I've been on Contrave since the end of October. Nausea was a side effect at first but then went away. Now the nausea and headaches are back with a vengeance (I vomited yesterday) and I am starting to back off my dosage. Any tips from anyone re: nausea??? I am miserable but really, really want to continue on the medicine because it was working so well as first.
Contrave - Help! Horrible Nausea and Headaches?
Question posted by carben on 7 Jan 2015
Last updated on 29 January 2023
40 Answers Page 3
Debidew61
10 Nov 2015
I am two months into taking Contrave. I am nauseous periodically. I try to watch what I eat or don't eat. Seems if I don't eat enough then I am sick, or if I eat too high fat meal, I am really sick. But once I have thrown up, I feel better. I don't drink hardly any water, maybe that if why? I am not sure. I feel like this drug has definitely helped me but I do not like the nauseous side effect. But hang in there, I think your body has to take time adjusting to this drug... So I tell myself?
blessing101
10 July 2015
I have been on contract for 2 weeks and have found mustard takes away all my nausea. Just a little after you take the pill or on set of nausea. Plenty of water help also
Laurawilcox
30 July 2015
I was on belviq 10 mg twice a day for 5 mnths was on it frm mar 2015 til last wk. I lost zero weight but mentally it helped me tremendously . But obviously the weight loss was what I was in it for.My regular weight is 108lbs I'm 4 ft 9 in always been a size 7 . I'm 135 lbs nw so it's not a lot of weight I need to lose I was on Wellbutrin xl 300mg and citalopram 20 mg for 3 yrs just weaned off both of then and stopped seroquel xr 50 mg in jan 2015 so those 3 is wht caused the 20 lb weight gain in the past two yrs . Would a phenagan help with the nausea?
jamie02
10 April 2016
What kind of mustard?
12robert
12 June 2015
I am on day one of my Contrave I have been vomiting and nausea that I had to leave work... This pill has me really sick but the medication was so expensive that I want to give it a try... I ate bacon and two oranges and then I took my first pill and I was sick... Day 2 I didn't take the pill because of how I felt from day 1 I bought the dramamine but that didnt help... Any suggestions because I can't go on like this...
carben
13 June 2015
I am so sorry you have experienced such nausea! Yuck! I don't blame you for wanting to quit. I had a lot of nausea on the drug, but not like that. If you can stand it, maybe go up slower -- like one every other day? Check with your doctor though. My nausea was bad and lasted a LOOOOONG time but I have now been on it since end of Oct. and have NO side effects so it was worth hanging on for me. But I wasn't vomiting. :-(
thfallon
8 June 2015
That is odd you have those side effects. Could it be that you are dehydrated or not consuming enough calories? Contrave should be taken with food if you feel sick to your stomach. How much water are you consuming each day? Should consume at least a couple gallons. What about caloric intake? What are you supposed to be taking in and what are you actually taking in?
I have been taking Contrave now into second month. Since having been on, there have been positive reactions. I have lost 15 pounds - seemed like I was dropping 2 pounds a week for a while. I have also stopped smokeless tobacco. Part of the contrave drug is a drug to help control craving and control crave to smoke. This is certainly a positive thing for me to stop smoking after having tried everything. Other than the fact that the drug costs about $215 for a one month supply, I would say it is worth trying especially if you are a smoker.
I am going to continue for another month. Without proper dieting and exercise, this medication will be useless if you are completely dependent on it to help you lose weight. It will certainly help control crave, but not 100%. I think Contrave simply helps control crave and it's ultimately up to you and your mind to control craving.
Marymos
1 June 2015
A little late in this thread but I'm on Contrave day 3. I felt a little generally weak and weird day 1, felt perfect day 2, now today, day 3, terrible dizziness and nausea. I had to force myself to go to work today. I barely could stomach my oatmeal and cup of coffee-if I can't get coffee down, things are bad! I had a few wint-o-green life savers around, sipped some cold water and had a lifesaver. It really helped, I guess maybe the mint thing. I try not to use too many medications because I've had severe allergic reactions to colorants and additives in meds so I'm wary to try new things. I'm going to give Contrave a try-so far been making healthier food choices and eating less. I'm not a food craver per se, just have issues with portion control and feeling full (bottomless pit syndrome lol), this seems to be helping. Good luck to everyone on this jouney!
