Contrave Forums (Page 3)

I just start taking Contrave. I am on day 5 with one pill in the morning and haven't been sleeping much at all. Scared to take two pills a day. Any suggestions on what will help? Don't want to stop taking it because I can tell my cravings are more controlled. I already take a Melatonin a night. I also drank some sleepy time tea last night. Will this go away? ## Hi Ann, Sorry to hear about your challenges with insomnia. According to NIH.gov, a "sudden increase in energy, racing thoughts or trouble sleeping" is listed as a side effect of Bupropion (one of the active ingredients in Contrave). Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0009361 They also list, "trouble sleeping or a big increase in energy" as a side effect of Naltrexone (the other active ingredient in ...

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Please advise. I'm day 3 off contrave and constipation has set in! What do you all use to ease constipation? ## I drink room temperature organic prune juice every morning. I had an extreme bout of constipation before until I took a laxative then used prune juice later in the day because the constipation was coming back. Haven't had much problems now with constipation if I drink some in the morning to get everything moving from my system from the night before. ## I have taken Contrave for one week and have had constipation. I must admit that I have not been drinking enough water though. I started taking stool softeners every day, from one to three daily. I've had bouts of constipation in the past, and my gastroenterologist said it is safe to take stool softeners daily. I did ...

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Hi. I was on contrave for four months, lost 17 lbs and felt great. There were some side effects, like stomach ache and head ache but nothing severe. Ive been off the drug for about 10 days for vacation and would like to start again. I have called and left messages for my doctor twice and have not gotten answer back regarding the dosage. Do I start over again, like a beginner? Or do I go back to the dosage I quit at? ## Honestly, only your prescribing doctor can legally tell you what and how much you should be taking; including how long it should be taken for to achieve your goals. But if you've been off the medication for 10 days after four months of consistent treatment, my view is that the dosage would likely be similar to what you were already taking before quitting (since the ef...

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I've been taking Contrave for about 2 1/2 months. During week 6 or so I was hospitalized with a severe UTI and kidney infection (4 days). The hospital wouldn't give me Contrave during my stay but I resumed when I got home by taking 1 pill a day for a week, then back to the normal doesage of 4/day. I am not noticing any benefits from the Contrave now. 1. I'm wondering if the UTI was a side effect of the Contrave (it's listed as a possible side effect) and 2. Why am I not having any of the benefits? How do I get back to losing? ## Hello Kim, Sorry to hear about your severe UTI but I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now. I have been browsing the Contrave official website for a few minutes and I noticed that I don't see UTI listed as a potential side effec...

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I've taken 1 dose of this medication, my stomach feels like it’s going to die. It’s upset, gurgling and just overall angry. I have no appetite for food or even drinking water tastes off. Is this normal? It’s been 13 hours and I've lost 7 pounds… help ## If you've lost 7 pounds in 13 hours, then you need to seek medical attention, that could be due to a serious medical condition, or possible dangerous reaction to the medication. Contrave's typical side effects are listed as possibly including nausea, diarrhea, flushing, and excessive sweating. Ref: Medline Plus Contrave Are you on any other medications? There are some, such as opiates, that should not be taken with this medication. ## I continued to take it… at about a week now. Still feel ju...

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On day two of Contrave but also on 30mg of cymbalta. My doctor didn't seem to have any worries on both together. Has anyone been on both. I actually skipped my cymbalta for last nights dose because I want off of cymbalta. I have been on 30mg since last November. Any personal experiences?? ## Hello, Erica! How are you? They can increase the toxicity of each other, as well as increasing the risk of seizures, when they are combined, according to the FDA. Thus, they should not normally be prescribed together and it is advised that this only be done as a last resort, when someone is out of other options. Is there anything else I can help with? ## I am wondering the same thing. I am also on cymbalta fornthe past month and a half and now i started contrave a week ago. Everything i read say...

