JH Says:
Does Contrave Make You Sleepy
Updated
Cris Says:
I started Contrave 4 days ago, today being my 5th dose. Every day, I take the pill about 8am and by 9:30-10am I am so sleepy I can't stand it. Days 1 and 2 I managed to fight it off until about 12-12:30, day 3 until about 1-1:30, and day 4 I fought it off until 3pm. If I take a 1-2 hour nap, I wake up fine, with energy and then cannot get to sleep until about 2am, sometimes 3am. Today is day 5, I'm having that "drunk" feeling and sleepy, but no where near how it has been. It seems this effect is slowly wearing off, but I haven't seen anywhere where this is a common side effect. I know all medications effect everyone differently, so I'm wondering if this is something I should be concerned about, or just another side effect that I will get used to as the weeks go on?
86 Replies (5 Pages)
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I've had the same reaction (along with other)/side effects. Mine are dissipating - and I've tried not to actually take a nap - just sort of rest and then get back up.
I also increased the amount of water I drink and that seems to have mitigated some of the SE.
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Cris Says:
Thanks for your reply. I found that the more days go on, the better it has gotten. Today is day 6 and while I still had that drunk feeling, today is the closest to normal I've felt. I am noticing afternoon headaches now, which ibuprofen seems to help. How long have you been taking it? Have you noticed an weight loss?
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David Says:
Top Answer
Sorry to hear about your experience with Contrave (naltrexone HCl + bupropion HCl) and sleepiness. I just wanted to add as validation that NIH.gov does list both drowsiness and trouble sleeping as side effects of bupropion. Their website also lists: unusual tiredness, drowsiness, restlessness and trouble sleeping as side effects of naltrexone. I question whether these symptoms are playing a role in your ability to get back to a "normal" sleep schedule...[1], [2]
Depending on how serious these side effects are affecting your livelihood and well-being, it may be worth talking with your doctor about how you're feeling in order to see if he/she has any recommendations that can help offset or minimize symptoms.
I hope this helps and wish you good health!
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Amanda Says:
I had the same tiredness you have along with constipation on the highest dose. I had to get off and may go back on Qysmia but that made me jittery. I lost 25 pounds quickly on Qysmia and 15 pounds in Contrave in the middle dosages but at the high on both had too many side effects.
Where is our miracle diet pill!
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Amy Says:
I started contrave last year. I have lost 28 pounds so far. when I first started contrave I was EXTREMELY sleepy. this lasted for a good 2 weeks. it did get much better. I am very happy with it, and am trying to loose anothre 20 pounds.
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Crickett Says:
Thank you for letting me know a timeline about how long the drowsiness last i just started contrave 2 days ago....
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Susan Says:
I just filled a prescription for Contrave and wanted to begin taking it tomorrow, but I drive a company vehicle and cannot be drunk. Definitely can't take a nap on the clock. After all the drowsy reviews, I will probably wait till the weekend & see how I respond. Also very hesitant to be nauseous??
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Lagene Says:
I just started taking 1 twice a day yesterday and I am so sleepy. I was that way the first 4 days but now it's back even worse! I'm ok with that because I think it will pass again, at least I hope...I just sit in my chair in the morning and stare and doze off...
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Susan Says:
I tried it for a weekend. Wasted $150, No way I can feel that horrible, even for couple weeks. No wonder you can lose weight. Totally bedridden
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Ellen Says:
Well - since there is no fantastic "diet" pill -- I am still using Contrave at the standard full dosage of 2 - twice a day. I don't say morning and night because adjusting the time for me to lunch and dinner with some has made a notable difference in the efficacy of taking it.
Side affects -- I had nearly every awful side effect and it took me nearly six weeks to work through all of them horrible horrible nausea, sleepiness (the lightest weight side effect for me) headaches, sleepliness -- constipation, diahrea --- all said and done it has been worth is because for me, at least it cuts the ravenous hunger I feel otherwise. I don't see it as a miracle rather an effective, if not perfect tool to help me....
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Kkfrazier2 Says:
Ugh... same for me, sooo sleepy. Now it's not as bad (day 8) but I feel awful today, migraine all day, and oh so nauseous! Also woke up with very sore calves...? No exercise, maybe I had leg cramps last night and didn't notice? I usually would wake up from that though. Needless to say I'm not sure how long I can stick with this, lots of side effects, have noticed less urgency to eat everything but not weight-loss.
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Jan Says:
Does it matter if you take Contrave at night? Maybe that would help with the sleepy feeling.
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Totired Says:
I just started this drug day 2 of one pill twice a day.. I can't stand this drunk loopy drugged up feeling. Hope it goes away soon. Have to busy of a life to feel this way for to long
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CJ Says:
What about taking it at bedtime?!? If it makes you drowsy wouldn't it be just as effective if you took contrace at bedtime? Just a thought. I haven't taken this medicine yet, in just checking out people's experiences first!
