Bupropion / naltrexone and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• 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!"

• SPB...
• November 9, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for 7 weeks and have lost 10 lbs with no change in exercise. It has suppressed my appetite. I have had no side effects other than a bit of an upset stomach for an hour on 2 different days, which went away after I drank some water. I am very happy with it. I wish I had started taking it a long time ago. It is worth the money. Now I just need to ramp up my exercise so I will drop the weight more quickly. I highly recommend this product."

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Female, age 40, height 5'2, 305 lbs. Started Contrave on 3/29/17. Week 1 I lost 6 lbs!! Now 299 lbs. I am pre-diabetic and my doctor put me on Metformin. This was a BIG wake-up call for me. I feel mentally ready to do this. So far, symptoms have been nothing bad - a few stomach cramps, food tastes 'blah', a little nausea but only when I don't drink enough water. I do go to the bathroom more often, about 4 times a day. I don't have cravings, and I feel full. I have changed my diet big time - no carbs, fish and lean meats, lots of eggs, tons of water, and small snacks throughout the day. I feel good, no tiredness like others that I read. I will continue to update weekly. I feel this will make me accountable and it may help someone who is like me struggling."

• All...
• January 23, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm a nurse and know all about package inserts explaining side effects, but man they weren't kidding. I was started about 3 weeks ago by my doctor who said I needed to lose a bunch of weight. I expected some stomach upset but not like this. Now I understand why the slow titration to higher, more effective dosing. I can't bear the side effects. I cannot work with stomach upset all day and need to rest at night. Back to diet and exercise for me. This is just not right."

• YOU...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Today is only day three of taking Contrave. The first two days, I was so tired I could hardly stay awake at my desk. Today, I am taking a new approach and upping my caffeine intake by adding one cup in the afternoon in addition to my one cup in the morning. I read several posts here where others said they were very tired as well, so I'm going to stick with it. I've no stomach upset or other side effects. I would love to go from 200 lbs to 130 lbs. I want to be able to walk the zoo with my grandkids, maybe even Disneyland someday."

• Jus...
• January 14, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My first day was awful, and the next two days weren't any better, but by day four, the upset stomach had stopped. By my second week, I noticed that I was not able to finish my food, even if I wanted to, because it looked so good, I just didn't feel like eating it anymore. As I continued to take the medicine, I figured out that I can't eat like I used to, and I never felt better. So far, I have lost 3 lbs over 2 weeks. I enjoy this medicine because it's helping me be the person that I know I could be."

• Tri...
• August 9, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So I went back and forth about starting Contrave, weighing 275, and nothing was really working for any length of time long term. I decided to try. I started in May, and it's now August, I'm currently 245. It's been quite some time since I've been here. All that said, I will say the first week sucked... I was nauseated, had stomach cramps, felt like crap. Every day I debated with myself if I was going to continue taking it, but I wanted to try, even though I felt bad. I'd say for the first month I wasn't hungry, and I couldn't finish all of whatever I put on my plate. I didn't have a desire for sweets or fried anything. Now, those cravings have slowly come back, but I'm still eating smaller portions. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and don't drink alcohol."

• 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."

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Update, I have been on Contrave for a full 3 weeks now. So far, I have lost 10 lbs! I am going to start taking 2 pills in the morning and also at night. I still have some stomach cramping sometimes, but I have to remember to drink lots of water to calm that down, it makes me feel better. I do have some insomnia, but not in an exhausted kind of way. I am still able to continue with my busy career. I have also experienced constipation, but I've started taking in more fiber to combat that issue. So far, I continue to feel full, and food continues to be blah. I'm still eating healthy, I did try carbs twice, but it was hardly anything. At Easter, I did have a few pieces of candy but was able to stop after a few pieces. Will continue to update."

• Cur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just finished my first week of Contrave with metformin, and I have lost 11 lbs already. With PCOS, this is the first time I've seen weight loss like this. I do have some upset tummy and nausea, and I have to force myself to eat because I am not hungry at all anymore. I am really hopeful. Down from 276 to 165. I haven't added exercise yet and am really hopeful. Will update."

• sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm in week 4, and I'm down 8 pounds. Pros for me: Nighttime cravings and overeating are completely gone! I'm able to stick to my Weight Watchers plan. I'm also finding I don't overeat when I go out to eat. Huge deal for me. Also, I no longer crave Diet Cokes, and I'm in a better mood overall. Cons for me: The first week I had mild headaches, and on a lot of days I still have some mild stomach discomfort. Because of this, I only take 1 pill in the a.m. and 2 in the p.m. I find this works best for me. Overall, I'm extremely happy with this drug!!"

