Contrave Review

About Contrave

Contrave is a doctor-prescribed medicine that can be used for weight loss and its associated problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The primary customer of this supplement is adults who are categorized as overweight or obese according to their BMI. 

With over 7k Instagram followers, Contrave is slowly growing its online presence. Plus, this supplement has been approved by the FDA for using ingredients that are successful in treating weight loss in obese people. It has been endorsed by doctors, as the only way to get the supplement is with a prescription.

In this Contrave review I will help you look over the details of the product, the brand, some customer ratings, promotions, and more to help you decide if this medical supplement is the right choice for you and your weight loss goals.

Overview of Orexigen Therapeutics

Contrave is made by Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc, a pharmaceutical company that mainly works on creating treatments and medication for obesity. Contrave was approved to help with weight loss by the FDA in 2014.

With its primary goal of helping people achieve their weight loss goals and lessen the associated health problems that come with being overweight and obese, Contrave and its founders have created a product that seems to do it all.

Let’s now take a look at the main highlights of this brand and product in this Contrave review. 

Highlights

• Scientifically researched ingredients
• FDA-approved
• Subscription option available
• Sold in the United States and Canada
• Free shipping with CurAccess Program
• Positive customer reviews

Contrave has many positive features associated with weight loss, especially seeing that the main ingredients are scientifically researched to help with obesity, and it has been FDA approved.

There are great positives associated with this supplement, and if you’re still interested in making a lifestyle change, you should read on to find out more about it!

Contrave Review

We live in a world of temptation, and it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus of your goals. Fast food is a huge temptation today because of the amount of delicious options. Unfortunately, we can’t separate the greasy and unhealthy foods from the extra pounds that they add.  

Once you make a habit of eating yummy food, it can be really tough to break it and change your lifestyle to be more healthy. Weight loss is no joke, and it’s not an easy task. It can get tiring when you try again and again and either the extra weight doesn’t come off, or it doesn’t stay off long enough to make a difference.

In situations like this, it can be a good idea to seek the help of professionals who can help you with science-based medication and supplements for weight loss.

Contrave is one example of a medicinal supplement that can help you lose the extra pounds and actually keep them off! Using the main ingredients of naltrexone^[1] and bupropion, both proven to help with weight loss, Contrave works to reduce your hunger pangs and cravings to control your food intake, eventually resulting in weight loss.

So how much does this all cost? The product is only available with a doctor’s prescription from the brand website, and the retail cost of the supplement is $99 per month.

The pricing may vary based on your insurance coverage, or if you sign up for their CurAccess Program, which can provide you with perks such as free shipping and more!

Who Is Contrave For? 

While writing this Contrave review I found that the supplement has a very specific demographic that it targets. It’s made for adults who are either categorized as overweight or obese based on their BMI. 

To be considered overweight, you must have a BMI of 27kg/m² or greater, and to be considered obese, you must have a BMI of 30kg/m² or greater. You must also have at least one condition that is a result of your weight, which may include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Although you may fall into one of the mentioned categories, you shouldn’t take Contrave if you have one of the following experiences or symptoms concerning your health:

• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure, also known as hypertension
• Have a history of seizures
• Use other medication that contains bupropion
• Have a history of eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia
• Have a history with opioids, including opioid dependency, opioid withdrawal, or current use of medication-related to opioid use
• Have an alcohol dependency, take sedative medications that make you drowsy, or take anti-seizure medications
• Are taking medication known as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
• Have allergies either to the main ingredients of naltrexone or bupropion, or any other ingredient found in the supplement

It is also an important disclaimer to mention that whether or not you meet the BMI categories, you should not take this supplement if you are pregnant. Significant weight loss during pregnancy from supplements may be harmful to the baby, and it’s important to let your doctor know if you are pregnant.

What Are The Benefits Of Contrave? 

For this Contrave review I found many benefits associated with the supplement, and its two main ingredients, naltrexone, and bupropion. 

Naltrexone has been proven to help with substance abuse-related trouble, including alcoholism^[2], alcohol dependence^[3], and opioid dependence^[4]. Naltrexone also has been known to help people stop smoking^[5] and aid with behavioral addictions like^[6] kleptomania, trichotillomania, and pathological gambling. 

Bupropion mainly works as an antidepressant, aiding individuals with a range of related symptoms. This ingredient can relieve symptoms of schizophrenia^[7], help with depression^[8], prevent weight gain^[9], and aid with smoking cessation^[10].

According to this study^[11], these two ingredients can work together to treat weight gain in obese individuals, with a focus on reducing their hunger pangs and controlling their cravings.

How Does Contrave Work?

The supplement is made to target areas of the brain that are associated with food and hunger to allow you to lose weight.

