Are you a healthcare professional? Join GoodRx for HCPs

Compare Contrave vs. Wegovy

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are both medications used for long-term weight management in adults with a high body mass index (BMI) and weight-related conditions. However, they belong to different medication classes and have important differences. Contrave combines an opioid antagonist and a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, while Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Contrave is taken orally as a tablet twice daily, whereas Wegovy is injected under the skin once a week. Common side effects of Contrave include nausea, constipation, and headache, while Wegovy often causes nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Both medications are only available in a branded version. Additionally, Contrave should not be taken with opioids, and Wegovy is not recommended if you have a history of certain thyroid cancers.

Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion)
Wegovy (semaglutide)
Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion)
Wegovy (semaglutide)
Summary of Contrave vs. Wegovy
Summary for Opioid antagonist / Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Prescription only
Contrave is a combination medication that helps with weight loss for certain adults. It's taken along with a balanced diet and exercise plan. Contrave is a tablet with two active ingredients that help regulate your appetite. They are naltrexone (an opioid antagonist) and bupropion (a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). Your dosage will slowly increase over the first 3 weeks. Then, you take the maintenance dose of two tablets by mouth twice a day. Some side effects are nausea, constipation, and headache. But it can also have serious risks, like unusual changes in behavior. Contrave is brand name only; there isn't a generic version available yet.
Summary for GLP-1 agonist
Prescription only
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It comes in prefilled pens you use to inject the medication under the skin once a week. Wegovy (semaglutide) also comes as tablets that are swallowed once a day. This medication is approved for weight loss in some people. It can help lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with a larger body size and heart disease. The pens are also approved for certain adults with a liver problem called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The medication works best when taken with a lower-calorie diet and regular exercise. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Indications of Contrave vs. Wegovy
Indications for

•Long-term weight management in certain adults

•Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater

•Adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater and a weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol)

Indications for
Injectable pens:

•
Weight loss and long-term weight management in:

•People ages 12 years and older who are considered obese

•Adults considered overweight with at least one weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol)

•
Lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with a larger body size and heart disease

•
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults with moderate-to-advanced liver scarring, but not cirrhosis

Tablets:

•Weight loss and long-term weight management in adults who are considered obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition

•Lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with a larger body size and heart disease
Pros and Cons of Contrave vs. Wegovy
Pros and Const for Opioid antagonist / Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Pros

•Comes as a tablet that you take by mouth

•Might start to notice results in as early as 4 weeks (when taken along with a balanced diet and regular exercise)

Cons

•Must take twice a day (after the dose ramp-up at the beginning)

•Might raise your risk of unusual behavior and thoughts of self-harm

•Interacts with a lot of medications

Pros and Const for GLP-1 agonist
Pros

•Available as once-weekly injectable pens and as once-daily pills

•Injectable pens approved for weight loss in children ages 12 years and older considered obese

Cons

•Can cause stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea

•Can't take with other semaglutide products (Ozempic, Rybelsus) or with other GLP-1 agonists
Common Side Effects of Contrave vs. Wegovy
Common Side Effects for

•Nausea (33%)

•Constipation (19%)

•Headache (18%)

•Vomiting (11%)

•Dizziness (10%)

•Trouble sleeping (9%)

•Dry mouth (8%)

•Diarrhea (7%)

Common Side Effects for

•Nausea (44%)

•Diarrhea (30%)

•Vomiting (24%)

•Constipation (24%)

•Stomach pain (20%)

•Headache (14%)

•Tiredness (11%)
Warnings of Contrave vs. Wegovy
Common Side Effects for

•Risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior

•Possible changes in thoughts, behavior, and mood

•Seizures

•Don't take Contrave with opioid medications

•Higher blood pressure and faster heart rate

•Liver problems

•Mania (extreme enthusiasm or excitement)

•Worsening of glaucoma in certain people

•Potential risk of low blood sugar in people taking certain medications for Type 2 diabetes

Common Side Effects for

•Possible risk for thyroid cancer

•Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

•Gallbladder problems

•Low blood sugar

•Kidney damage

•Allergic reactions

•Eye problems in people with Type 2 diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)

•Faster heart rate

•Possible risk of self-harm

•Lung problems during general anesthesia or deep sedation
Prices with our coupons for Contrave vs. Wegovy
Learn more about Contrave
Learn more about Wegovy

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.

Compare Contrave vs. Wegovy

Key takeaways

Summary of Contrave vs. Wegovy

Indications of Contrave vs. Wegovy

Pros and Cons of Contrave vs. Wegovy

Common Side Effects of Contrave vs. Wegovy

Warnings of Contrave vs. Wegovy

Prices with our coupons for Contrave vs. Wegovy

Compare other Weight loss drugs

Browse medications

Good news for your inbox