Contrave and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Works really well for me. Slow, steady weight loss totaling 30 lbs so far, from 225 last July to about 195 today in April. I do exercise moderately, but more importantly, the food cravings at all hours of the day are gone. Less food and calorie input means weight loss for me. Also, very acceptable to me is the side effect of a very dry mouth much of the day, so I now drink lots of water."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Love this weight loss tablet! I have lost 15 kg in 5 months. I have had very little side effects, being dry mouth. I can sleep and function on these tablets. I feel so much more confident, I'm getting great comments from people telling me how amazing I look, even asking me what my secret is! I started at 95.9 kg, now at 80.4 kg. Makes me feel fuller and definitely eat less."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Let me start off by saying this pill does work. I actually start week 3 tomorrow, but these side effects are crazy. I was only constipated once, so I started taking a stool softener. I go from having a headache to feeling lightheaded to feeling like a zombie, all in the same day. My mouth is always dry, so drinking water is a must, and trying to sleep is horrible. I'm going to try to make it 3 months, and that's it. I have no appetite, and I am losing weight, but the way I feel is nothing I can get used to."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’m 45 and either just don’t have the metabolism anymore or my hormonal changes are hindering weight loss. I exercise, diet, fast, and still my weight steadily creeps up or remains at a standstill each month. I’ve been on Contrave for just over a month now. I took it exactly as prescribed, and I’m now on two pills morning and night. The first couple of weeks I didn’t really have many side effects, initially, the dry mouth was a nuisance but tolerable. Once I reached the full dose, I would say the nausea is worse. Initially, it was random, but now it’s almost all day. I’m not vomiting and can eat, but I just feel sick throughout the day. Keeping busy and working helps deter the awareness of it, but it’s there. Happily, I have lost nearly 15 pounds. It does reduce cravings and generally feeling hungry, but right now the nausea is enough to make me not eat! I’ll stick with it for now…"

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was prescribed Contrave to help with binge eating disorder. First few days, dry mouth, weird taste, and headache. It is all worth it, I don't obsess over food, I haven't binged at all since starting. I've gone from at least 9x a week binges to none. I am making better choices, exercising, and learning healthy habits. The weight loss is just an added bonus at this point - I finally feel sane, my brain is quiet!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Day 5 starting. A little dry mouth. Doctor wants me to cut carbs, however, usually, this means more fat intake to me. I think a low calorie/low fat will do better - perhaps 1,200 calories. I think this could be manageable, considering I am starting to not think about food. The previous person mentioned having a seizure. I also read today, DO NOT take with a high-fat diet."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have only been on Contrave for 1 month. My doctor is really supportive and suggested it because I had worked so hard to lose 40 pounds in 2018 and was holding even though 60 pounds was the goal. In 2020, with all the stress, I gained all 40 back very rapidly. I then lost the first 10 on my own, but my doc suggested Contrave this time to help. I haven't even put great effort into working out yet, and in 1 month I am down 12.5 pounds. On another note, I have fibromyalgia... it did seem to resolve my symptoms at first, but I will have to see if that continues. I cannot take my regular opioids to cope with the pain that comes with intense exercise, so I am taking it easy. So far, so good. Oh, as far as side effects: dry mouth, very thirsty, and constipation, but it got better in two weeks. I still suffer from insomnia but seem to sleep more soundly. I don't wake up feeling exhausted anymore. I do not plan to take Contrave longer than 6 months, so I hope to reach my 60-pound goal by then."

• Jay...
• July 7, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for two full months now. Side effects I am experiencing are: dry mouth, vision difficulties, bad taste in my mouth, ringing in my ears, and trouble focusing. None of these symptoms would be 'intolerable' if only I was experiencing the 'upside,' which is dropping pounds like so many of you have. BUT - in two months, I have not dropped a single pound. I was a 'fairly healthy' eater before starting Contrave, just gained over 40 lbs when menopause kicked in :( Should I persevere? Or abort mission? Is there anyone out there who started losing the weight long after starting the product? I simply don't want to keep enduring the side effects if zero weight loss is the outcome."

• Zac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Bottom line: worst side effects I’ve ever experienced with any medication - with amnesia, short-term memory loss, sleepiness (falling asleep during the day) - insomnia, gas, bloating, constipation, headaches, fogginess, anxiety, nausea, and dry mouth. I only lost 3 lbs in 3 weeks - Also warning: They put you on autoship automatically, so even if you stop this medication on your own, they will charge another $99 to your credit card."

