Compare Contrave vs. Mounjaro

Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are both medications used to help with weight management, but they work in different ways and are approved for different primary uses. Contrave is a combination of an opioid antagonist and a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It's FDA-approved for long-term weight management in adults with a high body mass index (BMI). Mounjaro, on the other hand, is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, primarily approved for improving blood sugar control in adults with Type 2 diabetes, though it has been approved for weight loss under a different brand name, Zepbound. Contrave is taken orally as a tablet twice a day, while Mounjaro is injected under the skin once a week. Common side effects of Contrave include nausea, constipation, and headache, whereas Mounjaro can cause nausea, diarrhea, and low appetite. Contrave is not available as a generic, and it should not be taken with opioids due to the risk of overdose or withdrawal. Mounjaro, available only as a brand-name injection, may not be safe during pregnancy and can interact with medications like other diabetes medications, warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin), and birth control pills. Both medications require a prescription and are not controlled substances.