Bupropion / naltrexone and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Jen...
• March 12, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on Contrave for about 6 weeks and have lost 12 lbs. I started losing weight week 3. I was a little worried about trying Contrave after reading the reviews here. The side effects were/are mild for me. Mild nausea for the first 4-5 days each week with the change in dosage. I take the doses with a meal, which helps prevent nausea. I also found eating a banana would help with nausea. It did make me tired, which has mostly gone away. By week 5, I was feeling really good and started exercising. I've had some pretty disturbing dreams that I wake up from occasionally. It does cause some constipation, but there are plenty of ways to deal with that. The only side effect that I have a hard time with is I get hot/sweaty with any type of moderate activity. I still have to make the right decision with food, but it's not a crazy struggle anymore. It has not eliminated my hunger, but it has reduced it. I have no problem walking away from sweets or fatty foods, which were my weakness before."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So I have been taking these for 1 and a half months, 4 pills a day. The Good: I have to force myself to eat or I can go all day without eating. I have lost 20 lbs. Contrave has helped curb my alcohol addiction, which is helping with the weight loss. I have no trouble sleeping. The Bad: I've had to throw up a couple of times. I've had a few tummy aches, a little constipation, I have had a few headaches, but nothing too bad. Once I went up to 4 pills a day, I've noticed that I am a little jittery, more depressed, anxious, and for the last few days my chest has been hurting and I got a couple of sharp pains in my heart. So I'm dropping down to 3 pills a day. I don't want to stop taking the pills because they do work. If I don't feel any better, I will drop to 2 pills a day. I feel like I'm dehydrated all day! But this has made me have to drink a lot more water, which is also helping with the weight loss. I am really happy that I'm sleeping well during the night, I do get tired still during the day and have been taking naps."

• Lev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Been taking Contrave for 3 weeks. Excellent experience so far. Down about 12 lbs in 5 weeks, with the last 3 of those weeks on Contrave. Was very drowsy the first day, other than that, the only side effect I've experienced is mild constipation. I take one pill in the morning and one at night. I will stay at the lower dose for as long as it works for me. It took about 2 weeks for me to really notice the effect, but now I am never famished, rarely hungry between meals, no longer obsess about food, get full quicker, and find it easy to turn down my normal trigger foods and to stop eating while there is still food on my plate. I should point out that I am very motivated to lose weight, which is probably contributing to my success so far."

• nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Well, here's an update after a week of taking Contrave, which I started on 7/9/2016. I have already lost 8 pounds. Now, I don't have any side effects, but I went walking 4 days this week for 30 minutes, and I have been counting my calories as it says on the bottle. It really doesn't suppress your appetite like I thought for the first week, but being conscious of counting my calories has made me more aware of the foods I'm eating. I am also very thirsty and constipated, but it's not that bad since I've never really been regular anyway. I will report back in a couple of weeks. My goal is to lose 20 pounds by September, so I need 12 more to go with me starting out at 233."

• Cai...
• February 1, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I read a lot of these reviews before trying Contrave myself, and there are obviously some mixed feelings and results. I just started the full dosage two days ago. I haven't really noticed negative side effects some people report... possibly just a little constipation. One day I think I had the caffeine jitters after a second cup of coffee, and I suspect it was because of Contrave. We are going out of town this weekend, and I wanted to be down 10 lbs by then (not very realistic). But just this morning I actually hit that goal! I can't believe it! I started January 9th at 206.2 lbs, and today, February 1st, I weighed 196.2. I've had good results so far, but this isn't a magic pill... I've been very strictly reducing my calories. But even so, I haven't really been tempted to overdo it. I tend to boredom eat and eat emotionally, and I really do feel like Contrave helps me maintain self-control. Some days it's actually hard to eat a safe number of calories."

• NIK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So I am now into my 3rd week. Started out at 233 lbs, now I am 219 lbs. That's down 14 lbs in 3 weeks. Side effects that I have are if I even try to eat too much, my stomach hurts to where I don't want anything else. I am still constipated and tired at times, my mood swings are up and down, but I try to control them. Everything has not been bad enough to where I want to quit taking them. My ideal weight loss is around 180, and as you can see, I'm well on my way. I was able to get a discount card, so my prescription cost me $42. I would recommend it to anybody! Everybody's side effects are different."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "37 male, 6'6" tall. The first, I had a few instances of nausea, never vomited or experienced any severe side effects. The worst side effect I experienced were headaches for the first few days. After one month of taking this medication, two tablets in the morning, two at night, I had lost 18 pounds. This was without exercise and a low-carb diet, constipation is an ongoing issue. Nothing that can’t be dealt with by some MiraLAX. Now three months in, I have not lost any more weight. My appetite has increased. Slowly, my doctor feels my body has somehow become immune to this medication. I am now going to be trying Wegovy. I hope to have better long-term results with Wegovy without any of the side effects. Bottom line, Contrave worked for me, and I would recommend giving it a try. I have kept 15 of the 18 pounds off after the 3 months."