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I'm starting my 2nd week on Contrave tomorrow and the prescription says to take 1 in the morning and one in the evening. If I take the morning dose around 7 a.m., what time should I take the evening dose? I haven't been able to find any information on how far apart the doses should be taken. Thanks. ## Hello, Bobbye! How are you? It's usually taken at meal times, so with breakfast and dinner, but are supposed to avoid taking it with a very high fat meal. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache and dry mouth. Is there anything else I can help with? ## When exactly should I take the medication? Everything I read so far only says with a meal....but does it mean before or after the meal? I was wondering if it made a difference. Th...

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I have filled my prescription of Contrive but have not yet started taking it. I read all the possible side effects and am weary about taking in and wanting to continue to socially drink (glass of wine, socially drink on weekends) ## @pnj, According to umm.edu's drug interaction checker, there ARE potentially dangerous interactions between Contrave and Alcohol. These statements go on to note the following: Consuming alcohol with Bupropion (one of the active ingredients in Contrave) may lead to an increased risk of seizures, decreased tolerance to alcohol, muscle spasms, confusion, and changes in cognitive awareness. For those reasons mentioned above, I would not encourage anyone to take the two together or even within the same day. Hope this helps! ## OK, I read the notice about alco...

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I am finishing up my fourth week on contrave. The first two weeks were pretty brutal with all of the terrible side effects. But my appetite was definitely diminished and I did not have the urge to binge eat. Now that I am on week four most of the side effects are gone but I also don't feel like contrave is working at all. My appetite is almost back to normal, I think about food all the time. I'm pretty disappointed. Has anyone else experienced this? ## Yes, most people do report experiencing a period of time where it seems to stop working, for a brief period, but then starts again, after a few weeks. (This is going by user reports as posted online.) The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, nervousness, headache, and insomnia. How are you do...

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I took Contrave for a few months and stopped a month ago because my hair started falling out. This had a blood test and results indicate liver disfunction (all enzymes measured are raised, my ALT the highest, about three times higher than normal range). My Dr is worried about cirrhosis/tissue death. I have a fibroscan and ultrasound tomorrow and have had anothed set of bloods taken - will have more answers this week. I have done a little reading and see Contrave can cause liver disease. I have never been healthier (otherwise) - eat well (Dr said tge dramatic rise in 6 months couldn't be diet related anyway), exercise five times a week, have consistently lost small amounts of weight (10kg since May). However, I am bloated aften, tired, dizzy, have muscle cramping and weaknesses, am i...

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Can I still take Trazodone at night when I take Contrave? I have insomnia and can’t sleep without Trazodone. ## Combining the two medications can create a risk of your experiencing potentially dangerous seizures, because the Bupropion doesn't play nice with the Trazodone, and combining the Trazodone with the Naltrexone increasedsyour risk of experiencing liver damage. You can use this interaction checker, and others that are available to read more details. What has your doctor advised? You may need to take a very low dose of the Contrave, or try a different medication for insomnia.

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I went on vacation from 3/27/16-4/2/16 and did not take my usual two doses (2 pills each dose) of contrave as I normally do. When I returned I began with 1 dose of 2 pills around 1pm on Sunday 4/3, then Monday I resumed the usual 2 doses/2 pills each. And now it's Tuesday, I have taken my morning dose and have since felt the nausea and headaches come on. Ibuprofen has not worked for the headaches, and as for the nausea, I simply am just drinking water. I have not been able to eat anything today (it's 2:48pm). These side effects feel like the 4th week when I originally started Contrave in October. I suppose I thought I could resume the normal dosage without issues. Has anyone had the same problems? Thanks in advance! ## Hello, Lauren! How are you feeling? Has there been any chang...

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Hello, I have been taking Contrave for 6 days, so 1 pill in the morning with a small meal. We are going floating today and plan on having a few beers so I chose not to take my Contrave today. It will be 29 hours between my last Contrave and first beer. Do you think that’ll be ok? ## From Google::: Do not drink a lot of alcohol while taking CONTRAVE. If you drink a lot of alcohol, talk with your healthcare provider before suddenly stopping. If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, you may increase your chance of having a seizure. What are the possible side effects of CONTRAVE? ## It is always best to refrain from imbibing, when taking medications, but if you are going to enjoy a couple of drinks with your doctor's approval, anyway, remember to keep it in moderation. Combining alc...