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Angie Says:
Holy Crap. I CANNOT BELIEVE the FDA approved this. What you all are taking is an anti depressant(Wellbutrin) with a medication used to treat opiate addiction. How do I know? I am a recovering addict. I've tried every opioid pill there is and I know A LOT about them. This pharmaceutical company is setting up so many people to become opiate addicts!!! I know from EXPERIENCE. I just started on suboxone and I can't sleep, I'm up all night, headaches the nausea. Those side effects are the same as opiates!!! You're vomiting because this drug.has attached itself to your opioid receptors in your brain. I just pray you guys really research this med before continuing. All the side affects are cause you're high as a kite but you don't realize smh I just can't believe this
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denise Says:
The medication has naltrexone in it, used to stop the abuse of opiates...keeps them from sticking to the receptors. so or is not addictive
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losingweight Says:
I am on week 2 of 1 pill 2x daily and I'm very sleepy about an hour after taking it but I'm able to stay awake. No nausea or other side effects. I notice that I do stop eating about halfway through my meal and I'm able to resist night time snacking. I've lost 11 pounds so far.
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CRISSI Says:
THIS IS MY SECOND TIME TRYING CONTRAVE , THE FIRSST TIME I LOST 40 LBS IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND THEN THOUGHT THAT WAS THE JUMP START I NEEDED I STOPPED TAKING IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND GAINED BACK 8 LBS, NOW IM BACK ON IT IN 4 DAYS LOST 3 LBS TIRED ALL THE TIME AND CRANKY, BUT I KNOW AS TIME GOES ON THIS WILL WEAR OFF AND I WILL CONTINUALLY LOOSE WEIGHT AND ALL SIDE EFFECTS WILL BE GONE. ITS GREAT !!!!
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DelrayBeach Says:
It's weird reading all these comments because I had a very great experience with this drug. I started it at night not the morning. I believe the instructions even say to do that. Also, I had extreme anxiety prior to taking it. Suddenly feeling calm and relaxed was a welcome relief for me. I felt amazing. I'm using the drug to quit drinking and smoking that I was doing a couple times a week due to my anxiety but couldn't stop. However, I also need to lose ten pounds that won't seem to come off. When I went up to two pills a day too soon, I did have sleeplessness and anxiety, so back to the one pill per day until my body is ready to increase. I'm also regulating my hormones because I'm over 50 and taking oral progesterone at night helps me sleep. Since the day I started taking it, the drug has done everything it is supposed to do. I'm just hoping and praying for continued success.
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Krickett Says:
I never hd that problem.
Love taking it but got to expensive.
Did loose weight.
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Shy Says:
I have been on Contrave for over a month now. I had zero side effects in the beginning, however now that I'm taking the 2 AM/ 2 PM dosage I have become very sleepy during the day, but then waking up at different times throughout the night. Several of you mentioned that side effects have gone away after taking it for 6 weeks... I will hang in there for 2 more weeks, if the sleepiness continues, I will go back to the
2 AM/ 1 PM dosing to see if that helps. Maybe the full dose is too much for me?
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Mandy Says:
Re: Susan (# 7) 
I have not had any nausea, but I feel sleepy all day long.
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San Diego Says:
Re: Susan (# 9)
Me too- I was so sick I left work an d bedridden the next 24 hours.
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T Says:
Re: SBSInc (# 61)
This drug made me ravenous like I eat like a truck driver. I ate immediately two pieces of cake that were in the fridge from someone’s birthday. I was starving all day and couldn’t keep my head awake. Weirdest thing. Three days of sleeplessness and I’m so hungry! It impacted me opposite how it’s supposed to.
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T Says:
Re: Cindy T (# 56)
It never goes away. I couldn’t stay awake
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G Says:
Re: SBSInc (# 61)
When do you take the medication?
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Ashley Says:
Re: Angie (# 15)
What you said doesn’t make any sense! Obviously you didn’t do your research. Taking Naltrexone is in no way setting someone up to be an opioid addict! Yes, Naltrexone binds to opioid receptors, it binds and blocks opioid receptors and is used to reduce opioid cravings the risk of relapse. Naltrexone itself is not an opioid and there is no abuse potential with taking it as it is nonaddictive.
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Mel Says:
I am having the same side effects. I am one of those people who never nap during the day, but since starting this medication I am so sleepy during the day that I fall asleep sitting in my chair.
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AJ Says:
Re: JH (# 1)
I started taking Contrave about three weeks ago. It was ok. No side effects until I started with the 2 by 2 times a day and my God I got so sleepy I could not take it. So very tired. Hard trying to stay awake, hard trying to work and I started feeling so depressed. Not myself, no energy, no matter how much sleep I was still sleepy and so very tired, I am feeling that way right now. I had to lower my dose back to 2 a day and I take it only at night but that is not helping still sleepy and tired. How long is this going to last, I have to work, but all I want to do is sleep. I am at a cross road, can not keep taking this medication if this does not stop this feeling. I need to lose weight but at what expense.
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SMcCaw Says:
Re: Angie (# 15)
Wellbutrin (bupropion), is an antidepressant but has been found to help with addiction. It helps by triggering the addictive part of the brain. While yes, it may be used to treat opioid addiction, it’s used to treated other addictions as well. This includes smoking and eating. It’s all about the reward center of the brain. We do certain things because it makes us feel good. This medication helps combat urges.
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