Wanting To Quit Taking Contrave (Page 3)

I need to know how to stop taking contrave. Can I just quit cold turkey or do I wean off? If I wean off how do I do it?

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I checked with my doctor about weaning off for a while, and he said to just titrate down just like I titrated up when i started taking it. He also said I can go back on it if I need to and do just start like before a titrate up.

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Do need to be weaned off of Contrave
My doctor passed away and the doctor that took his place does not fill prescriptions for weight loss

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I've been taking contrave for a while now. I lost 35 pounds in about 6 months. I'm experiencing the same thing you are. My appetite has come back and my old habits are creeping back in. I have kept my weight off and I feel like I'm stabilized within about 3-4 pounds. I'm scared the weight will pile back on. I'm still taking contrave. Any suggestions?

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I stayed on Contrave for 4 months and lost 32 pounds. I did have the nausea in the beginning and generally felt "rough" but that improved and the weight started coming off. I did notice that when I ate certain foods I had the stomach cramps (more processed or fatty food). I was so excited about the weight loss and was feeling MUCH better because my weight was dropping...but then the side effects started creeping in, the longer I was on it. I wasn't taken any other drugs to interact and I wasn't drinking any alcohol. I had motion sickness a LOT. Normally I can read in the car or on a plane (I travel with my job), but I couldn't even stand to move my head around on a plane after a while...and on a boat well, just hang me over the side cause I was going to toss. I started having eye pain where it hurt to look at my monitor. I thought I was having hot flashes and hormone issues causing me to not sleep solid. The motion sickness got so bad I started to wean down the same way I slowly started (dropping one pill a week)...as I weaned off ALL those symptoms went away...so no hormone problems, just contrave. I did give it some time and started back on one pill a day since I still had some weight I wanted to lose, but the side effects started as soon as started this time (flushing, not sleeping, motion sickness, eye pain). I will take a little more time off to let it get out of my body all the way and then will go back! I have drug panel to do for work so I was not happy to see it can cause a false reading! :/

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Hi Susan, I've in my third month and am also having this side effect. Even when I feel like very much have to go? I can't!

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Hi I was taking contrave for 3 months and I decided to quit taking them a week ago due to them not working for me anymore...I was wondering if anyone new if there was any side affects for stopping them cold turkey

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I starred Contrave and got up to the 3 tabs/day. I'm starting to wean myself off. Horrible taste in my mouth, sweating and bad constipation. My appetite hasn't changed, I didn't have an appetite issue or binging problems. My thyroid slowed its function along with starting menopause so I can't lose anything more than 20#. Can't wait to get rid of this taste in my mouth.

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I have been on contrive for about 2 months. I just started having heart palpatations last 2 weeks. Will these subside? I have had my blood checked and EKG done and all were fine.

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I've been on contrave for 9 months now and I have lost 52 pounds,if u eat right exercise ,and drink plenty of water u will lose,I lost it slow but my Dr. said that was best.the only problem I have is constipation , but my Dr.put me on metformin to help with that,I have never takin anything that has done as good as contrave??

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I have been on Contrave for 1 year and have hit the plateau point as well. I've spoken to Takeda pharmacists on 3 occasions re: discontinuing the med. My prescribing physician and I don't feel that it is helping to control my appetite at all any more and I am discontinuing the drug currently. We've also discussed the possibility of revisiting the medication in a few months time (or possibly starting Belviq / Lorcaserin by Arena pharmaceuticals).


Actually, I plateaued about 5 months ago and only because I have been on 400 mg of Bupropion in the past, he prescribed an additional 75 mg of Bupropion as a supplement to the recommended daily dose of Contrave to see if it would help (it hasn't).

The weaning-on process that Contrave users follow (per Takeda pharmaceuticals) is recommended due to the medication's most common side-effect: nausea. Many new Contrave users experience moderate to heavy nausea and dizziness in the first weeks of use; which is lessened considerably when one weans onto the drug.

Starting at 1 tablet in the morning on week 1 , by the 4th week of use the patient is taking the full recommended dose (2 morning + 2 night = 4 tablets p/ day).


Per Takeda pharmacists: it is unnecessary to wean-off of Contrave as the nausea associated with starting the medication is not an issue when discontinuing the drug. The only reason patients wean-on in the first place is to lessen the nausea. Both Takeda pharmacists and my Dr. have said it is perfectly fine to discontinue the med all at once. I personally feel more comfortable weaning-off vs. 'Cold Turkey' but I'm just reporting what they told me.

- Just a side-note: I personally felt extremely nauseated in the 3rd week of starting Contrave (2 morning + 1 night) and because of this remained at 2 morning + 1 night for an additional 2 weeks; finally graduating to the full dose of 2 morning + 2 night at which time I was acclimated well enough to the med and didn't feel queezy.

I had gained approximately 35 lbs. over the 2 years prior to taking Contrave and lost 30 lbs. in the first 4 - 5 months of being on the medication. The most dramatic weight loss taking place in the first 3 months (losing approximately 23 lbs.)

I never felt it was helping with cravings past the 4 - 5 months point and as a matter of fact, I would awake in the middle of the night absolutely famished (and would often times get up and start preparing a whole meal at 2:30 am) which I had never done before taking Contrave. I believe this must have something to do with drug being time-released. 2:30 am must have been the exact point in time that it wore off - (just a guess) and / or my body had simply become immune to the benefits of Contrave into month 5 - 6.


By month 8 I had gained back 11 lbs. and continued on with the Contrave even though I felt no benefit at all. By month 11 - 12 I had gained back another 8 lbs.


The reason it's best to discontinue the med vs. continue to take it (with no benefit) is because it's too taxing on the liver to do so. Also, if you read the prescribing information you'll see that it recommends that a patient discontinue Contrave if they haven't lost at least 10 - 15 lbs. in the first 3 months.