• Eve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm an everyday mom who is tired of feeling puffy and overweight. The one important key learning I've had is that you need to tailor Contrave to you. This isn't a magic pill you take and do nothing else. With my experience, I exercise on a regular basis. I watch my calorie intake and drink 64 oz of water daily. If I become constipated, which is rare, in addition to water intake, I will also eat prunes or unsweetened applesauce. Also, I always take Contrave with food, I've noticed a difference if I take it on an empty stomach. My body works with one in the morning with breakfast and one later in the afternoon with a snack or meal, and sometimes one in the middle of the day. The biggest difference this has given me is that I don't crave food, overeat, or snack, which is huge. I've lost weight and inches. If I get dry mouth, I sip on water and it is taken care of. Try to stick with it and get on a schedule with healthy meals, snacks, exercise, water, and sleep."

• Ano...
• August 21, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "5'1 female- starting weight 195, current weight 162, goal weight 125. -33 pounds so far in 6 months. Overall my experience with Contrave has been a positive one. At first, I did experience odd side effects, some included dizziness, dry mouth, involuntary twitching, and very, VERY odd dreams. However, after a while, these went away. For the last 6 months, I have been able to lose 33 pounds by only taking 1 pill at night. My physician is moving my dose up to 2 pills now, one in the AM and one in the PM. I started that regimen this week, and I am back to experiencing a little dizziness and dry mouth, odd dreams (not as much as the beginning). But, I am sure this will disappear as well soon. I eat 1 meal a day now and exercise for 1 to 1.5 hours 5-6 days a week."

• Lev...
• January 9, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Had to beg my doctor into prescribing Contrave. Had bad dry mouth at the beginning. It went away for a while, came back, and then went away for good. I started at 170 lbs and am down to 134 lbs, losing about 1 to 2 lbs a week. I have not craved carbs at all. My question for those taking this drug is: has anyone experienced involuntary hand movement? I'm on my 3rd neurologist with no answers except to stop the Contrave. I've done research and haven't found this as a side effect. Can anyone share their experience and possible involuntary hand movement as a side effect of Contrave."

• kar...
• October 14, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have lost weight in the past with diet and walking a lot. But after having a heart attack, I am not permitted to walk in extreme heat or cold. I was desperate to lose weight, and the doctor prescribed Contrave. I was only on day two of the pills, and, as my luck would have it, I tore my meniscus the second day of taking the pills, and I have not been able to take my walks for a month. Despite that, I have faithfully taken the pills as prescribed, but they have done NOTHING for me. I still have very strong cravings for sweets and carbs, and since I am not able to walk, I have been giving in to those cravings. I need diet and exercise to go hand in hand for a successful weight loss program. The drug did not alter my taste for the foods I love or help control portions. The only thing this pill did is make my mouth go dry shortly after taking it. I have not lost any weight in almost one month. I paid $114 for these pills, and it was a total waste of money."

• Kei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I lost weight, 16 lbs, for 2 months. The first three weeks, nothing happened, on the contrary, I had an increased appetite. I tolerated the medicine well, except for some pimples in the beginning that are gone now. The only thing left is dry mouth. I eat a lot less and make healthier choices, as well as walking some."

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am in week 5 and have lost 10 pounds, and people are noticing. I started at 245 and am now 235 lb. I have always been overweight but have led a healthy lifestyle and am quite fit and muscular, but my weight kept creeping up, and I could not lose no matter what. I have consistently lost 2 pounds a week so far, which is record-breaking for me. I seem unable to overeat even on vacation! I cannot drink more than one glass of wine, and it doesn't even taste good. I have no cravings for sweets, and when I taste them, I think, meh, not worth the calories. Obviously, it has rewired my reward system and satiety signals. As far as side effects, yes, at first, I was jittery with a strange lightheaded headache, but it was pretty mild. I often have a dry mouth, so I'm drinking more water. I think it does cause constipation, but I've always been on the loose side, so my bowel movements have normalized. So far so good - I'm curious to see how it works now that I'm on the full dose."

• Cla...
• July 29, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've had great success on this medication. I experienced mild side effects (headache, constipation, dry mouth, occasional ear ringing) the first 4 weeks while increasing. I have lost a total of 35 pounds so far in 3 months! Binging has stopped, the cravings have significantly subsided, and I get full faster when I eat. This is with minimal diet and exercise. I'm sure when I introduce those 2 things it will take off even more. I have food addiction and no matter what, my brain always told my body to eat even if I was full - I couldn't turn that off no matter how hard I tried. All that has stopped. Contrave has worked great for me and I hope others have the same experience."

• San...
• July 7, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’m on week 3 and maybe lost 1-2 pounds. I’m still super hungry, so I’m hoping this kicks in when I’m on the full dosage, as others have experienced. Point is not noticing many changes. Thankfully, I haven’t had anything other than dry mouth. I’m able to sleep, unlike with Adipex, which has you wired all the time. So just waiting... I just want to lose 25 pounds."