Wregle
2 June 2015
I also have had some nausea, headaches and jitters but I have found what works best for me is to eat something light before the first pill and then take it and an hour or so later the 2nd one. I try to take the 3rd one late afternoon. Haven't ventured to 4 yet. The side effects do seem to lessen. Don't give up yet!
Marymos
4 June 2015
I'm at day 6 now, just one pill a day. So glad I didn't give up-after the nausea and dizziness the other day I was almost ready to throw in the towel, but I was determined to give it a week. The nausea and dizziness subsided. Once in a while I feel a little bit dizzy, but so glad I stayed on because my appetite/ability to scarf down a big meal has definitely decreased. More motivated to excercise and make healthy food choices. Drinking lots of water-which I never used to before, I actually like it now. Weird! Feeling pretty good.
Shee0305
29 May 2015
I am on day 3. I thought omg how can I take just 2 pills a day when I feel like I'm dying. I can't sleep, I'm so nauseous I'm light headed and dizzy. I think it's worse then having the stomach bug!!! I've tried eating every couple of hours that has seemed to help on day 2. I still felt sick and dizzy but able to manage somewhat. I'm not sure if I want to take it anymore going to call doctor today to try something with less side effects. As soon as I get in the car I'm instantly sick. Palms sweating flushed face. I'm done!!!
mcurry2469
21 May 2015
I have found that drinking lots of water, and eating a little something every two hours (it doesn't have to be a lot) will calm the nausea situation... If you go without eating and drinking plenty of water that is when you have the most problems.
charcel2
19 March 2015
This is my second day on Contrave. The nausea and headache is a bit much to bare, I can say this second day has not been as bad as day one. I also feel jittery and a little spaced out. This pill has more side effects than any pill I've ever tried ( I lost 75 lbs on addipex with diet changes and exercise). My appetite is totally under control so far, no cravings no hunger pains. I just don't know if I can deal with these side effects and I can't IMAGINE taking two of these pills twice a day when I get to week 4!!! How much weight have you lost? anybody with experience on this pill please comment.
carben
20 March 2015
I've lost 25 pounds since Oct. 29 which isn't great, but it's not horrible. The weight loss has really slowed down and I am concerned I have become immune to the medicine. :-( For the headaches, drink a lot of water! First thing in the a.m. drink a large cup. The jitters do go away but the nausea lasted a loooong time. Actually, after going up to 4 pills, I went back down to three because the nausea was so bad. Then about two weeks later I went back up to 4 with no nausea at all. Since then, I only get nausea when I eat high-fat foods. Try to cut back as much as possible on fatty foods and as suggested above, if OK with your doc, try dramamine or bonine.
charcel2
20 March 2015
Thanks Carben that is very helpful. I'm down 2.6 lbs already and its only day 3 with no exercise. Wait until the nausea subsides enough for me to start my kickboxing classes back up
Drar
18 May 2015
I'm on day two of week two. Lost 5 lbs first week. The first 2-3 days of week one I did not feel well. Jittery, spaced out, nausea and headaches. By the 3rd day I started to feel normal. Like a lot ppl I read I couldn't imagine taking more of them. I've felt horrible all day again today. Hopefully tomorrow's not as bad. Going to look into the Dramamine and bronine as the medicine really kills the cravings and appetite!
Gigi momma
27 July 2015
I am on day 3 and have already lost 6 pounds. I Can't hardly handle the side effects either. Just curious how it turned out for you. Thanks
Dfaulkner4
27 Feb 2017
I've been on this med for 3 days and it will be my last. I would rather be over weight than feel like I have the swine flu. This medicine can not be good for you. I may as well have flushed 100.00 down the drain. I don't know how they are aloud to continue selling it.
