FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CONTRAVE® (naltrexone HCl/bupropion HCl) is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help adults with obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m²), or who are overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m²) with at least one weight-related medical condition, lose weight and keep the weight off. CONTRAVE should be used along with diet and exercise.

CONTRAVE is a unique, patented, combination of two drugs—naltrexone and bupropion—within a single extended-release tablet clinically proven to help you lose weight and keep it off when combined with diet and exercise. CONTRAVE is the ONLY prescription medication that contains naltrexone in an extended release, oral formulation.

The individual medicines of naltrexone and bupropion are not the same dose or formulation used in CONTRAVE and are not approved for weight loss when used on their own.

The exact neurochemical effects of CONTRAVE leading to weight loss are not fully understood.

CONTRAVE is believed to work on two areas of the brain—the hypothalamus (your hunger center) to help reduce hunger and the mesolimbic reward system to help control cravings—that can get in the way of weight loss.

CONTRAVE is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese) or 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. It is to be used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

CONTRAVE is not for everyone. Do NOT take CONTRAVE if you:

• have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have or have had seizures
• use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN
• have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia (eating very little) or bulimia (eating too much and vomiting to avoid gaining weight)
• are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal
• drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti-seizure medicines and you abruptly stop using them
• are taking medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including linezolid. Do NOT start CONTRAVE until you have stopped taking your MAOI for at least 14 days
• are allergic to naltrexone or bupropion or any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in CONTRAVE

See the Medication Guide to learn more.

Across 3 different clinical studies, patients who were overweight or living with obesity who took CONTRAVE, along with diet and exercise, lost 2-4 times more weight over 1 year than with diet and exercise alone.*

Nearly half of the patients taking CONTRAVE lost 5% or more body weight and kept it off (vs 23% of patients taking placebo).*

One of the most important things to know when starting CONTRAVE (or any weight loss program) is that success looks different for each person. How fast this success happens for you and how many inches you lose or pounds you drop will depend on your body and lifestyle modifications made. In clinical studies, the most significant weight loss was typically seen after 4 months (16 weeks) of taking CONTRAVE as prescribed.

*According to 3 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled obesity trials (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m² , or BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m² with at least 1 comorbidity of hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes) conducted to evaluate the effect of CONTRAVE in conjunction with reduced caloric intake and increased physical activity, the average percentage of weight loss in patients at 56 weeks ranged from 3.7% to 8.1% with CONTRAVE, compared to 1.3% to 4.9% with placebo. The percentage of patients who achieved a clinically meaningful treatment response (defined as achieving at least 5% weight loss after 1 year of treatment) ranged from 36% to 57% with CONTRAVE, compared to 17% to 43% with placebo.

We have been grateful to work with real people who lost weight on CONTRAVE to help them share their experiences. You can read these patient success stories on our Success Stories page or on the CONTRAVE Chronicles blog.

 
Individual results may vary.
 

If you’ve experienced success with CONTRAVE and would like to share your story, you can submit one here. (Thank you in advance!)

For best results, take CONTRAVE as directed by your healthcare provider. Most patients begin with 1 morning pill during the first week and gradually work their way up to 2 pills twice a day by week 4. Always take CONTRAVE exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may change your dose as needed.

Not actual tablet size.

It’s important to take CONTRAVE exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Keep in mind that some people, like those with kidney or liver problems, or those taking certain other medications, may need to follow a different dosing schedule.

Your healthcare provider should tell you to stop taking CONTRAVE if you have not lost a certain amount of weight after 16 weeks of treatment.

• Do not take more than 2 pills at the same time or more than 4 pills in 1 day
• Do not take CONTRAVE with high-fat meals. It may increase your risk of seizures

To learn more about dosing, see the Medication Guide.

The most common side effects reported with CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping (insomnia), dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all the possible side effects of CONTRAVE. For more informaction on side effects, see the Medication Guide.

