Contrave Dosage for Weight Loss: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion) is an oral weight loss medication. It should be combined with exercise and a lower-calorie diet to help you lose weight. Contrave is only approved for use in adults.
The typical starting Contrave dosage for weight loss is one tablet (8 mg naltrexone / 90 mg bupropion) taken by mouth once daily. Then, the dose is raised weekly until you reach a target dosage of two tablets twice daily.
There are many ways to save on Contrave. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can lower the cost of Contrave to as little as $20 per month. Another savings program, called CurAccess, is also available.
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Table of contents
Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion) is an oral prescription weight loss medication for adults. It contains two active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion, which work together to control your appetite. Contrave should be paired with a lower-calorie diet and regular exercise.
To get the best results from treatment, it’s important to know how much Contrave you should take. In some cases, medical conditions and drug interactions can affect the recommended amount. Below, we cover the recommended Contrave dosages for weight loss, as well as situations in which adjustments are needed and what to do if you miss your dose.
What’s the typical Contrave dosage?
Contrave is approved for adults who have a starting body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 and at least one weight-related medical condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Contrave is not approved for use in children or adolescents.
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It’s best to take Contrave with food, but you should avoid taking it with high-fat meals. Doing so can increase your risk of seizures from the bupropion component of the medication. Do not crush, chew, or split Contrave tablets. This can affect how well your body absorbs Contrave.
Each Contrave tablet contains 8 mg of naltrexone and 90 mg of bupropion. The typical Contrave dosage for weight loss is two tablets taken by mouth twice daily. You’ll typically reach this dose after a few weeks, as listed in the table below:
Week | Morning dose* | Evening dose* |
1 | 1 tablet | None |
2 | 1 tablet | 1 tablet |
3 | 2 tablets | 1 tablet |
4 and beyond (target dose) | 2 tablets | 2 tablets |
Your healthcare provider should evaluate your progress after you’ve been taking the target dose for at least 12 weeks (about 3 months). If you’re getting the results you want from treatment, Contrave can be taken long term.
If you’ve lost less than 5% of your starting body weight after taking the target dose for at least 12 weeks, your healthcare provider may suggest stopping Contrave. This is because it’s unlikely that you’ll see a meaningful benefit from Contrave, even if you continue taking it. They may recommend a different weight loss treatment.
Keep in mind: Your healthcare provider may instruct you to take a Contrave dosage other than the standard one. Be sure to follow their instructions, even if they’re different from the information above.
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions or interactions?
If you have certain medical conditions, such as kidney or liver disease, your Contrave dosage may be slightly different from what’s outlined above. This is because Contrave can build up in your body if your liver and/or kidneys aren’t working well.
Also, certain medications can interact with Contrave. If you’re taking one of these medications, you may need a different Contrave dosage.
Kidney problems
If you have moderate or severe kidney disease, the maximum recommended Contrave dosage is one tablet twice daily. If you have end-stage kidney disease or are receiving dialysis, you shouldn’t take Contrave.
Liver problems
If you have moderate liver disease, the maximum recommended Contrave dosage is one tablet twice daily. You shouldn’t take Contrave if you have severe liver disease.
Interactions
Contrave can interact with many medications. You should always share your medication list with your healthcare provider or pharmacist so they can comprehensively screen for interactions. However, the manufacturer has specific recommendations for how to handle certain drug interactions.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): You should wait at least 14 days (2 weeks) after stopping an MAOI before taking Contrave. Likewise, you should wait at least 14 days after stopping Contrave before taking an MAOI. Otherwise, you could experience dangerously high blood pressure.
Medications that block certain liver enzymes (proteins): Medications that affect liver enzymes can block the metabolism (breakdown) of Contrave. This can lead to higher Contrave levels in the body. If you’re taking one of these medications, such as ticlopidine or clopidogrel (Plavix), the maximum recommended Contrave dosage is one tablet twice daily.
What happens if you miss a dose of Contrave?
If you forget to take a dose of Contrave, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose at the regular time. Don’t take a double dose or extra dose to make up for the one you missed.
What should you do if you take too much Contrave?
If you take too much Contrave, you should check in with your healthcare provider. They can help you navigate any side effects you may experience. If you’ve taken a large amount of Contrave, you should call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Serious overdoses of Contrave may require emergency medical care.
Symptoms of a Contrave overdose can include tremors, hallucinations, and coma. Seizures are also possible. If you’re having any of these symptoms after taking too much Contrave, call 911 and get emergency medical help right away.
How to save on Contrave
There are many ways to save on Contrave, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate copay savings cards and other programs from the manufacturer.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $20 for Contrave using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with the CurAccess program. The manufacturer of Contrave, Currax Pharmaceuticals, also offers a savings program called CurAccess. It’s for individuals with or without insurance and allows you to pay as little as $99 per month. To see if you’re eligible, go to GoodRx’s Contrave page and click the link for the CurAccess program.
The bottom line
Contrave is an oral medication that’s FDA-approved for weight loss. It’s a combination of two medications, naltrexone and bupropion.
The typical Contrave dosage for weight loss is two tablets taken twice daily. This is the target dose. But you’ll typically start by taking one tablet daily, and your dosage will be increased weekly until you reach the target dose. After you’ve been taking the target dose for 12 weeks, your healthcare provider should evaluate your progress and recommend either stopping or continuing Contrave.
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References
MedlinePlus. (2019). Naltrexone and bupropion.
Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2022). Contrave extended-release- naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride tablet, extended release [package insert].
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