Swood1224
9 Jan 2015
Hi! I wanted to respond to your question because I think I can help you. I'm on my 4th week of Contrave and I have felt horrible non stop. I have intense heaches, nausea and I wasn't sleeping good. I would compare it to morning sickness or having a really bad hangover... that's how bad I felt. However, I have found a solution! I bought some Dramamine, Bonine and Aleve. I took the Dramamine after work last night and it knocked out all the terrible feelings and also helped me sleep. I chewed the Bonine this morning since it's a non drowsy nausea medicine (I used it when I was pregnant) and it also knocked out the nausea. I feel back to normal but my food cravings are still gone and my appetite is still under control. I know it seems like a pain to take OTC meds on top of the prescription but I'm like you, I didn't want to go off the Contrave because I love the appetite suppression but I also didn't want to feel terribly ill all the time. I hope this helps you, good luck!
carben
9 Jan 2015
This is a GREAT idea!!! I am so happy! Thank you SO much for the tip. For now, I went down to 3 pills (2 in the a.m. and 1 in p.m.) and that has helped but I am worried that it won't work as well. I will definitely try the Dramamine and Bonine.
Swood1224
9 Jan 2015
your welcome. Good luck, it was like a miracle for me :)
valsab
21 Jan 2015
Hello, I am also on Contrave and get nausea, especially when taking it far from meals. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions:
Do you feel you still get the same beneficial effects of Contrave if you take it at meal time?
I am still not sure I am feeling any therapeutical effects from this drug, so I wanted to ask you whether it just removes your cravings or whether it also suppresses your appetite. I honestly don't feel any of the 2.
Any other suggestion would be highly appreciated! Good luck everyone in your journey.
carben
21 Jan 2015
valsab: Are you up to the full dosage of 4 pills/day? I do not notice a difference in side effects or benefits when I take with or without food, BUT I do almost always take with food -- especially in the a.m.
Contrave, for me, has suppressed my appetite somewhat but, more than that, I actually forget to eat until I am hungry. Weird. When I sit down to eat, I notice I don't eat as much because I think my stomach is shrinking (I've been on it since Oct. 29). But the biggest difference is in the way I view food. I don't think about it all day, I don't stop at fast food drive-thrus, I don't even think about it in the evening when I am watching TV (these were my biggest issues). It seems to have made me eat to live vs. living to eat. I don't really understand how it has changed my brain, but it has. It doesn't sound like it's working for you. I am sorry. I wish you were having success.
If you are not up to the full dose, please be patient as I didn't see any difference until up to 3 pills/day and even more so when on 4. Good luck!!
Swood1224
21 Jan 2015
I wasn't taking mine with food at first but after I had the nausea I did. I always take it with food now especially with breakfast. I feel the appetite suppression and craving suppression the most now that I am on the 4 pills a day routine. I think you should really try to listen to your body and see how you feel. I was one of those "oh it's time to eat people" I ate breakfast at 8:30am everyday, lunch at noon and dinner around 8pm and now I eat when I am hungry sometimes I eat breakfast at 8:30, sometimes 10.. it just depends on hunger. I notice also that when I do get hungry and eat I don't eat nearly as much as used to. Today I was dying for a buffalo chicken wrap so I got one at lunch. I made it halfway through the wrap and couldn't eat anymore. Before Contrave you better believe I would have finished that wrap, full or not lol. My advice would be to give it some time. I almost quit in the 3rd week but I pushed through it and stayed dedicated. I'm now I think in my 5th or 6th week and it was worth it. Keep me posted on your progress!
valsab
21 Jan 2015
OK you guys gave me hope again! I am at 4/day but I've been really inconsistent with it (many times I've forgotten one dose, so I was taking 2 one day, 4 another day, etc.); I also thought it wasn't working for me so I wasn't paying enough attention. I'll be strict from now on and we'll see whether I'll get the great effects you guys are mentioning. The nausea and dizziness are bad but if you know it's working you can deal with them. Good luck everyone and thanks!
Swood1224
18 Feb 2015
Have you been feeling any better?
carben
18 Feb 2015
Swood, yes, I have been doing much better and am back to 4 pills/day. Thank you for your wonderful advice re: bonine, etc. as I have passed that info along to others (and my sister!). :-)
dinans
21 March 2015
I've been on Contrave for one week now and have lost 3 pounds. YAY! The side effects have been bad though, nausea being the worst, and I desperately want this to work. The appetite suppressant works well. Thanks for the tip of Dramamine, Bonine and Aleve. I will start this today. I cannot imagine going up to 4 pills a day feeling like this.
thfallon
29 April 2015
That's an interesting analysis and experience. I just started on Contrave. Am a chronic migraine person, so not knew to insomnia and common headaches. I can say that every day before taking Contrave I suffer with insomnia, migraines most every day and nausea. Proof that Contrave works for me will be the weight loss and appetite suppression. Note to all, when you take the medicine, take it either with food or immediately after eating. This will help suppress the nausea and stomach pains possibly. If you take on an empty stomach any medicine, you could have the side effect of stomach pains. I am taking 2 in the morning during breakfast, as soon as I wake, and 2 in the evening, just after I eat dinner. I hope this works because the cost was $215 for a 30-day supply. Good luck everyone.