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I have bad nightmares and a fever blister on my lower lip. I take 90mg contrave. Can I cut the dose in half? ## Contrave is time released, so you should not split the tablets. You would normally find a score line on tablets that can be split, but there is none in this case. NDC: 51267-890 "CONTRAVE should be taken by mouth in the morning and in the evening. The tablets should not be cut, chewed, or crushed. Total daily doses greater than 32 mg/360 mg per day (two tablets twice daily) are not recommended. In clinical trials, CONTRAVE was administered with meals. However, CONTRAVE should not be taken with a high-fat meal because of a resulting significant increase in bupropion and naltrexone systemic exposure" Ref: DailyMed

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I am off contrave but still having breathlessness. How long will this last? ## How long has it been, since you stopped taking it? Are you on any other medications? Unfortunately, there's really no specific time frame anyone can give you, because it can vary from person to person, and may also depend on how long you were taking it. The FDA doesn't list this as being a normal side effect of this medication. Have you been checked out by your doctor?

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I began taking Phetermine in October of '14, weighing in at 272 big ones! Yikes! I had weight loss--but in December my doctor suggested we pair the Phen with Contrave. He said it would help in the evening when I usually like my snacks. My weight loss was minimal but still there. By Feb. '15, I'm down 55lbs, but again weight loss was moving slower. So my doctor wants me to add Belviq. I've been taking all three and so far no major side effects. Just thirsty for water. I feel like contrave is supposed to be this miracle drug, but I don't feel like it does anything. Am I the only one being prescribed all these at the same time? Side note, I just has full blood work completed to make sure none of my organs are shutting down from this. Since day 1, I've eaten better a...

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I have been on Contrave over one month. I was so nauseous that I cut down from four pills a day to three,2 in the morning and 1 at night. I am still experiencing nausea,thinking of trying Dramamine. The " grazing" during the day has completely disappeared. I have lost a few pounds, so it's going very slowly. I also had gastric bypass 10 years ago and started to gain again in the last 5 years. Sure hope Contrave will continue to help,though the nausea seems to be winning at this point. Also have ringing in the ears. The nasty taste in my mouth is disgusting. Kind of like a metallic/ bitter taste. It's a reason why I cut down to 3 pills a day and have to say that did help! ## Those can be normal side effects of the medication, according to FDA reports, but typically such i...

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I just started Contrave last Friday. I have really had no side effects, but because I have a narrowed esophagus, I have trouble swallowing the pill (it gets stuck). I cut the pills in half and take both halves at the same time and this makes it easier for me to get them down. My question - is this messing with the efficacy of the medicine? ## You should not split the pills. They are an extended release tablet. This is copied from the Contrave literature: Extended-Release Tablets: 8 mg naltrexone HCl /90 mg bupropion HCl CONTRAVE should be taken by mouth in the morning and in the evening. The tablets should not be cut, chewed, or crushed. Total daily doses greater than 32 mg/360 mg per day (two tablets twice daily) are not recommended. In clinical trials, CONTRAVE was administered with m...

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How do you stop Contrave when you are at your goal weight? Do you go down in dosage or stop cold turkey? ## Follow the titration schedule in reverse. Just as you had to gradually increase the dosage you must gradually decrease it. ## At first I didn't realize that Contrave (bupropion/naltrexone) carried the risk of serious withdrawal symptoms associated with an abrupt cessation of treatment; similar to opioids, benzodiazepines, SSRI's, etc... Although with bupropion being an antidepressant I could certainly see how starting and stopping it might negatively impact the brain's chemical balance. But when it comes to naltrexone being an opioid antagonist (blocking the opioid receptors / endorphins) I had initially gotten the sense that discontinuing naltrexone under a cold turke...

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Can a bariatric patient who had gastric by pass take it? Gaining a few pounds don’t want to get it out of control. Also I take concerta for ADHD. Is it safe?