People experienced side effects more often during the first 4 weeks of taking CONTRAVE. This is also the period when people taking CONTRAVE are slowly increasing the dose of the medication to a maintenance phase. Common GI-related adverse events such as nausea and vomiting were generally temporary and resolved quickly.

It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking CONTRAVE (but there are plenty of delicious mocktail recipes on the CONTRAVE Chronicles blog).

If you’re experiencing any unwanted side effects of your medication, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider or pharmacist—they can give you personalized guidance.

In general, it is recommended you drink plenty of water when taking CONTRAVE. If you experience nausea, you may also want to eat a small amount of dry toast with CONTRAVE. If symptoms do not improve, please consult with your doctor who may also recommend an over-the-counter anti-nausea medication for you.

For more information on managing some of the more common side effects, please see more on what to expect when starting CONTRAVE. Also see the Medication Guide.

If you experience any of the following, stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your doctor right away:

• suicidal thoughts or actions
• seizures (you should not take CONTRAVE again if you have a seizure).
• risk of opioid overdose (One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE [naltrexone] can increase your chance of having an opioid overdose if you take opioid medicines while taking CONTRAVE)
• sudden opioid withdrawal (people who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid for at least 7-10 days before starting CONTRAVE)
• severe allergic reaction (signs and symptoms include rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing)
• increases in blood pressure or heart rate
• liver damage or hepatitis (symptoms include stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness)
• manic episodes
• visual problems (symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling, or redness in or around the eye)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas)

See the full Prescribing Information for CONTRAVE or the Medication Guide to learn more about the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Depending on how your CONTRAVE prescription was originally filled, the refill process will differ slightly:
 

1. Look at your CONTRAVE prescription bottle. Do you see a pharmacy name and phone number on the bottle? That’s your pharmacy.
2. Did you get your CONTRAVE prescription from a local pharmacy? If yes, contact them directly. If you are interested in using the CurAccess Program and paying $99 or Less + FREE Shipping, click here.
3. If you used the online Get CONTRAVE Now® doctor consult, your prescription would have been fulfilled by Bella Pharmacy (UpScript), Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy, or Lombard Pharmacy. Please contact the respective pharmacy to refill your prescription:

• • Bella Pharmacy (UpScript): 1-855-288-8428 -or- upscripthealth.com
  • Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy: 1-800-630-3214 -or- ridgeway.pharmacy/HomeDelivery
  • Lombard Pharmacy: 1-844-232-9920 -or- lombardpharmacy.pharmacy/contrave

The individual medicines of naltrexone and bupropion are not the same dose or formulation used in CONTRAVE and are not approved for weight loss when used on their own. Get the real deal—verify your CONTRAVE prescription with the images below.

Not shown to actual size

If your medication or pill bottle does not look like this then you do not have a CONTRAVE prescription. There is no generic or generic equivalent to CONTRAVE on the market today. If you think you may have been given generics of the separate ingredients (naltrexone and bupropion) please contact your healthcare provider.

To help you reach your healthy weight loss and living goals with CONTRAVE, we’re continually developing new support. Check out the CONTRAVE Chronicles blog for healthy recipes, self-care tips, and more. Our resource center has even more content on weight loss, healthy living, and healthy lifestyle.

If you’re more of an email person, you can sign up to receive informational CONTRAVE communications here. You can also follow CONTRAVE on social media—we’re on Facebook and Instagram.

You are not eligible if your prescriptions are paid by any state or other federally funded programs, including, but not limited to, Medicare or Medicaid, Medigap, VA or DOD, or TRICARE, or where prohibited by law.

Additionally, the CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card cannot be used if you are purchasing your prescription through the Get CONTRAVE Now online consult or the CurAccess Program. However, Medicare Part D and TRICARE beneficiaries could receive the CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card benefits if your prescription will be processed with the assumption that you are a cash-paying customer.