• CBa...
• July 5, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "On day three, I experienced debilitating dizziness, extreme nausea, and violent vomiting. I had to call a family member to pick me up from work and drive me home. I switched the schedule and took 1 pill at night for two weeks. This helped decrease the side effects very little, and I still missed 3 days of work in two weeks due to the side effects. I continued taking the medication because I wanted to be successful. By week four, I had additional side effects of dry mouth, constipation, and I felt very foggy. By week six, I had lost 3 pounds and decided to stop taking Contrave due to the side effects. I didn’t even taper off, I just got so sick and tired of the side effects I just stopped taking the medication abruptly. It took about 2 weeks before feeling normal again. I was supposed to only have a three-month supply, but the medication was “conveniently” automatically reordered. Now I have a 2 1/2 month supply (that cost a lot of money) going to waste!! Not recommended."

• Dol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave 5 days ago and have lost 5 lbs already! I’m excited to see how much weight I will lose on this! Side effects: I felt a little jittery; however, I think this could be from not eating very much. I notice once I eat something, this goes away. Feel slightly ‘out of it’, for instance I can ask someone something and they tell me, and I won’t remember a second later what they said. Very difficult getting to sleep and staying asleep the first couple of days, but it has been getting better by the day. I am nervous about increasing the dose and not being able to sleep again. Increased energy, mild constipation, mild dry mouth. Zero cravings for anything. It makes it really easy to eat clean, avoid carbs, and sugar. I’m not hungry at all. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m obsessing over food like an addict. I don’t even think about it. When I do eat, I get full really fast."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Contrave for 6 weeks and have lost 16 pounds. For reference, I am 5’4” and weighed 165 lbs. This morning I weighed 149 lbs. Dry mouth and constipation are the only side effects I have now. I will get a headache if I miss a dose (I take 2 pills in AM and 2 in PM). I have to say this medication really works. It doesn’t kill my appetite, but no more binges or overeating. I have total control over my appetite now. Fast food was a big problem for me, but now I don’t really want it. Same with my favorite foods like carbs and pizza — one slice and I’m satisfied. This has really helped me lose weight without suffering through a strict dieting. I found tapering up my dosage over 4 weeks as recommended by the manufacturer really helped with the side effects. For me, the immediate side effects (foggy brain, headache, tiredness, anxiety) went away within a few days of increasing my dosage."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Contrave in December 2018. I went from 170 lb to 150 lb as of April 18th. I never feel hungry. The only time I know I need to eat is when my stomach is cramping. The only side effect was dry mouth, and that has gone away after the 3rd month. I walked some during this time, but if I had followed the recommendation to walk more, I'm sure I would have lost more."

• Las...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on for 8 months - the first 6 months were good - headache, dry mouth, and ringing in my ears that never EVER goes away. As far as weight, I’m down to 169 lb from 185 lb, so my weight is much lower, I still eat stuff I know I shouldn’t. Then I suffer stomach pain - it's like teaching you a lesson on what not to eat. You will lose weight on it, you don’t have to exercise to lose weight, it’s what goes in your mouth. Calories in, calories out, makes sense you would lose if you're eating less. Doubt anyone would be in it over a year with results like when you started."

• Twe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave on 3/20/19. This is my first time taking the drug, and I have read plenty of comments. This is my second day, and I did have a slight headache today, but it didn't last long at all. I can say that I like to eat, but my cravings for food have decreased a lot. I only ate twice today, but I had to force myself to eat that. My starting weight is 320 lb. I will post again soon, I pray this works for me. Don't give up on it. Also, I have had dry mouth as well and trouble sleeping at night. I am also following a light diet."

• My ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "It has been almost 5 months. At first, I was sick with a headache and cotton mouth. I did not have a stomach ache unless I ate too much. Started at 184 lb, now 171 lb. I still eat and crave sugar, which has been my downfall, but meals are down for sure. Still have the headaches that can be brutal and memory fog, this I know is meds and one of the side effects listed. I found the 2 pills in the am and 2 pills PM was too much, so to alleviate side effects, I take one at around 7 am, another around 10 am, and one in the evening about 6. Helps a lot. I get weird dreams, but doesn’t bother me, actually curious about what it will be next. I don’t think this is a good long-term drug. If you go off it, I think the weight will creep back, and my insurance has paid for the first 6 months, then must be approved again - so expensive! Good luck, everyone."

• AJa...
• February 14, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Week 3, heart racing, dry mouth, nervous. I decided to stop the meds."