This is day three and it seems like I'm feeling more hungry. I feel fine, no side affects. Only the first day I had a weird felling headache. I'm just hungry.
Contrave - Has anyone felt more hungry?
Question posted by Bookin on 20 April 2015
Last updated on 23 July 2024 by Jenna1667
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7 Answers
Jenna1667
22 July 2024
I was on Contrave for almost 6 months, and yes, I can say that I struggled with feeling more hunger on it than off of it. I don't know what the deal was with that medication but I never felt the things that it said it was supposed to do. I didn't lose weight on it, but I didn't gain weight either. I followed a lower carb/low fat/higher protein diet and didn't lose any weight... followed a Nutrition Teams advice (dietician, nutritionist, doctors, physician assistants, specialist like a GI, cardiologist, kidney specialist, and an endocrinologist). Never lost a pound - I used Lose It for logged foods and activities, had a Fitbit and then upgraded to a smart watch, walked and did resistance training - never a freaking pound - Even had the breathing test done that tells you how many calories you burn at rest and then they figure out how many you can eat to lose - still took the medication everyday and wasn't losing anything.
I've only been off of it for 2 weeks now and my appetite has decreased immensely - I don't feel like I am starving every 30 minutes - I'm still eating the same, working out the same, etc and lost 3 lbs... It works great with my sister, she's lost a lot of weight on it and hasn't really exercised at all. I truly believe that it depends on the person and how their body responds - not only that, but other medications and underlying medical stuff.
I hope you found that the longer you were on it the better it worked for you.
amy0601
29 March 2023
I am on day 2 and feel the same way. I never used to eat breakfast and now I take the pill and eat and then Im even hungrier!
Savannahaugust
26 Feb 2023
I am on 2 in the a.m and 1 in the p.m week 3 and I eat constantly. I use to have reasonable portion control and hardly ever ate out now it's like I crave a freddy burger one day and chicken strips the next day. It tastes bad but it's a weird urge. I feel defeated from 1800 calories a day I'm now eating over 2500.
BarbWhyr
29 Oct 2018
Yes, and it's sad. What is it going to take for me to be able to lose weight. The first 3 days were pretty bad. I felt nauseous, had a headache and it ran up my BP, but the nausea and headache have subsided. Like you, I'm feeling hungrier than I felt before taking the med. Before, I was overeating, due to lack of portion control. I also ate when I wasn't hungry. I thought this medicine would help with that. Sadly, I'm feeling hungrier than I felt before beginning to take the med. I am moving up to 3 a day, which I thought would be impossible because I didn't like the thought of taking the pill 3 or 4 times a day. I don't know, maybe that's how it works early on, then maybe in a week or so we won't want food? Hope so.
Carrie A
20 April 2015
I'd give it time to get into your system. After a week I still got hungry but when I eat now my stomach feels full faster. If I eat more than that I feel sick.
Bookin
20 April 2015
Thanks for the support, needed to know that.
Ammyjax
20 April 2015
It also took the 3 pill dose for me - 4 to be really effective. I'm on week 3 of the full dose now and have almost no cravings. I've actually been inside McDonald's with my friends/family eating multiple times and have no even been remotely tempted to order something. I passed up the Easter clearance aisle for candy too :) Give it time & good luck!!
Bookin
20 April 2015
Thanks, I love the help everyone is giving.
steve282
20 April 2015
Agreed, I'm now on 4 pills a day, at times I get really hungry but when I start to eat I feel satisfied early and the craving goes away. I've now lost 11 lbs.
carben
20 April 2015
Yes, as Max32 stated, I was one of those people who was more hungry on 1 and 2 pills. BUT, when I went to 3 everything changed and I no longer had cravings. For the headaches, drink lots of water, especially in the a.m. Good luck!
Bookin
20 April 2015
Thanks I was hoping this would pass. I just feel like I want to eat everything I see.
BarbWhyr
29 Oct 2018
How do you take the 3? I mean at what times?
BarbWhyr
5 Nov 2018
How did you take your 3 pills? Two and then 1, or 1 three times a day. It's so frustrating and disappointing when you finally find the courage to start taking the med, despite all of the side effects and it doesn't work. I'm into my second week, just started 2 , then one, and I'm hungrier than before I started. Before I was eating when I wasn't hungry and being an emotional eater, but now, I actually feel hungry several times a day Next week, I start taking it as prescribed, which is 2 pills, two times per day. I never thought I would need to go to the full dose, but, it's not working at 3 a day. Sad.
Max32
20 April 2015
My doctor wanted me to stay on one pill for two weeks instead of the one week suggested. So, I've been on one pill for about 1 1/2 weeks. I have wanted to eat everything in sight. I posted a question very similar to yours a few days ago. A couple of people answered that they didn't start to lose their appetite until they were taking 2 or 3 pills. Other than wanting to eat all the time, I've not had any other side effects.
BarbWhyr
29 Oct 2018
Did your doctor say why he or she wanted you to go 2 weeks before adjusting, instead of the recommended weekly increase?
Related topics
headache, side effect, contrave
Further information
- Contrave uses and safety info
- Contrave prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Contrave (detailed)
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