Here’s How to Save on Weight Loss Medication Contrave

If healthy lifestyle changes like diet and exercise haven’t been enough to help you lose extra weight, your healthcare provider may suggest that you turn to a weight loss medication, like Contrave (bupropion/naltrexone). 

While people may only take it for a short period of time, out-of-pocket costs for Contrave can reach well beyond $400 per month, and it may not be covered by many insurance plans. But GoodRx is here to help with other ways to save.

Losing weight is hard, but affording your medication shouldn’t be. Here’s some information on Contrave, including how it works for weight loss and ways you can save on this medication.   

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What is Contrave?

Contrave is prescribed for weight loss in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. In some cases, adults with a BMI of 27 or higher will be prescribed Contrave if they have one or more conditions that may affect weight like hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Contrave is a mixture of two well-known medications: 

1. Bupropion, commonly used to treat depression or help people quit smoking

2. Naltrexone, used to combat opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder

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Contrave works to curb cravings, which may help overeating. But, does it really work? Let’s take a closer look below.

Does Contrave really work for weight loss?

A medication that claims to safely help you lose weight can sound too good to be true. Like other medications, deciding to use Contrave requires some consideration of benefits and risks. 

How much weight can you lose with Contrave?

Contrave can help people lose a significant amount of weight, but only when it’s taken properly and combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Clinical trial data showed that study participants lost 5% to 15% of their body weight while taking Contrave.

Contrave side effects

Contrave also has risks. Studies have shown that people stopped taking it because of side effects such as: 

• Nausea

• Headache

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Dizziness

• Dry Mouth

Also, bupropion, one of the active ingredients in Contrave, can cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors in rare cases — especially in people under age 25. For this reason, Contrave carries a boxed warning (the strongest warning given to prescription drugs by the FDA) about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

How much does Contrave cost?

If you are paying in cash, you will have to spend more than $400 for a 30-day supply. Most private insurance plans do not cover Contrave. 

Also, Contrave is a brand-name drug with no generic version on the market yet. A generic Contrave medication may not be available until 2030.

Luckily, there are some ways for you to save.

Savings tip #1: Appeal for insurance coverage

As mentioned earlier, Contrave is a brand-name only medication that isn’t covered by many insurance plans. If you have insurance and your plan doesn’t cover Contrave, ask your healthcare provider about submitting an appeal. 

Some plans require prior authorizations before covering Contrave. In other words, you’ll need a special request from your healthcare provider and permission from your insurance plan before you can fill your prescription. 

If you have insurance, call your insurance provider and ask how to get this process started.

Savings tip #2: Pay as little as $99 per month with CurAccess program 

Manufacturer Currax Pharmaceuticals offers a savings program called CurAccess for people with or without insurance. There are two simple steps to follow in order to take advantage of the discounted price, which will require you to:

1. Create an account with Currax’s partner pharmacy, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. You can do this by email or phone.

2. Contact your healthcare provider’s office to transfer your Contrave prescription to Ridgeway Pharmacy. They can do this through electronic medical records, by phone, or by fax.

To check your eligibility for this savings program, you can check out GoodRx’s Contrave page for a link to the CurAccess program.

Savings tip #3: Apply for a Contrave savings card

You can enroll into the Contrave coupon savings card program to get a savings card that will help you save on the medication. Once you enroll and activate your card, you can show it to a pharmacist at your local pharmacy who will help you find out how much you can save. With insurance, the savings card may help you pay as low as $20 for Contrave. 

If your insurance doesn’t cover Contrave or if you are uninsured, you would pay a maximum of $199, and the savings program would cover the rest. Because of this, using the CurAccess program may be a better option, since you’d be paying no more than $99 a month.

Saving tip #4: Talk to a healthcare provider about Contrave alternatives

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all pill for weight loss, there are other options. Talk to a provider carefully about these, as some — including Contrave — have serious risks that you need to be aware of. 

Also, depending on your insurance coverage, prices for these may or may not be lower than the price you’d pay for Contrave.

• Phentermine (Adipex-P): This tends to be the go-to option for weight loss. Phentermine has been around since 1959. Because it has been around for so long, it is now relatively affordable. There are some downsides though: phentermine can be habit-forming and can cause side effects like dry mouth and high blood pressure.

• Liraglutide (Saxenda): Saxenda is a higher dose of a common diabetes medication, Victoza, and has been around since late 2014. Saxenda is injected rather than taken orally (by mouth). So if you don’t prefer injections, this may not be the best option for you. Also, Saxenda is expensive: A 30-day supply can cost over $1,300, even with a GoodRx coupon.

• Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia): Although this medication was approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in 2012, one of its two active ingredients, topiramate, has been linked to birth defects when used by pregnant women. Because of that, the FDA imposed a Risk Evaluation Management Strategy (REMS) program for Qsymia, which means that you can only get it from certified pharmacies that will teach you how to use the medication properly. The other active ingredient in Qsymia is phentermine, which, as discussed earlier, has serious safety risks as well. That’s why it's best to consider this medication as a last resort.

How to ask your provider for weight loss pills

Whether you’re talking to your provider online or in person, use the following tips to help you prepare for the conversation:

• Make an appointment to talk specifically about weight loss medications.

• Be ready to describe your previous efforts to lose weight including types of diets and exercise programs you’ve tried. Also discuss your overall goals for achieving a healthy weight.

• Talk about issues such as cravings or hunger that you have had to deal with in the past.

• Ask your provider which type of weight loss medication would be suitable for you based on your budget, weight loss goals, and health history.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Tori Marsh, MPH

Tori Marsh is GoodRx’s resident expert on prescription drug pricing, prescribing trends, and drug savings. She oversees the GoodRx drug database, ensuring that all drug information is accurate and up to date.

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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