User Reviews for Contrave oral

Im lactose intolerant. I found out the hard way that lactose is used as a filler in this medication. I was very sick.

I have been taking the medication for 3 days. On the first day, I had a euphoria feeling and nausea all day, headache in the evening. I had an elevated temperature the second day with nausea and today symptoms have subsided. It's important not to eat anything with high fat (warning for seizures). I have definitely noticed a difference in cravings and I don't feel like over eating. Next week I will increase to two pills and provide an update.

Been taking full dose for 4 months. The drug is great because it "shuts up" my mind constantly telling me to eat even when I know I've just ate a healthy balanced meal. It's helped me better able to tell actual hunger and when I should stop. I eat much less for now and I was initially afraid I wasn't getting enough nutrition. But I feel great. It's boosted my mood and energy and I've gone from couch potato to very active, be it chores or physical activity outdoors. I was 206 at 5'1 and have lost 37 pounds so far, and several inches from my body measurements. I know I'll never be at the "perfect" BMI but I know for sure I'm able to achieve a healthier self. Too bad insurance won't pay for it because "diet and exercise" and decades of nutritional education programs haven't worked for me. But contrave does. Read More Read Less

For the past week I have been reading reviews to see if anyone has experienced what I have but I didn’t find anything. I contemplated on if to write this review or not just because I didn’t want my experience to affect someone’s decision incase this medication might actually help them loose weight. So I guess my review would be for the person going through what I just experienced. My doctor put me on contrave as I had told her I was no longer losing weight and I had tried everything. I had tried going to the gym , calorie counting, dieting and alternative day fasting. In the past year from calorie counting and alternative day fasting I had gone from 216 to 192 losing 24 pounds . Then for about two months I went back to eating regular as fasting and calorie counting were no longer working for me and I was at 192 . Fast forward to February 13 when I started taking contrave I was soo excited that this would work for me but it didn’t . For the first week on taking one pill a day the side effects I experienced was nausea and constipation. Which was tolerable for me .I went from 192.7 to 191.9 losing 0.8 lb . At last there was hope that when I increase the dose that I would lose more weight but that was not the case . The second week I took two pills one in the morning and one at night . Because of the excitement of losing almost a pound for the first week I went on the scale on the next day and I saw that my weight had gone back to 192 . I thought it was nothing then like next day after it went to 194 then 195 .Basically after the whole week I went from 191.9 to 198. I gained 6 pounds in a week !!!! . I’m currently really scared on what to do next as I’m supposed to up my dose to 3 pills a day . On one hand I’m thinking maybe my body needs to adjust to this ,then I’d start losing weight. And on the other hand I’m so scared that the 24 pounds I worked so hard to loose In the last year will be in vain. I’m scared that if I can gain 6 pounds in a week from not eating as much and just taking two pills a day , what will happen when I up the dose to three pills a day . I really hope no one experiences what I did . Recent update - i stopped after the second week and I went to a new doctor who told me it wasn’t working for me .Read More Read Less

For the past week I have been reading reviews to see if anyone has experienced what I have but I didn’t find anything. I contemplated on if to write this review or not just because I didn’t want my experience to affect someone’s decision incase this medication might actually help them loose weight. So I guess my review would be for the person going through what I just experienced. My doctor put me on contrave as I had told her I was no longer losing weight and I had tried everything. I had tried going to the gym , calorie counting, dieting and alternative day fasting. In the past year from calorie counting and alternative day fasting I had gone from 216 to 192 losing 24 pounds . Then for about two months I went back to eating regular as fasting and calorie counting were no longer working for me and I was at 192 . Fast forward to February 13 when I started taking contrave I was soo excited that this would work for me but it didn’t . For the first week on taking one pill a day the side effects I experienced was nausea and constipation. Which was tolerable for me .I went from 192.7 to 191.9 losing 0.8 lb . At last there was hope that when I increase the dose that I would lose more weight but that was not the case . The second week I took two pills one in the morning and one at night . Because of the excitement of losing almost a pound for the first week I went on the scale on the next day and I saw that my weight had gone back to 192 . I thought it was nothing then like next day after it went to 194 then 195 .Basically after the whole week I went from 191.9 to 198. I gained 6 pounds in a week !!!! . I’m currently really scared on what to do next as I’m supposed to up my dose to 3 pills a day . On one hand I’m thinking maybe my body needs to adjust to this ,then I’d start losing weight. And on the other hand I’m so scared that the 24 pounds I worked so hard to loose In the last year will be in vain. I’m scared that if I can gain 6 pounds in a week from not eating as much and just taking two pills a day , what will happen when I up the dose to three pills a day . I really hope no one experiences what I did . Recent update - i stopped after the second week and I went to a new doctor who told me it wasn’t working for me and prescribed Ozempic.Hoping I loose weight with that .Read More Read Less