• Jgu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "1 month mark and 19 lbs down. It is working. Contrave costs $70 with their discount code. Insurance does not cover it. Sign up with Contrave online and use the free 'Scaledown' membership. Scaledown will send you a free digital scale that sends weight results wirelessly to the program. Then you track your progress online or by mobile. Using both, I have lost just under a pound every day. Regarding the side effects: constipation. If you already are someone with a constipation problem, it won't make it any better. Increase the leafy greens. I lost my habitual need for coffee, iced coffee, and other sweet/savory cravings. It just disappeared. Overeating now results in intestinal cramping, probably because of a smaller stomach. Protein and veggies are helping to lose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for 5 months. I have lost 28 lbs. Constipation is an issue; however, I drink tons of water a day, and that helps. Eating so little has resulted in vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies. Expect to continue losing weight. This is a long-term drug. I expect that how it works is 'right on' for me."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Unless you REALLY need this drug, I do not recommend it. That being said, if you are 80-100+ lbs overweight, it is worth a try. It has cut my appetite/cravings for any food, not just junk. Female, 30, 5'9", starting wt 260 (ish). Started Contrave approx 6 weeks ago; have had nearly every side effect: nausea, constipation, headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, bad taste in mouth, and tremors. I also got two of the less common ones: tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and menstrual irregularities. Most of the side effects DO go away. I still get migraines a couple times a week/a few times a week before this. The constipation, trouble sleeping, and tinnitus remain. I am down 16 lbs in 6 wks tho. Would 2-3 lbs be more if I was less constipated."

• FAB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "UPDATE: I weighed this morning and have lost 7 lbs the first week of taking Contrave. The first day, I did have slight nausea in the afternoon, but haven't had a problem with any side effect other than constipation since then. I would also like to add that I did make healthier food choices (low fat/no fat) and drank 64 oz of water per day, so that contributed to my 7 lb loss. I start 1 pill twice per day this week. I will update in a week or two."

• 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."

• Jes...
• December 4, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Contrave since August 18th, and today is December 4th, and I have had great success. If you feel a little funny for the first week or two, it is totally normal. Just a tiny bit jittery and a little constipation at first. It is all gone now. I originally started at 305 pounds and was able to get down to 275 pounds on my own. It took me a long time to lose my first 30 pounds, 6 months to be precise, I began to get discouraged. After talking to my doctor, he thought I would do well on Contrave. With Contrave, I have lost 40 pounds in less than 4 months. I don't have any side effects, and I feel great! This medicine is changing my life, and I am so grateful to have found it!"

• Cur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just started Contrave 3 days ago, so I can't tell exactly how it's going to affect me later on. What I do know is how it makes me feel now, just starting out. I have 1 side effect, which is slight constipation, other than that, I feel great! I don't seem to be as hungry, and I have less cravings after only 3 days! I also smoke fewer cigarettes. I take 2 pills in the AM and 2 pills in the PM. I have 25-30 lbs to lose, and my insurance will cover it for 6 months (I received 1080 pills for $25.00, so I consider myself lucky since it's so expensive). I will give an update once I'm on it for a while. As of now, I'm loving the Contrave!"

• AMP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave on 1/14/15. I have lost 42 lbs as of 5/22/15. As of today, I will be voluntarily stopping the medication due to quality of life. I am ecstatic over the weight loss, but the severe constipation and side effects of the prescribed stool softeners, meds for dizziness, and daily vomiting have come to a point that it is no longer worth it. My PCP and I have tried to address each issue, and I am on a total of 4 daily prescriptions: a stool softener, nausea meds, vertigo type med, and Contrave with a monthly total of $208.00 just to be able to take this medication, and I am still too sick to function normally. Other than my ability to tolerate the side effects, this medication did suppress my appetite and aid my weight loss."

• Pen...
• July 24, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I tried Contrave, and at first, lost a couple of pounds, but it was my own commitment, not the pills. It didn’t curb my appetite at all. It cost almost $100.00 a month and wasn’t working for me. Tried full dose, and I’d be constipated and feel sick. Wasn’t worth the cost compared to effects. Hope others have better luck."

• Lbr...
• February 3, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Been on Contrave for 30 days. I was 283 at 5'7" but now 272. Am disappointed because I did a 180-degree change on my diet, exercised daily, and only lost 11 pounds in 30 days. I am going in the right direction. I didn't have the constipation or nausea. I am pretty 'foggy' still. But I have thyroid issues and have an appointment for that on the 23rd of February and hoping to get regulated, and maybe I'll have more success at losing weight. I'm not giving up, though!"

