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==Contrave for Weight Loss==
The [[Food and Drug Administration]] approved Contrave, a combination of [[naltrexone]] hydrochloride and [[bupropion]] hydrochloride extended-release tablets, as a treatment option for chronic weight management in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.
[[File:Bupropion_and_naltrexone.svg|thumb]]
===Indications for Use===
Contrave is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obesity) or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) who have at least one weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, metabolic syndrome, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). The body mass index (BMI), which measures body fat based on weight and height, is used to define obesity and overweight categories. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the United States are considered obese (BMI of 30 or over) and another third are considered overweight (BMI of 27 or over).
[[File:Obese-woman.jpeg|thumb]]

"Obesity continues to be a major public health concern,” says Jean-Marc Guettier, M.D., director of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “When used as directed in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, Contrave provides another treatment option for chronic weight management for people who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition.”
[[File:Weight-loss-success-stories.jpeg|thumb|left]]
==What is Contrave?==
Contrave is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs, naltrexone and bupropion, in an extended-release formulation. Naltrexone is approved to treat alcohol and opioid dependence and bupropion is approved to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder and as an aid to smoking cessation treatment. However, the combination of these two medications is now approved for weight loss.

==Weight loss results - study==
The effectiveness of Contrave was evaluated in multiple clinical trials that included approximately 4,500 obese and overweight patients with and without significant weight-related conditions who were treated for one year. All patients received lifestyle modifications, including a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity, in addition to Contrave. Results from a clinical trial of non-diabetic patients showed that patients had an average weight loss of 4.1 percent compared to treatment with a placebo after one year. In this trial, 42 percent of patients treated with Contrave lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with 17 percent of patients treated with a placebo. Results from another clinical trial of patients with type 2 diabetes showed that patients had an average weight loss of 2 percent compared to treatment with a placebo after one year. In this trial, 36 percent of patients treated with Contrave lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with 18 percent of patients treated with a placebo.

==Follow up evaluations==
Patients using Contrave at the maintenance dose should be evaluated after 12 weeks to determine if the treatment is working. If a patient has not lost at least 5 percent of their baseline body weight, Contrave should be discontinued as it is unlikely that the patient will achieve and sustain clinically meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.

===Standard Boxed Warning Related to Bupropion===
Contrave contains bupropion and has a boxed warning to alert health care professionals and patients to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors associated with antidepressant drugs. The warning also notes that serious neuropsychiatric events have been reported in patients taking bupropion for smoking cessation.

===Contraindications===
Contrave can cause seizures and must not be used.
==How can W8MD help?==
[[W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep and Medspa]] is a center that can prescribe Contrave for weight loss. As a comprehensive weight loss and wellness center, W8MD offers a range of services and treatments to help patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In addition to prescription medications like Contrave, W8MD offers medical weight loss programs, sleep studies, and aesthetic treatments to help patients look and feel their best.
==Need a doctor to prescribe Contrave?==
Patients interested in trying Contrave for weight loss should speak with a medical professional at W8MD to discuss their options and determine if the medication is right for them. A comprehensive evaluation will be done to determine a patient's medical history, current health status, and weight loss goals, and to rule out any contraindications or potential interactions with other medications.

With the right support and guidance, Contrave can be a valuable tool for achieving weight loss. If you're interested in learning more about this medication and other options for weight loss, reach out to W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep and Medspa today.

==Also see==
* [[Diet pills]]
* [[Saxenda weight loss]]
* [[Mounjaro]]
== References ==
Contrave [package insert]. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc; 2015.
"Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 June 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
"New Weight-Loss Pill Approved by FDA." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.
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[[Category:Anorectics]]
[[Category:Antiobesity drugs]]
[[Category:Combination drugs]]
[[Category:Kappa-opioid receptor antagonists]]
[[Category:Mu-opioid receptor antagonists]]
[[Category:Norepinephrine releasing agents]]
[[Category:Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors]]
[[Category:Nicotinic antagonists]]