While the prescribing info doesn't really touch on discontinuing the drug, I consulted the Takeda pharmacists about it. I asked them if one is supposed to just continue the med indefinitely (explaining that I had definitely hit a plateau and was not getting any benefit at all). They said no... that a patient will build a tolerance to the Bupropion as well as Naltrexone and it's best to discontinue vs. just remaining on the med.

Takeda also reiterated what my Dr. said - that discontinuing the med which was no longer effective and 're-visiting' in a few months would be best.

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Hi, Vickie;

Heart palpitations in week 2 of weaning-onto Contrave are not OK.

Week 1 = 1 tablet in the morning.

Week 2 = 1 morning + 1 evening.

Week 3 = 2 morning + 1 evening

Week 4 = 2 morning + 2 evening

You can either go back to 1 Contrave in the morning (as you did on week

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Hi, Vickie;

Heart palpitations are not OK whether you're on Contrave or not - but I'm sure you know that already. I'm suprised that you were prescribed this medication because it's not recommended for those that have high blood pressure, anxiety, mania, heart palpitations, panic attacks, seizures, etc.

There's no doubt in my mind that your prescribing physician, pharmacist as well as Takeda pharmaceuticals would insist that you discontinue the medication immediately.

There is a possibility of seizures for some patients when taking Contrave so the prescribing Dr. should have looked into your medical history to determine if this med is right for you. If you have a history of any of the above, it's not worth it.

Going back to only 1 tablet p/ day (and remaining on only 1 p/ day for another week or even 2 weeks) would allow your body to acclimate to the drug over a longer period of time. If after 2 weeks of 1 in the morning you feel fine, then try 1 in the morning + 1 evening.

The reason the Contrave prescribing information includes weaning onto the med is because of the most common side-effect for new users: Nausea + dizziness.

I personally was fine until week 3 (taking 2 in the morning and 1 evening). I felt queezy, nauseous, had a constant low-grade headache and felt a little dizzy. I immediately went back to taking only 1 in the morning + 1 evening (and felt fine at that dosage).

I remained at 1 morning + 1 evening for 2 weeks and gradually worked up to the full dose over the course of 6 weeks vs. 1 month of 2 morning + 2 evening.

It's fine to take more time to wean onto the medication but there are side-effects and there are side-effects. Feeling heart palpitations, having difficulty breathing, feeling anxious, ringing in the ears, or light-headedness are all considered to be deal-breaker side-effects = discontinue use and see your Dr. ASAP.

P.S. Contrave is not recommended for smokers or those who consume caffeine. Even 1 cup of coffee could cause heart palpitations if consumed along with Contrave. If you're on ginseng, stimulating herbs, RedBull or energy drinks, herbal supplements, any other direct or indirect stimulants (other diet herbs or medications), cold + flu or allergy meds (over-the-counter or Rx) = not advisable with Contrave. So if you are on any of the above that may be causing the heart palpitations.

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Hi, Vickie;

I answered before (but it wasn't posted yet). However looking over your question I realise that I misunderstood what you said - Sorry!

I thought you said that you were having heart palpitations in your 2nd week of weaning onto Contrave - so naturally my answer included all of the typical warnings such as '...discontinue use'..., etc.

Now I see you've been on Contrave for 2 months.

Even though heart palpitations are not good (whether on a med or not) - it would be worse if you were only in week 2.

The heart palpitations may be a result of other variables such as over-the-counter or Rx meds, allergy or cold / flu meds, herbs, ginsing, tea or coffee (any / all caffeine products including chocolate), other diet herbs or remedies, RedBull or Monster-type energy drinks, any direct or indirect stimulants can / will cause heart palpitations when consumed with Contrave.

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I am at the same point you are and having the exact same side effects. It is horrible. I would rather eat salad for the rest of my life than feel this sick every day. Throwing them away!

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Yes, stay on it, if you afford to.I have been taking Contravene for over 1 year, lost 55 lbs, and I am able to keep it off.

One side effect, hot flashes, followed by a fleeting feeling of panic. I am going through major life changes, so perhaps this contributes, it does subside, but it's not a pleasant sensation.

A few positives? Here we go:

No urge to drink or eat excessively
NO HANGOVERS!! ??
Feel a bit more positive overall
Keeping weight off

So, it's worth it.

Best of luck to all

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I have been on Contrave for 2 years. I didn't feel very good at first but I was dedicated to losing weight. I lost 35 lbs in the first year and one half. I have stayed at 35 lbs and I'm happy with that. I am stopping now because the subsidy given to me by the drug company has gone down and I can't pay $92.00 a month.

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Lauri, you are doing great how have you lost so much? I just started it 3 weeks ago, I have mixed feelings..it does help curb my appetite but also makes me feel nauseous if I don't eat. I'm suppose to start 3 pills a day tomorrow...what do you eat in a typical day?
Thanks and keep up the good work!

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I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones, I started taking Contrave in August of 5015 and to date I have lost almost 90 pounds. Now no other medication or diet plan ever worked for me, but this one did. The only side effect I had a occasional dry mouth, not pleasant but tolerable. Now I am on my last bottle as I just now need to maintain, but not sure if I reverse the process or what...

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There is no harm in weaning off the same way you weaned on. One of the ingredients in Contrave can cause a seizure if you stop taking it suddenly. Better safe than sorry. I lost 40 pounds and have plateaud. I'm weaning off now and will wait about a month for it to clear my system and then I will do another round. Best of luck.

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I would like to know what current Contrave users are paying out of pocket for the drug. I was paying around $60.00 a month. I had to re enroll in October and now I have to pay $92.00 per month. This is the main reason I have going off Contrave.

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