Contrave: a weight loss medication that suppresses appetite and addictive tendencies.
We all know too well the negative effects of obesity – diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer to name a few. Unfortunately, effective medical weight loss solutions have eluded doctors – until now! This is part 4 of a 6 part series on obesity.
Orexigen recently released Contrave a weight loss medication for adults with body mass indices of 30 or more to be used in conjunction with reduced-calorie diets and increased physical activity for chronic weight loss management.
It contains buproprion, a well known antidepressant and naltrexone, a medication used to treat addictive behaviors.
Contrave works by diminishing appetite and suppressing cravings to help you feel full faster and reduce need to satisfy the urge to eat. Approved for long-term use to achieve weight loss, on average treatment with Contrave led to a nearly 12% body weight loss over one year in clinical studies.
That’s wowzers!
Contrave is taken orally 2 times daily.
All these benefits don’t come without possible side effects, however, which include nausea, diarrhea and headache.
Contrave is contraindicated in pregnancy, uncontrolled high blood pressure, seizure disorders and chronic opioid use.
Contrave costs in the range of $250 monthly and may require prior authorization for insurance coverage.
For questions or comments, email me Dr. Jim at drjim@behealthybehappy.com In the meantime power your path to happiness and stay tuned for part 5 of the six part series on the management of obesity.
Reference: Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. [available at]: https://contrave.com