What is Contrave: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Oral routeIt is best to take this medicine with food or milk. However, do not take this medicine with high-fat meals. This may increase your risk of seizures.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

Missed dose: Skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Never take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to naltrexone or bupropion, you are pregnant, or you have seizures, anorexia, or bulimia.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed while you are using this medicine, unless your doctor says it is okay.

Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease, mental problems (including bipolar disorder), or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have a history of drug addiction or if you drink alcohol.

For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine may increase mental or emotional problems. This may lead to thoughts of suicide and violence. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any thoughts or behavior changes that concern you. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder or suicide attempts.

This medicine may cause the following problems:Increased risk of seizuresHigh blood pressure or heart rateSerious allergic and skin reactionsLiver problems, including hepatitisChanges in mood or behaviorIncreased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with diabetes

You have a higher risk of accidental overdose, serious injury, or death if you use heroin or any other narcotic medicine while you are being treated with this medicine. Also, naltrexone prevents you from feeling the effects of heroin if you use it.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

Do not use this medicine and an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within 14 days of each other. Do not take this medicine if you are using or have used heroin or other narcotic drugs (including buprenorphine, codeine, methadone, or other habit-forming painkillers) within the past 7 to 10 days. Do not use naltrexone/bupropion if you are also using Zyban® to quit smoking or Aplenzin® or Wellbutrin® for depression, because they also contain bupropion.

Tell your doctor if you take barbiturates, benzodiazepines, antiseizure medicine, or sedatives, or if you have recently stopped taking them.

Some medicines and foods can affect how naltrexone/bupropion works. Tell your doctor if you use any of the following:Amantadine, amiloride, cimetidine, clopidogrel, dopamine, famotidine, levodopa, memantine, metformin, metoprolol, oxaliplatin, pindolol, ranitidine, theophylline, ticlopidine, vareniclineInsulin or diabetes medicineMedicine to treat depressionMedicine to treat mental illness (including haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine)Medicine to treat heart rhythm problems (including flecainide, procainamide, propafenone)Medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (including efavirenz, lopinavir, ritonavir)Medicine for pain, diarrhea, cough, or coldsSteroid medicine

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause the following problems:Increased risk of seizureHigh blood pressure or heart rateSerious allergic and skin reactionsLiver problemsIncreased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with diabetes

Do not breastfeed while you are using this medicine, unless your doctor says it is okay.

You have a higher risk of accidental overdose, serious injury, or death if you use heroin or any other narcotic medicine while you are being treated with this medicine. Also, naltrexone prevents you from feeling the effects of heroin if you use it.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.

Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.