to your preferred pharmacy.

Contrave has several contraindications due to the nature of its active ingredients. You shouldn’t take it if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, a seizure disorder, bulimia or anorexia nervosa, or an allergy to its active ingredients. You also shouldn’t take it alongside certain medications, including Wellbutrin or other bupropion-containing drugs, methadone or other opioid agonists, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Contrave is also contraindicated if you’re quitting alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or antiepileptic drugs.