• 04R...
• February 22, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been taking Contrave for about 2 weeks. I started with 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. I've lost about 6 pounds. Food is of no interest to me, I have no appetite, and I have to remind myself to eat something. This morning, for the first time, I experienced nausea, it went away after about 30 minutes. I also have the dry mouth effect. Constipation seems to be an issue. 3 days since my last BM, I'm thinking I'd be down 9 pounds if I could just poop!"

• eth...
• October 24, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I love this drug! I started taking it on Aug 20 and am now starting my third month. I have lost 22 pounds!! I am 5'8" and started at 187 lbs and am down to 165 lbs in 9 weeks. I gradually increased my dose and would recommend others to do the same due to some of the side effects. When I first started, I experienced some nausea, complete loss of appetite, headaches, and sleepiness. The symptoms did not keep me from living my normal life, and they subsided gradually. Some symptoms I now experience are occasional constipation, irritability, and insomnia. I was a daily coffee/wine/beer drinker and rarely drink either now. All I am interested in drinking is water, nothing else is appealing. Food is never the focus of my mind anymore."

• wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have just completed my first month on Contrave, and I have lost 15 lbs! I also made a huge diet change, cutting carbs/sugars, and started working out on the treadmill 30 min in the mornings. My all-day energy has really increased. I was skimming the reviews, and thankfully, I have not had any of the side effects that others have had. I make sure to take it after I've had some breakfast, like I do with vitamins. The only challenge I have found is getting all four pills in. I've got to carry them in the evening to ensure I have them with me to take. I have had a small bit of constipation, but I have increased my daily fiber pills, and things got better. I'm looking forward to seeing what month 2 can do for me :)"

• Suz...
• March 17, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for 1 month for 2 conditions, fibromyalgia and obesity. Without trying, dieting, or exercising or changing any of my habits, I lost 8 lbs. It immediately helped my fibro pain. It took away almost all cravings or hunger for food, and I felt full quickly. I suggest eating slower than normal because it takes 10-15 minutes to feel full. I am sleeping better and have more energy. However, it did make me tired at first. I have a little constipation/diarrhea sometimes and maybe a slight headache sometimes as well. But nothing that would keep me from taking the medication. I would highly recommend this treatment. Hopefully, insurance will see the benefits and start covering this drug. The discount card helps a lot."

• For...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started taking Contrave 3/1/17, once a day in a.m. First day, I was extremely tired, had a hard time keeping my eyes open at work. Second day, actually felt really good, great mood too. Days 3 & 4 went well too, although on day 4, I became constipated. Appetite has diminished a lot, eating 3 small meals a day, with fruit in between. Haven't weighed myself yet, waiting until week one is complete. Only side effect so far is a slight headache and occasional stomachache. I will hang in there and continue taking Contrave. Tried Belviq last summer, for the first 3 weeks, all I wanted to do was sleep. Hated that. Gave up after 5 weeks, only lost 5 lbs. Hoping as time goes on I don't experience some of the other side effects I've been reading."

• Tic...
• January 15, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave 12 days ago, 218 lbs, 6 feet, male. The good: I've already lost 10 lbs and no physical activity. I'm addicted to food. I love carbs!!! However, since I started Contrave, I don't have cravings anymore. I have this sensation of being full. Sometimes I even have to force myself to eat because I am diabetic, and my doctor told me not to stop taking the medication. The bad: the first day I felt light-headed and nauseated, but nothing major. I take Contrave in the middle of my breakfast. Any time I take it before, I feel more nauseated. I couldn't stand the second pill, so I went back to one. I'm doing the second pill today. We will see. Constipation. I take Metamucil. That helps a lot!!! I highly recommend it."

• TXs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 31-year-old female, 5'6" at 248 lbs. I have a thyroid issue and was struggling to lose weight. My doctor prescribed me Contrave to see if it would help kick start my weight loss (lost 15 lbs previously but had plateaued). I had high hopes for Contrave, but after a month and a half, I'm done. It immediately made me feel shaky and jittery. I tried stretching out the increase in pills, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I got up to 4 pills/day, but other than not eating as much, I haven't lost any weight. I actually gained a couple of lbs. However, the worst side effect was the constipation. I tried taking fiber pills, eating lots of vegetables, etc., and nothing helped. I even tried a laxative, which helped some. I felt miserable!"

• Sur...
• October 30, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm a 55 y/o, 5'4" female, starting weight 162. Not an obese BMI, but gained a ton of weight during breast cancer treatment, so was able to get the prescription. I have been on it one month today and weighed in at 151 -- 11 pounds lost! I worked my way up to the 2x2 dose exactly as recommended. The first few days I was dizzy and felt nausea, but it went away. Now my only side effect is constipation. I used to drink wine daily, but miraculously stopped. I also eat less and have more energy and exercise more. I have always exercised, but now I do it more often and with more intensity because I just plain feel better. I may have been depressed and didn't know it. I love this medicine and can't wait for month two!"