I am starting week 3 and have not seen much difference yet - curious to know if this has a longer curve to see effectiveness of the drug. This week, just started taking 2 in the AM, 1 in the PM. Only side effect and it didn't last long was crampiness, GI pain.

I tried this med twice in 2 years. First time 2 days but nausea so overwhelming could not function. Did some more research re how to take dosage what to eat etc. This was 2 years later and first 2 days ok but 3rd day was totally devastating once again I am done. I can do this on my own ....crazy idea to let a drug be better than your own self control. Since then lost 20lbs in a month with healthy eating and exercising. I am a woman ,we need to stop letting these gimmicks make us susceptible to their promises.Read More Read Less

I’m on week 4 of taking this med and have stayed stuck on 2 pills a day only. I am 5’0” and weighed 194 when I started taking Contrave. For the first week of taking these meds, I took 1x a day at 8am and by 10:30am I would get a massive headache and get so sleepy I had to lay down and nap. I had to take time off work for the remainder of the week so I can manage through the first week of these symptoms. IMPORTANT: Take the pill with your breakfast. By the second week the sleepiness and headaches were gone. I found myself not caring for food as much as I did, I would obsess over food daily and what I was going to be eating for lunch and dinner before 10am. That obsession seems to have completely stopped! Weeks three and four so far so good. I sit at a desk for 10 hours a day, 4x a week, and this medication really helped me to stop the cravings, and to eat less than I’m used to, but what’s important to note was that due to the curb in my appetite I was able to make better choices in my diet like eating healthier than I had before. I didn’t get the nausea or vomiting, I did have more bowel movements than I had before this medication but I think it was because I drank half a gallon of water a day which was ALOT for me because I hardly drank water, I was obsessed with sweet tea- which I stopped drinking completely and don’t even crave anymore! Everyone will have a different opinion and experience with this medication, so it was very important for me to weigh all my options before deciding to start taking any medication. However, due to previous health conditions I was not eligible for other weight loss medications aside from Contrave - and surgery was NOT an option. Overall, I am glad that I made the decision to try this. Read More Read Less

I have been taking pills for 5 months and am down 20 pounds still have 20 to go. The main side effect s are very dry mouth and loss of sleep. I wear a night guard at night to stop me from scratching my tongue against my teeth. My tongue is always scratched up and sore. I had bad sleep habits before and it has gotten worse due to frequent urination. Overall it does stop my hunger cravings. I have quit pop and sweets. Exercise is key I loose more weight when I walk every day. I notice if I miss my walks due to weather. Good luck with your journey, This definitely has been a game changer I really need the help and my life style has changed. Read More Read Less

I did research on the medication and did the 4 weeks of tapering up to 4 pills a day. The first week I had dizziness, motion sickness, nausea, spacey feeling, vivid dreams. 2nd week nausea, dizziness, flushing, and headaches. 3rd week mostly nausea I had to lay down, some brain fog, also had covid at this time. 4th week mainly nausea. By week 5 most of those symptoms are gone. Just trying to prevent constipated. What I found helpful is to drink plenty of water. Eat food before the pills. Less high fat food. I also started week 1 at night only so i could sleep the symptoms away, then week 2 moved the med to the morning. And remember to eat every 2 hours. It really has curbed my cravings and I'm not obsessing over food like before. In 5 weeks I've lost 10 lbs. Read More Read Less

