Contrave
Contrave is a weight management tablet that pairs naltrexone with bupropion, supplied as prolonged-release tablets of 8mg naltrexone and 90mg bupropion for adults who need more than diet and exercise.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/90mg | 30 tablets | $78.30 | $2.61 |
| 8/90mg | 60 tablets | $140.40 | $2.34 |
| 8/90mg | 90 tablets | $199.80 | $2.22 |
| 8/90mg | 120 tablets | $253.20 | $2.11 |
- Category
- Addiction Recovery · Weight Management
- Active ingredient
- Naltrexone · Bupropion
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 8/90mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Weight management
- Therapeutic Class
- Appetite suppressant
- Pharmacological Class
- Aminoketone and opioid antagonist
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Constipation, Dizziness
- Moderate Side Effects
- Insomnia, Dry mouth, Anxiety
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Takeda
- Onset Time
- Initial weeks
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature below 25°C.
- Drug Interactions
- MAO inhibitors, Opioids
- Age Restrictions
- Adults only
What you will receive
Contrave is the originator brand name, made by Takeda. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Contrave.
- The same active ingredient (Naltrexone / Bupropion) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What pack sizes does generic Contrave come in?
Generic Contrave is available as 8/90mg tablets in packs of 30, 60, 90 or 120. It is generic bupropion and naltrexone, not the original Contrave. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
How is generic Contrave shipped to Hong Kong for a long course?
For a long course of generic Contrave, tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days and includes online tracking. Standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, up to 30, but is untracked. Both options ship in plain, unbranded packaging.
What is another name for naltrexone and bupropion?
Contrave is a brand name of naltrexone and bupropion, which are also sold as Mysimba. Here, naltrexone and bupropion can be bought online as generic Contrave. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Contrave?
It is best not to. Bupropion lowers the threshold for seizures, and heavy drinking, or stopping a heavy drinking habit suddenly, makes one more likely. Alcohol also adds to the dizziness, nausea and broken sleep the tablets can cause.
Will Contrave stop painkillers from working?
Opioid painkillers will. Naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors that codeine, tramadol, morphine and similar drugs act on, so they give little or no relief while it is in your system. Paracetamol and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen are not affected.
How long does Contrave take to work?
The first four weeks are a build-up, with the dose stepped up each week, and many people find their appetite starts to shift as it climbs. Weight loss is judged over months, not days. About three months on the full dose is the usual point to review progress.
Can I take Contrave with an antidepressant?
Not with an MAO inhibitor such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine or selegiline, or within two weeks of stopping one. The two together can push blood pressure dangerously high. Selegiline, used in Parkinson's disease, counts as an MAO inhibitor too.
Should I take Contrave with food?
Take each dose with a meal if the tablets make you feel sick; otherwise the timing around food matters little. Swallow the tablets whole, and leave a few hours between the evening dose and bedtime if bupropion keeps you awake.
About Contrave
What Contrave tablets do
Two older medicines share one tablet. Bupropion, better known as an antidepressant and a stop-smoking aid, works on the brain pathways that govern appetite. Naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors that sugary, high-fat food switches on, which is part of why those foods are so hard to resist. The aim is less hunger and fewer cravings, so a reduced-calorie diet and regular activity are easier to keep up.
It is used by adults carrying extra weight who have not got far with diet and exercise alone: a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more alongside a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Each prolonged-release tablet holds 8mg naltrexone with 90mg bupropion, the strength written as 8/90mg, released slowly through the day rather than in one go.
Building up to the full dose
The dose is stepped up over four weeks. Week one is one tablet in the morning; week two adds a second tablet in the evening. Week three is two in the morning and one in the evening, and from week four the full dose is two tablets twice a day. Swallow them whole with water. Crushing or chewing spoils the slow release. A meal with each dose eases nausea; an earlier evening dose helps if sleep is disturbed. Keep the pack cool and dry.
Side effects to expect
Most complaints arrive in the first weeks, while the dose is still rising: nausea, constipation, headache, dry mouth, dizziness and poor sleep lead the list, and they often fade. Vomiting, diarrhoea and a faster heartbeat turn up less often.
Seizures are the serious risk with bupropion and the reason the dose stays within set limits; they are uncommon but more likely in anyone who has had a seizure before or who drinks heavily. Blood pressure can edge up. A rare allergic reaction can cause a rash, swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. In people under 24, bupropion can also bring on thoughts of self-harm, most often in the first few weeks.
Who should not take Contrave
Contrave is not for anyone who has had a seizure, who has bulimia or anorexia nervosa, or whose blood pressure is not under control, and it is not taken during pregnancy.
Alcohol, painkillers and other clashes
Alcohol and Contrave sit badly together: heavy drinking, or stopping it suddenly, raises the seizure risk, and alcohol adds to the dizziness and nausea. Opioid painkillers such as codeine, tramadol and morphine stop working while naltrexone is in the body. An MAO inhibitor antidepressant must be out of your system for at least two weeks before the first tablet.
Sources
- Bupropion: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- Naltrexone: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine