Contrave and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Edz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started using Contrave 2 weeks ago. The first day I was good, the second day I felt a little sick. On the third day, I was Googling the 'best nausea pills.' I was ready to give up. I had headaches, felt very weak, and didn't eat at all for the next 2 days. I also was sleeping very lightly (I'm a heavy sleeper) and woke up multiple times during the night. That was my first week. In the second week, I was afraid to take 2 pills, but I must say in the second week my body got used to the pills. I'm now coming into my third week. I feel fine. I lost 2 kgs already, but it was mostly from being sick and not eating. I do feel my appetite has lessened a lot. If you can get through the first week, give it a chance. Drink lots of water, exercise, and eat a lot of small portioned healthy meals and snacks, our body still needs its fuel :)"

• Har...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 50-year-old male. I started Contrave 4 weeks ago and have lost 10 kg. It causes some side effects, like a fuzzy head and a funny taste in your mouth initially. Sometimes I have a funny frontal headache. It has improved my mood and made me able to walk past food without stopping. I take snacks to eat during the day but usually don’t even touch them. I have been able to drop my cals to 1600-1800/day. It’s also had an incredible effect on my libido and performance. My wife is loving it. It is not a miracle drug. You still have to work hard but it certainly helps a lot."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So I’ve been on Contrave for one week so far. I’m starting on two pills today. Since I started Contrave, I have noticed more energy. Sometimes I have a slight headache, but I don’t know if that’s because of allergy season or not. I have not had any nausea. I have noticed in the last three days that my appetite has decreased. My sugar cravings are also decreased, and I’ve lost 3 lbs this week. I did pay cash for the first prescription. But I found out from Aetna, my medical insurance, that if I get a pre-op form filled out from my doctor, then sent to my insurance company, a person with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or any heart condition, then it would only end up costing me about $65 (depending on the diagnosis) instead of $330. I called my insurance company to find out whether it was covered or not. The doctor was unaware and thought it was only a cash pay medication. So my advice is to check with your insurance company."

• Mar...
• February 14, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I hate to say that I would not recommend this med, Contrave. I started taking it 3 weeks ago and am now stopping. The side effects headaches, nausea, cramping, sweating, and lethargy are not worth it. True, I am losing weight, but I am also on W.W. I will admit, I don't crave anything, but mostly because I am focusing on the nausea and cramping. I am happy it works for some. As for me, I think I'll pass."

• Drp...
• January 15, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "1st month of taking the full dose of Contrave. I had taken phentermine in the past and lost weight. I haven’t lost anything on Contrave. In fact, I’ve gained weight (7 lbs). I visited my endocrinologist today, and she wants me to take it for 3 months. Originally prescribed Saxenda, but insurance would not approve it. On day 1, I stopped taking all other vitamins and other medication (besides cabergoline for a pituitary tumor). Cooked all meals at home (mainly salads and protein), increased exercise, and drank more water, because I really wanted this to work. I have PCOS, so losing weight is incredibly difficult. Did anyone else have this issue? I am hoping it will start working in month 2 or 3. Also, as far as side effects from Contrave: I also had tremors in hands and arms, along with headache, nausea, bad taste in my mouth, fatigue, and brain fog. It did not help with cravings or appetite, probably because I didn’t have an issue with these before. In fact, I had to work on eating more calories and more often."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "It has not been a good experience on Contrave for one month. Yes, I have lost a minimal amount of weight, but the side effects are so bad I'm taking myself off it. Mild headaches, waves of nausea, constant hot flashes. Goodbye and good riddance, Contrave!"

• MLW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I wish the Contrave worked for me. I’ve been on it almost 3 months, and it has definitely stopped working. I lost 10 lbs in the first 2 weeks and haven’t lost even an ounce since. I had the full feeling for about 3 weeks, but then it went right back to normal. The ringing in both of my ears is so loud, and it never stops. The headaches are daily and at times are worse than migraines. This drug is too expensive not to work! I was told by many that you don’t get the full effect of the drug until you've been on it for 16 weeks. Sorry, I don’t believe it. I wouldn’t recommend it at all. WAY too expensive for a 50/50 chance of it working, and the side effects are awful."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave back in February 2019. I have been taking it ever since. I did, at first, get bad headaches when I first started taking the full dose so I backed off and took the smaller dose a week longer, which helped a ton. I eat smaller portions now since taking Contrave, and I do get full faster. My cravings are less, but I do get them occasionally, not bad though. I rarely snack. It's October now, so I've been taking it for over 8 months, and I have lost 50 lbs so far. I'm sure if I would stick to a strict diet and exercise, it probably would have come off faster, but my calorie intake is a lot less so it's coming off just fine for me. For me, it's working great."

• LLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I purchased Contrave for weight loss and was so excited to try it after reading the reviews. After taking it for 1 week, I started having headaches and was nauseated. I continued taking the medication, hoping the side effects would go away, however, after 3 weeks, they were so bad I couldn't do it any longer. I stopped the medication for 1 week. After two weeks, I started feeling better, so I started back on the medication, but I took it at night hoping for better results. I woke up at 3 a.m. with a horrible headache, nauseated, and could not go to work the next day. I did not lose any weight while taking this medication, only lost time from employment."

• Sup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Today is my 3rd day on Contrave. The first two days, I did experience headaches and was lightheaded. I have small hives on my eyelids. No headaches today. My appetite has curbed tremendously, I usually eat all day, now not as much. Was 202 lbs when I started, will weigh on Day 7."

• Mar...
• October 22, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 34-year-old female, 183 lbs and a BMI of 28. I wonder if my doc should have even prescribed this to me... I used this drug for 3 days and had a horrible experience. My side effects were stomach cramping, severe headache, and violent vomiting. The brain fog many speak of turned into severe headaches and nausea turned into violent bouts of vomiting. To the point that I thought I would have to be admitted to the hospital. Also, I was unaware this contains an opiate blocker, naltrexone, and the ingredient bupropion, used to treat depression, the neurological effects were also quite concerning. I had spasms in my muscles and joints, like small surges of electric shock. I had a really scary experience and do not recommend this to anyone unless they have done thorough research on how the ingredients can affect them. I have been off of this drug for 2 days and still feel unwell."

• Bec...
• August 7, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Do your research, please. Side effects are not precautionary, they are severe. If you read other reviews, it’s clear that 70% have debilitating side effects. You won’t find a lot of journeys on YouTube or blogs because people discontinue use - that’s the first clue. Despite this, I gave it a go. Day 1 was all I could tolerate. I felt drunk, dizzy, and nauseated. Walking down the hall, I fell into the wall suddenly from a huge bout of dizziness. That was it for me. I don’t doubt you will lose weight, but I do doubt it’s good for you. People have reported constant nausea, hair loss, rapid heartbeats, ear ringing, dizziness, BP increases, headaches, side effects after months of use, and sudden bouts of anger/depression. Heart studies have not been fully done as well, which should be noted. It depends on how desperate you are to lose weight. All I have to say is research and calculate your own statistics. This medication is clearly harsh and messes with your body/mind. Good luck!"

• 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."

• Rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave last Wednesday. I was 77 kg and today, Saturday, I am 75.5 kg, so I’ve lost 1.5 kg in 4 days. Wow, I have to lose some weight because I have a fatty liver. I do eat reasonably well, but menopause has not been too kind to me, putting on 10 kg in 6 months. I have a little nausea only taking the one tablet and a few headaches, but hopefully that will pass. I am walking on my treadmill about half an hour most days, which adds up to about a 2.5 km walk. My appetite is suppressed, and when I do eat, I can only eat very little. I am making myself eat to avoid dizziness and feeling sick. I am having a lot of fruit during the day and a small healthy main meal at night. I’m very happy but scared when I up the dose of the sick feeling I get. I’ve decided only to go as far as one tablet in the morning and one at night."

• Rdr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I took one pill of Contrave in the evening, hoping to mitigate any side effects while at work, but that didn't happen. All was well until 7:00 AM the next morning when I broke out in a hot sweat and became so dizzy and nauseated that I thought I would pass out. My hands and face went numb, and my head began to hurt, and I got diarrhea, so I went home, took Dramamine for the nausea, and clonidine for the extremely high blood pressure it had given me. My normal BP on my meds is 107/69... 2 hrs after the clonidine, it was still 155/97. I have had a migraine for 3 days now... after just one pill. If you are prone to med sensitivities, high BP, or migraines, you may want to wait for a day off to try this med for the first time! And I hope you have a back-up emergency pill just in case. In case it matters. I can't take Trokendi either because of it causing high BP and numbness to extremities. Many of the same side effects."

• Ren...
• July 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am in my mid-40s and am 5'5''. 3.5 months ago, I was 182 lbs (size 14). Today, I am 153 lbs and still losing (size 10). That is a loss of 29 lbs in 3.5 months, thanks to Contrave. Long story short, my doc suggested I try it. Some annoying occasional symptoms came and passed (headaches, stomach aches, not getting into deep sleep) but the main ones are this weird stretching/shaking symptom and clenching my jaw while I sleep. Once I was on week 3, I think is when I really began to realize this was going to work. I had TOTALLY lost the desire to snack between meals. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm still hungry for meals, I have not lost my appetite, BUT my craving for food outside my planned meals was GONE. And it still is. Fortunately, I haven't had any emotional or psychological side effects like some have. I no longer snore or hide behind baggy clothes or run out of breath climbing stairs. Best of luck to you if you decide to try Contrave. I hope it works for you as well as it has for me!"

• 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."

• Gra...
• June 1, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Summary: this medication does work, but the side effects are absolutely brutal. There is nothing I want to do less than eat. Five hours after taking the medicine for the first time, I'm feeling extremely ill. I've gone from a healthy and productive individual to experiencing the worst lightheadedness of my life, along with nausea, headaches, dizziness, and stomach aches. This is the first and last day I'll be taking this medication. I can barely stand for more than a minute before everything gets fuzzy and I feel lightheaded. I am confident that if I were at work, where I have to stand, I would have passed out within the first 10 minutes of my shift. Right now, I feel fully incapacitated and confined to bed until I can get this medication out of my system. I'll update here how long it takes to get the medication out of my system for anyone in the same boat. I'm 5'5 and 180 lbs for reference."

• Tea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "It was terrible. The doctor I received the medication from was completely unhelpful in assisting my needs. The medication wasn't helping my cravings and gave me severe headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and I began having really dark thoughts."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I try my best not to take Contrave at work. I get very dizzy and feel almost like I'm out of my body. Like now, I forgot to take it early this morning, so I took it later. I have 4 hours left of work, and after taking my medication, I feel like I can't walk 10 meters. I went on a walk to get fresh air, but Contrave makes you have a headache, out-of-body feeling, ears ringing, head feeling very heavy, and then I become very tired and feel almost not there."

• 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."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am an emotional eater and in the past three years, I had gained over 60 pounds. My doctor put me on Adipex first, and it really didn't do anything except give me the jitters. She then put me on Contrave, and I have not looked back! Contrave has depleted the urge to constantly eat. I have been on it for about a month, and the urge for fast food, alcohol, and other unhealthy addictions disappeared. I eat healthy and mainly drink bubbly water. My skin has cleared up, my terrible acid reflux is gone, the stress in my face is gone, I am losing weight, and it is starting to be noticeable to everyone! The only side effect I have is a slight headache every once in a while and hot flashes. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover it, but the $100 is less than what I would pay for antacids and fast food every month, so it is a win-win!"

• CDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Don’t do it! I’ve got permanent damage from this drug! Horrible experience, I was nauseous and had bad headaches. I called my doctor and the pharmacist, they both said the symptoms would go away. After about 5 weeks, I had enough and called my doctor in tears, he told me to wean off of the medicine. I felt like I lost a couple of months of my life while on it. I had swollen taste buds and gradually got tinnitus. That was almost 2 years ago, the tinnitus seems to be worsening, and my sense of taste is not the same. It sucks!!! I’ve lost a lot more weight on Weight Watchers."

• 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."