I joined ww at the same time but losing a pound a week

Frist week I felt nauseous but the info said it takes time to adjust. Second week 2 pills I started with a crampy grumbly gassy lower GI track. Waited an estra week trying to adjust before going to 3 pills. Then I really got the shakes felt wound up talking to myself not sleeping. After a week of that I went back to 2 but my blood pressure was higher than I liked so I stopped it. That said in a month I lost about 8 poiunds. It didn't decrease the appetite just made my feel nauseous with uncomfortable crampy feeling that I did not want to eat. Read More Read Less

I started taking this medication August 15, 2023. I weighed 296. Five months later I now weigh.232. Only side effects I’ve had is dry mouth. I have a good breakfast, one or two eggs and yogurt then I don’t eat again till dinner and try to have a sensible dinner. I’m just not hungry and food is not on my mind. for me This drug has worked fantastic. Good luck.

Two hours after taking the medication for the first & last time, I got weak, dizzy, followed by a severe headache a few hours later that lasted approximately 15 hours. I had severe vomiting for several hours. One day after taking the med symptoms are gone, but I feel weak and exhausted. This medication is poison. I have never felt this bad in my life.

I have been on Contrave for about a month. Lost about 20 lbs. Close fit better and getting back to the gym. Food cravings are nearly gone. Appetite is way down..sometimes I eat because I feel like I'm not getting proper nutrition. Side effects took a bit to get used to...the constipation was horrific and painful. Drinking metamucil daily and that has helped tremendously. Dry mouth is annoying as is stomach pain/ nausea. But seems to be getting better. I did experience an increased agitation and anger (and typically a calm person) so that came and went. Not sure how to describe this but quiet time seems very intense. Someone on here said like a dream. Either a really focused feeling or kind of spacey. I've been able to adapt well and these side effects are worth the benefit. The constipation was by far the absolute worst one of all. Take a fiber supplement immediately. Read More Read Less

Currently on week 11 of taking contrave. Started taking it to aide in weightloss after traditional diet and exercise was not working overly well. Starting weight was 265lb and current weight is 231lb. The 30lb of weightloss I have done so far has made a huge difference In my life. I highly recommend still undertaking diet and exercise to get the best results! Only side effect I have experienced is excessive burping occasionally after meals

I started the medication in January of 21, I was 260, by October of 21 I was down to 225, as of today 12/10 I am at 213, I have been as low as 207. Yet if I skip doses or miss some, I do gain my appetite, and put back on some pounds! I can attest that when taken at night , there will be a 1/4 to 1/2 lb loss seen the following morning. The the one thing about it did I noticed over a period of time is that I could eat some foods that I used to avoid strictly by just looking at them I would put on weight but this allows me to eat almost any food I wish to choose yet the brain sends a signal to the stomach that it's full. My girlfriend and I when we go out to dinner we actually split a plate because a full meal cannot be completed and unfortunately gets thrown away if I don't eat it within the next couple of days at home. I am 66 and I am very active I officiate football basketball and baseball so there's never really a question of lack of exercise! I highly recommend this medication It has been a great success. I am actually lighter now than when I was when I entered the service in 76!Read More Read Less

Extremely painful periods, irregular and long despite being on birth control to skip periods.

I have been taking it for 30 days and I’m down 12 pounds. On my initial dose I felt a bit of nausea but that went away after a couple of days. I’m now in the full dose of 2 pills in the AM and 2 in the PM and have no side effects. It’s pretty amazing how it works, I just don’t have the urge to eat or snack anymore. When I do eat, I eat a lot less. I was very skeptical of taking a pill, I wanted wegovy but my insurance doesn’t cover it. My doctor recommended Contrave as an alternative and I am very pleased with the results.Read More Read Less

I didn’t see results until last week - week 15 of treatment. I began exercising and reducing my calorie intake for a week straight & all of sudden I have NO appetite. I’ll eat but not because I’m hungry. Food doesn’t even appeal to me anymore. A few days ago it’s almost like my taste buds changed and I don’t want what I used to. I’m really hoping it stays like this!!