To learn more about eligibility, visit the Savings Terms and Conditions page.

Yes, you can get a similar discount whether you pick up your prescription at the pharmacy or receive it through the mail from your pharmacy. You could also obtain CONTRAVE through the CurAccess Program. With the CurAccess Program, you will pay $99 or Less + FREE Shipping to all 50 states.

Learn More about the CurAccess Program here.

If your insurance covers CONTRAVE, you may pay as low as $20* with the Savings Coupon Card. If you don’t have insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover CONTRAVE, you will pay no more than $199*.

*To learn more about eligibility, visit the Savings Terms and Conditions page.

To get CONTRAVE at a guaranteed low price, you can use the CurAccess Program. You will pay $99 or Less + FREE Shipping for your CONTRAVE prescription. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may even pay less.

Learn more about the CurAccess Program here.

You can sign up for the CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card here. If you are having trouble signing up online, call 1-800-905-5576 for assistance.

Once you sign up for the CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card, you will be able to download it right away online. Keep a copy on your phone, print it, or take a picture of the card with your smartphone and bring it with you the first time you fill your prescription. Once you use your Savings Coupon Card at the pharmacy, you do not need to bring it again. The pharmacy will keep your card information on file.

You don’t need a replacement card if your pharmacy already has your information on file. Call your pharmacy to check. If they don’t have your information, then call 1-800-905-5576 for assistance.

If you still have your card on hand, you can give your new pharmacy the same card ID number. If you’ve lost the card, call a 1-800-905-5576 for assistance. If you’re switching to another pharmacy within the same chain, your information should still be in the system.

Contact your local pharmacist and ask them to run your insurance to check your coverage for CONTRAVE, or, contact Ridgeway Pharmacy or call 1-800-630-3214 they can help determine your best option.

If your insurance covers CONTRAVE, you may pay as low as $20* with the Savings Coupon Card. If you don’t have insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover CONTRAVE, you will pay no more than $199*.

*To learn more about eligibility, visit the Savings Terms and Conditions page.

If you have private health insurance that covers CONTRAVE, pricing may vary. Ask your local pharmacist to run your insurance to check your coverage for CONTRAVE.

To get CONTRAVE at a guaranteed low price, you can use the CurAccess Program. The CurAccess Program helps patients save on CONTRAVE. With the CurAccess Program, you will pay $99 or less + FREE Shipping. You may pay even less depending on your insurance coverage. Contact Ridgeway Pharmacy or call 1-800-630-3214 so they can help determine your best option.

Use the CurAccess Program to save on CONTRAVE. You will pay $99 or less + FREE Shipping on your CONTRAVE prescription and receive FREE shipping through the program. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may even pay less. CurAccess’s partner pharmacy, Ridgeway, will help you determine your best option.

The steps to use the CurAccess Program are as follows:

1. Create an account with our partner pharmacy, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. Visit https://ridgeway.pharmacy or call 1-800-630-3214 during business hours to register via the phone.
2. Call your pharmacist and let them know that you would like to transfer your prescription to Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. Please be sure that you have your doctor’s name, address, and phone number in case they need such information.
3. Give them the full name “Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy” (2824 US Hwy 93 North, Victor, MT 59875) as the pharmacy of choice (NCPDP#: 2706488)

We no longer feature the login and account sections on the CONTRAVE.com website. To help simplify your CONTRAVE experience, users may to sign up for the Savings Coupon Card without a password. If you have questions about your account, please call 1-800-905-5576.

Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC, the company that brings you CONTRAVE, respects your right to have personal and medical information kept confidential. Only Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC and its third-party partners will use your information.

Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC and companies providing services to Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC will not sell or rent your personally identifiable information, as described in our Privacy Policy.

Setting up an online consultation is simple. First, click the orange TALK TO A DOCTOR ONLINE button at the top of this page. A pop-up will direct you to a consult site offered by one of our partners where you can set up an account and your medical profile.

