Contrave
What You Need To Know About Contrave – Weight-Loss Tablets
Contrave is a weight-loss drug believed to work on the hunger center and reward sections of the brain to help remove hunger and food cravings. This medication is approved for use by overweight and obese adults who have an increased risk of stroke or heart conditions such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Across three independent and separate one-year studies, patients using Contrave lost between 2 and 4 times more weight on average than with just diet and exercise. These clinical trials studied more than 4,500 people and the average weight lost by those using the drug was around 25 pounds.
Medical Uses
Contrave is the combination two already available drugs, Bupropion which is an antidepressant that helps restore balance in the brain’s neurotransmitters, and Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist used to fight addiction. These two drugs are amalgamated to work on separate areas of the brain to reduce both your appetite and amount you want to eat. You should have lost at least 5% of your starting weight when you are assessed at 16 weeks, and if not the use of this drug should be ceased.
Dosage Information
Contrave is taken orally twice daily with a low-fat meal combined with a doctor-approved exercise program, behavioral changes, and a diet with reduced-calorie intake.
These tablets must be swallowed whole, as crushing or chewing this medication can release all the contents of the drug at once, which increases the risk of seizures. If you miss a dose, simply wait and take the next one at the regular time, as doubling doses can also cause seizures. Do not take this drug too close to bedtime, as initial use can cause restlessness until you get used to it.
Side Effects
There is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts when using Contrave, as well as side effects of nausea, headaches, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, trouble sleeping, insomnia, flushing, cottonmouth, diarrhea, increased sweating, dizziness, or strange tastes in the mouth.
Contact your doctor if any of these side effects persist or increase in severity. You should call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects of anxiety, confusion, agitation, memory loss, tremors, ringing ears, fainting, severe headaches, irregular heartbeat, or chest pains. Immediately contact emergency services if you have any of the very serious side effects of the eyes such as pain, swelling, redness, widened pupils, or distorted vision, like seeing an aura of rainbows around lights at night.
It is rare but possible that drugs containing Bupropion can cause seizures. If you do you have a seizure, you should not take any drugs with Bupropion in them again. Naltrexone can cause serious and possibly fatal liver disease, and the risk is increased with larger doses. Very serious allergic reaction to this drug is also rare but possible. If you have a seizure, and if you have symptoms of either liver damage or serious allergic reaction, you should stop using Contrave and immediately contact emergency services.
Precautions
Discuss your medical history with your doctor before using Contrave. This drug should not be used by anyone with an eating disorder, nor by anyone who is breast-feeding, pregnant, or trying to get pregnant. This product may contain ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, or cause dizziness.
Do not take Contrave with any other drug containing bupropion as since large doses can cause seizures. Some other drugs which may cause negative impacts when combined with Contrave include Codeine, Hydrocodone, Disulfiram, Cough Medications, Dextromethorphan, Diarrhea Medications, Diphenoxylate, Pimozide, and Tamoxifen.
For 2 weeks before and after taking Contrave you must avoid taking MAO inhibitors including Linezolid, Isocarboxazid, Methylene Blue, Procarbazine, Phenelzine, Moclobemide, Selegiline, Rasagiline, Tranylcypromine, or Safinamide as they could cause a serious drug interaction which may even be fatal.
Most people struggle with losing weight and keeping it off, but your brain could be sabotaging your efforts and working against you. To find out if Contrave would be an effective weight loss tool for you, simply contact our helpful team for more information.