JanefromMarin
3 Sep 2015
Thank you so much for your response and recommendation in regard to treating nausea when taking Contrave. My husband has been on Contrave for almost 1 month and just began having the nausea along with a light-headedness feelings after increasing to 4 pills/day. Fortunately no headaches. I bought both Dramamine and Bonine per your recommendation. He took the Dramamine yesterday afternoon and it seemed to work, but he got pretty sleepy. He took the Bonine this morning and feels great. We're both happy he can continue on Contrave with no side effects. Thanks again and continued luck with your diet.
CSDS
3 Aug 2016
I am on day nine of taking Contrave and have lost 8 pounds! I am so excited, but this nausea is just about to get me. I am surely going to try what you suggested. I am 64 years old. I haven't felt like this since I was pregnant. I have had a dull headache. I have been waiting it out and it goes away. Reading everyone's comments are really helpful and encouraging.
Lb7788
10 Nov 2016
Swood1224 , I see it has been over a year since this post. I started Contrave this week. (Nov 9, 2016) This is only my second day and I feel nausea. How has this drug worked for you, were you able to reach your idea weight. I am really excited about trying this but really want to know how others have done on this drug.
mshslmn
24 Jan 2017
Hi, I realize this is old but could you explain why you took Aleve? Thank you!
lisagibbs467
23 Aug 2017
Ok. I'm going to try this today and I'll get back to you.
lisagibbs467
23 Aug 2017
OMG!!! Sweet relief. It was immediate. Thank you so much. I feel normal again.
jduray
8 Oct 2018
Hi, I know it’s been awhile since you posted this comment with very helpful ways to deal with Contrave nausea and headaches. I’m at about 6 weeks and I’m not at full dosage. Tomorrow I have my final increase. I’m experiencing everything you’ve described however I’m not benefiting with any improvements for appetite suppression... yet?? My Endocrinologist initially put me on a very strict diet, no gluten, no dairy, no carbs. Now she wants me to take Contrave because it’s suppose to help thyroid function and she believes this is part of my problem. I went from 120 lbs to 220 lbs in about 9 months. My problem is, I already wasn’t eating much and I don’t notice anything different with appetite suppression. Now that it’s been awhile, do you have anymore opinions on this medication? Long term, did it help you? I hesitate taking OTC drugs to deal with the nausea and headaches because doctor has me taking so many drugs already that I feel like a zombie. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance for any helpful info you can give me.
Linda Lou 71
10 Oct 2018
O my goodness... yes..first week is horrible from nausea... I'm a lady barber..made it difficult to cut hair when u feel like u have the flu..ugh..I will only do one a day... I cannot imagine 4 a day... I shudder at the thought..any how... best of luck..contrave does work..but I'm only going to do 1 pill a day for a while...
Denmich72
28 June 2019
@Swood1224, Thank you. Just started this week and have been nauseous on and off. Day one was the worst for me, had to go back home and sleep for a few hours. Been eating Rolaids to settle the stomach and it helps to a degree. I will get these and try.
kaismama
7 Jan 2015
Is there a possibility you have caught an illness?
carben
7 Jan 2015
I thought that at first, but the nausea and headaches have lasted too long for it to be that. I am so disappointed. I called the makers of Contrave on their help line and they said, "Nausea was the #1 reason people quit taking Contrave." They didn't have any suggestions for help. :-(
COHgirl
8 Jan 2015
Does ginger help you at all? Ginger ale or ginger candy like Gin-Gin brand?
carben
9 Jan 2015
I haven't tried ginger but was actually thinking about it because I know that it helps women with nausea when they are pregnant. Thank you for the tip!
stylist1969
3 April 2015
this is my first day and I felt horrible, the dizziness and the nausea is crazy, I have to try something or I will not be able to continue this medication, Please help.
Related topics
headache, nausea/vomiting, 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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