Your profile will be reviewed, and you will be notified if you are a good potential candidate for a CONTRAVE prescription. Depending on what state you reside in, you will then be asked to participate in a video or telephone consultation with a doctor. Only a doctor can determine if CONTRAVE is right for you.

The Get CONTRAVE Now service and participating healthcare professionals are independent and not employees or contractors of Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC.

The CONTRAVE Savings Card cannot be used for prescriptions filled through the online doctor consult option.

The $45 consult fee is a one-time payment for your online doctor visit, which is like the standard fee (or co-pay) you would incur for an in-person doctor visit. You should check with your insurance provider to determine if the consult fee can be reimbursed by your specific plan.

Choosing the online consultation may make the process of getting started on CONTRAVE easier or more convenient. It is possible your doctor may request follow-up consults for an additional fee.

Patients who use the Get CONTRAVE Now service will receive a discount from the retail pharmacy price, without having to use the CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card. Your CONTRAVE prescription will cost less than $99 per month with FREE standard shipping. Our Get CONTRAVE Now partners may also check if you have insurance coverage, which may also lower the cost of your prescription.

You are not eligible if prescriptions are paid by any state or federally funded programs, including, but not limited to Medicare or Medicaid, Medigap, VA or DOD, or TRICARE, or where prohibited by law.

The CONTRAVE Savings Card cannot be used for prescriptions filled through Get CONTRAVE Now.

Local pharmacy pickup is not available currently.

The CurAccess Program helps patients save on CONTRAVE. You will pay $99 or Less + FREE Shipping for your CONTRAVE prescription through the program. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may even pay less.

The steps to use the CurAccess Program are as follows:

1. Create an account with our partner pharmacy, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. Visit https://ridgeway.pharmacy or call 1-800-630-3214 during business hours to register via the phone.
2. Call your pharmacist and let them know that you would like to transfer your prescription to Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. Please be sure that you have your doctor’s name, address, and phone number in case they need such information.
3. Give them the full name “Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy” (2824 US Hwy 93 North, Victor, MT 59875) as the pharmacy of choice (NCPDP#: 2706488)

Yes, we offer both special pricing and free shipping through our CurAccess Program. With our CurAccess Program, you will pay $99 or less + FREE Shipping for your CONTRAVE prescription. Depending on your insurance, you may pay even less.

1. Call our home delivery partner Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy at 1-800-630-3214, or click here to set up an account online.
2. After setting up your account, they will connect with your doctor so that you can have your CONTRAVE prescription delivered to your home.

If you already have a CONTRAVE prescription or wish to transfer it from your local pharmacy, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy will transfer it for you:

1. Create an account here or call CurAccess’s pharmacy partner, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy, at 1-800-630-3214.
2. They will complete the prescription transfer for you.

If you participated in the Get CONTRAVE Now online consultation service, FREE shipping would have been set up directly for you, with no further action needed.

The CONTRAVE Savings Card cannot be used for prescriptions filled through Get CONTRAVE Now or our CurAccess Program.

The CONTRAVE Savings Coupon Card cannot be combined with offers from our telemedicine partners or with our CurAccess Program.

The CurAccess Program can only be used to fill prescriptions for Currax products, such as CONTRAVE. Please contact Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy by calling 1-800-630-3214. Please note: Your CONTRAVE prescription is delivered via standard USPS first-class shipping; any other prescriptions may be subject to insurance costs, shipping rates, and additional fees.

Yes. With our CurAccess Program, you will pay $99 or Less + FREE Shipping. Depending on your insurance, you may pay even less.

1. Create an account here or call CurAccess’s pharmacy partner, Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy, at 1-800-630-3214.
2. They will complete the prescription transfer for you.

To get started:

1. Call our home delivery partner Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy, at 1-800-630-3214, or click here to set up an account online.
2. After setting up your account, they will connect with your doctor so that you can have your CONTRAVE prescription delivered to your home.