Although the exact neurochemical that allows weight loss is not completely understood, it is noted that the supplement focuses on the hypothalamus and the mesolimbic reward system in your brain.

The hypothalamus in your brain is in charge of hunger. Contrave is designed to tell that part of the brain to reduce your hunger pangs.

In the same way, the mesolimbic reward system in the brain makes you think about your food cravings. When you take Contrave, your cravings are curbed, preventing you from eating unhealthy food while taking the supplement.

All of these factors then come together to give you the ideal weight loss experience!

What Are The Ingredients In The Contrave?

There are two primary ingredients that make up this medical supplement:

1. Naltrexone is a prescription drug that’s used for helping people with addiction, mostly with alcohol and opioids
2. Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that works within the brain to aid with a few different mood disorders

Both ingredients are approved by the FDA and have been on the market for over 30 years, treating a variety of different symptoms. Although there isn’t as much evidence that shows the two ingredients can aid in weight loss individually, there is evidence that they can reduce weight when combined together.

How to Take Contrave And Dosage

The dosage for Contrave depends on how long you’ve been taking the supplement. It’s extremely specific and can vary based on your doctor’s advice. The dosage per week is listed below:

• Week 1: 1 pill in the morning
• Week 2: 1 pill in the morning, 1 pill in the evening
• Week 3: 2 pills in the morning, 1 pill in the evening
• Week 4: 2 pills in the morning, 2 pills in the evening

If your doctor advises you to take the pills differently, it’s extremely important that you follow their advice.

It’s also essential that you don’t stop or change your dosage without your doctor’s confirmation. There are some serious side effects with this supplement, and that can only get worse if you take the wrong dosage or stop taking it completely. 

There is no specific recommendation to take Contrave with food. However, it’s especially important that this supplement is not taken with high-fat meals. There are some serious side effects noted for combining the supplement with foods high in fat so it’s essential to avoid that combination.

In order for the supplement to work, it’s important that you take the supplement along a reduced-calorie diet as well as regularly partake in increased physical activity compared to before.

Contrave Side Effects

Due to the fact that this product is a medical supplement only for serious use by a small demographic of people, there are a great number of important Contrave side effects to note. 

The combination of the medical ingredients naltrexone and bupropion can be dangerous if you take it with other medication, take the wrong dosage, or have an allergy.

The most common side effects of Contrave include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, or diarrhea. However, there are many more serious side effects as well.

You may experience seizures if you take too high of a dosage, have certain pre-existing medical conditions, or mix Contrave with other medications.

You can have an opioid overdose if you combine Contrave with opioids like heroin, or opioid medication like prescription pain pills, affecting the naltrexone in the supplement. This can result in serious injury, coma, or even death. Some symptoms of an opioid overdose include trouble breathing, slow or shallow breathing, having feelings of being faint, dizzy, or confused.

You may experience opioid withdrawal if you had taken any opioids including street drugs, prescription pain pills, or any other medication that contains opioids 7 to 10 days before starting to take Contrave. 

You may experience severe allergic reactions if you have a sensitivity to any of the ingredients. Allergies can present themselves as rashes, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful mouth or eyesores, swollen lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing. 

Your blood pressure or heart rate may increase when taking Contrave. Usually, your doctor will check out your blood pressure and heart rate before you begin to take the supplement as well as after you’re on it, to make sure that there are no significant changes. 

A possible dangerous effect of Contrave is liver damage or hepatitis. If you experience the symptoms of abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowed eyes, or fatigue, you should let your doctor know immediately.

Due to the ingredient of bupropion, there is a chance of depressive or manic behavioral changes in those people who’ve had previous experience with those mental health conditions in the past. This can include suicidal thoughts and actions, so it’s important to keep an eye on family members and friends who you believe are experiencing severe mood changes.

You may notice visual problems including eye pain, changes in vision, swelling, and redness in the eyes or around them. This can result in angle-closure glaucoma, so you will need to let your doctor know if you experience any similar symptoms. 

With those of you with type 2 diabetes mellitus, you may experience low blood sugar, because of the combination of Contrave with your diabetes medication. You should regularly check your blood sugar levels to ensure that they are stable once you start taking Contrave.

It’s extremely important that if you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical care right away, and follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid dangerous health problems.

Contrave Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

While doing my research for this Contrave review I found that this medical supplement is a hit with the customers! With positive ratings on the brand website and other reviewing platforms, the Contrave before and after results seem very noticeable, with many happy customers who have benefited from the product.

Although the brand website doesn’t list the star ratings by their customers, they do have success stories from multiple people. They are posted with a picture showing the benefits that they’ve experienced once they started taking this supplement.