• Pop...
• April 7, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have taken Contrave for several weeks, and while it diminished my appetite, I started to really not like food at all. Mealtimes became drudgery (and I usually love food), and I had a constant upset stomach. I felt so miserable, I missed my gym workouts. I stopped taking it and felt fine within a day. It's not for me. It's important to feel good."

• YOU...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am updating my previous review from 1/19/2017. I have now upped to the full dose of Contrave (2 in the morning, 2 at night). I have never experienced ANY stomach upset, ANY headache, or any other listed side effect, except I noticed on the first day when I upped my dose I was extremely fatigued but was fine within 24 hours. I've quit craving an evening cocktail, sugar, and fast food, and I stop eating when I'm full rather than stuffed. The 4-pill regimen has only been for about a week, but I can certainly tell a difference. I will post an update when I notice any changes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started Contrave after trying many other medications (phentermine, Qysmia, and more). Also diet programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. Would only lose 5-10 pounds and gain it back within one month while still on the programs. Literally, nothing was working for me. I also have hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which have made it incredibly difficult to lose weight even with exercise. 5'8", 233 pounds starting in April. As of today, I am 213 pounds. I can't believe I've lost 20 pounds! I did have stomach cramps and constipation at first, but that has subsided. I feel full after just a little bit of food, but I still get hungry when my body needs to eat. Almost NO cravings for sugar, but if I want sweets, just a little is enough."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm literally only on my second day of taking Contrave and have just experienced the worst nausea, sweating, stomach cramps, and dizziness. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, how long did it last for? Thanks!"

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I began taking this medication Sunday morning. About 2 hours after I took the first pill, I began having painful stomach cramps that began near my diaphragm and moved all over my stomach. I also started in with diarrhea. Monday, after taking it, I still had the diarrhea but was also feeling very queasy. This morning, I took the last pill I will ever take. I still had the diarrhea, but I also had an unimaginably painful migraine and started vomiting uncontrollably. It was so bad that I even aspirated it a couple of times because I couldn't stop long enough to take a breath. I was in the ER from 10 am to 3 pm on nausea and pain meds. I have never felt like I was going to die until today. Please be careful while on this medication."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 38-year-old female with PCOS. Having PCOS has always made losing weight difficult but doable. However, since my last pregnancy with twins, it has been 10x harder. My starting weight is 198.8 as of this morning before breakfast. I am 5'5'' tall. My doctor has me taking one pill once a day for week 1, one pill twice a day week 2, three pills daily-2 morning, 1 night for week 3, and 4 pills daily as 2 morning, 2 night for week 4. I don't take any other medication. I took my first pill this morning after eating breakfast. A couple of minor stomach cramps and a little jittery (getting close to my normal lunchtime), but no other side effects as of now. I will check back in weekly with updates."

• 3Xb...
• May 23, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Contrave a week ago and now I'm up to two pills a day. Week one was awful, with stomach cramping, flu-like symptoms, constipated, but also have this weird mucus discharge from the bowel that I've never experienced before, and no one else on this thread has mentioned it. At times, this is awful as it's bloody mucus, and I feel so constipated, I don't have a bowel movement, but the mucus comes out. My doctor says this is normal and listed as a side effect, however, I don't see it listed, and no one is talking about it. Is it just too embarrassing? I'm going to stick with it at least this month since it cost so much to try it. No weight loss, I do feel more energetic, and I feel as if I think about food more now that I'm on it."

• Jen...
• November 29, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Taking Contrave for 3 months. Lost 20 pounds. Side effects: cotton mouth, jitters, irritability, twitching, stomach cramps. All went away after 3 weeks except the cotton mouth. If you pay full price, they have a program where you pay $70 for the first 3 refills, then $60 after that."

• 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."

• Nur...
• December 31, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started this med on 12/22/15 and have lost 4.8 lbs, without exercise, over Christmas. I am very happy with the results and expect even more when I get to the gym. (I work 12-16 hour night shifts 3 days a week and teach 2 days at a local university, so this can be an issue.) The side effects that I have experienced are constipation, slight dry mouth, slight lightheadedness occasionally, and some stomach issues with pain and cramping that are resolving. I was a carboholic previously and have cut down drastically. I would have a glass of wine with dinner on my nights off and really don't even want that. I was not interested in the desserts that were available over the holidays. I get full quickly and am not hungry at all."