Teri stated that she was finally able to understand her cravings: “I never understood why I wasn’t able to control my hunger, but now there’s more of a scientific explanation. It’s not just about willpower.” Meanwhile, Shellie wrote: “Before Contrave, I felt my eating habits could get out of control. Now, I feel like I have a foundation and support.”

That sounds like the product did exactly what it aimed to do, targeting the brain to aid with reducing hunger pangs and curbing cravings!

There were many positive reviews on Drugs.com that had comments posted by happy customers that were along the same lines. One customer stated that after 4 weeks of using Contrave: “I have lost 10 lbs and I am absolutely thrilled! I still have 60 lbs to go but this is the first time in 10 years that I am very confident that I will get down to my goal weight.” 

On Everyday Health, a customer on their third week posted about multiple benefits: “My cravings for food are almost zero. I am also eating healthier foods and drinks, along with the Contrave, as it will not work if you still eat fatty, unhealthy foods. So far, I have lost 16 lbs. But more than the pounds, I just feel better! More energy, better sleep.”

There were a few unhappy customers who posted about minor side effects that they experienced, especially regarding nausea and vomiting. Unfortunately, since everyone’s body is different, there is a small possibility that the supplement affected them differently. 

However, for the most part, it seems as though the success stories are endless!

Is Contrave Worth It?

The medical supplement is definitely worth the try as your next step in achieving your desired weight loss goals. The ingredients of this supplement are simple but extremely effective.

The two main ingredients of naltrexone and bupropion are well researched, and proven to help with weight loss and a variety of symptoms. 

Contrave is also doctor-approved and the customers are highly satisfied. With all this in mind, it’s important to note the many possibly severe side effects of this supplement. 

Contrave’s website is very clear on all the dangers of not following dosage instructions explicitly stated by your doctor and the serious consequences of that mistake. So keep this in mind when you choose.

Contrave Promotions & Discounts 

Seeing that Contrave is a prescribed medical supplement, the main discounts on pricing come from your medical insurance plan. Based on how much your insurance covers supplemental products, your pricing may vary.

So while we couldn’t find a Contrave coupon code, they do offer free shipping to customers who sign up for the CurAccess program on the brand website. This is a third-party program with perks and benefits.

Where to Buy Contrave

Contrave is exclusively purchased from the brand website because it requires you to get a doctor’s prescription to get the supplement sent to you. 

If you find the product on another online or retail website, it has not been approved or endorsed by the main company. Plus it can be really dangerous because the other product may not be exactly the same, and you could have an adverse reaction to the other supplement.

FAQ

How many Contrave should I take daily?  

The dosage of Contrave is dependent on how long you’ve been taking the supplement. It’s extremely specific and can vary based on your health care professional’s advice. The dosage per week is:

• Week 1: 1 pill in the morning
• Week 2: 1 pill in the morning, 1 pill in the evening
• Week 3: 2 pills in the morning, 1 pill in the evening
• Week 4: 2 pills in the morning, 2 pills in the evening

If your doctor advises you to take the pills differently, it’s extremely important that you follow their advice.

It’s also essential that you don’t stop or change your dosage without your healthcare professional’s confirmation. There are some serious side effects with this supplement, and that can only get worse if you take the wrong dosage or stop taking it completely.

Should I take Contrave with food?  

There is no specific recommendation to take Contrave with food. However, it’s extremely important that this supplement is not taken with high-fat meals.

There are some serious side effects noted for combining the supplement with foods high in fat, so it’s essential to avoid that combination.

Is Contrave vegan?  

Unfortunately no. Contrave is not a vegan product.

Is Contrave gluten-free? 

Contrave is not a gluten-free product. It may contain ingredients that are made of gluten.

What are the supplement facts of Contrave? 

Seeing that Contrave is a prescribed supplement, its supplement facts are dependent on how you’re taking it as advised by your doctor. The main ingredients in this supplement are naltrexone and bupropion.

What is Orexigen Therapeutics’ Shipping Policy?

Orexigen Therapeutics offers free shipping if you sign up for the third-party CurAccess program. By signing up for this program through the main brand’s website, you can receive your supplement delivered to you free of charge every month.

Currently, Contrave is sold within the United States and Canada, so they do not ship internationally to other countries.

What is Orexigen Therapeutics’ Return Policy?

Seeing that Contrave is prescribed by your doctor, it cannot be returned after it has already been sent to you by the pharmacy due to FDA regulations.

In case you received the incorrect prescription, however, you can contact the customer service team at Orexigen Therapeutics and get that error fixed immediately.

How to Contact Orexigen Therapeutics

If you have any further questions I didn’t get to in this Contrave review, you can reach out to the brand directly over the phone at 1-800-905-5576.

Their customer service team is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

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