Contrave and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Ano...
• August 21, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "5'1 female- starting weight 195, current weight 162, goal weight 125. -33 pounds so far in 6 months. Overall my experience with Contrave has been a positive one. At first, I did experience odd side effects, some included dizziness, dry mouth, involuntary twitching, and very, VERY odd dreams. However, after a while, these went away. For the last 6 months, I have been able to lose 33 pounds by only taking 1 pill at night. My physician is moving my dose up to 2 pills now, one in the AM and one in the PM. I started that regimen this week, and I am back to experiencing a little dizziness and dry mouth, odd dreams (not as much as the beginning). But, I am sure this will disappear as well soon. I eat 1 meal a day now and exercise for 1 to 1.5 hours 5-6 days a week."

• Los...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been using Contrave for 8 weeks. I started at 285 lb and I am down to 244 lb as of today. I've gone from pant size 48 to 42. I changed the doses, I started with 1 pill per day for 3 weeks, then changed to 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at night. Beware, it does have side effects. The first 3 weeks, I felt a little dizzy at first, but now all side effects are gone."

• Val...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on Contrave for 6 weeks and am 20 pounds down (Starting weight 308lb now 288lb)!! At first the side effects were pretty bad. Highly recommend to increase doses when starting this medication as the website suggests. I experienced a bit of dizziness, sweating, and dry mouth are the main side effects for me. I made myself continue on the medication and the side effects lessened as my body got used to it. Now the side effects are minimal and worth dealing with for the results I am seeing. Hang in there if you're trying it out! I rarely actually feel hungry. I eat small meals just to keep my body going. The best thing and most important for me is that I DO NOT crave anything like I did before, so I can control my eating choices. What a Godsend!!"

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am on day 5 of taking Contrave. I usually think about food all day, and everything in between is a major inconvenience. Day 5 of this medication, I almost am forgetting to eat. I have more energy, my mind is quieter, I feel overall more peaceful than normal. I've lost 3 pounds already! I get full about halfway through a small meal, which is a big deal for me because usually my appetite is insatiable. I haven't had any of the side effects people have mentioned, except that my eyes feel a little weird, which makes me feel a little dizzy, but it's barely noticeable. I have had some mild headaches, but I think that's because I usually drink a lot of coffee and I haven't craved it as much, so I haven't had as much."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was on this medication for 1 year at 201 lbs, 5'3'', age 23. I was down to 158 lbs without going to the gym ever. The first three months were awful. Dizziness, blurry vision, but the first month had constant headaches. After that, I ate very little and got full fast. I even quit drinking. It also helped with my depression and energy. I've been off of it for 6 months and have gained 10 lbs. Food cravings and depression are back. Have to wait 6 months for an appointment to get a refill. I am dependent on it."

• Fut...
• February 1, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I don't know if I would have made it through the side effects if I didn't have a closer friend starting Contrave at the same time. Headache, dizziness, nausea, sleepy but they have all almost gone away. If you can make it through the first 1-2 weeks it gets better. The 20lbs I've lost makes it worthwhile."

• A I...
• January 4, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have PCOS and hypothyroidism, so losing weight is difficult for me. My doctor prescribed Contrave 3 months ago. At first, the side effects were very difficult. I was nauseated, and I felt really dizzy. At first, I didn't lose that much weight with it either; however, after about 2 weeks, I started losing weight and am currently down 25 pounds. I was very lucky as my prescription drug insurance changed at the beginning of this year, and the new plan covers it with only a copay of $80 for a 3-month supply. I am thrilled with that. I have had constipation, but nothing that I cannot handle. I would suggest this drug if you have metabolic diseases. For me, the cravings disappeared, but I feel my body is burning more calories in the process."

• Les...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "It doesn't start working right away, so give it at least a month! Bad reviews probably come from people who haven't taken it long enough. After taking Contrave for about six weeks, I now just naturally seem to want healthy food, and junkier food is actually repulsive. I'm also satisfied with far less. I haven't experienced any side effects except an occasional momentary dizzy feeling. Good luck, everyone!"

• JLa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Six weeks into my Contrave journey and I am loving it. I have lost 10.2 kg (22.4 lbs) so far and I feel amazing. I had mild side effects for the first four weeks - some dizziness and headaches (usually worse the day after increasing the dose) and constipation. All side effects ceased after week four, but I do continue to take a stool softener every few days as a precaution. Food cravings disappeared within a few hours of the first tablet, and I am able to stick to a 1000-calorie diet, eating three meals and a small snack each day. I have been exercising every day (cardio four times a week, yoga three to four times a week, and walking 8000 to 10000 steps a day). I haven't drunk coffee since week two and barely drink alcohol as I don't feel like it and was worried about seizures. I think Contrave is amazing, I feel for the first time ever that losing 28 kg will actually be achievable, and what's more, I am already 10 kg down... only 18 kg more to go to put me from obese to a healthy weight range for my height."

• hop...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 7, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave since July 2015. I have lost approximately 57 pounds. This medication is very effective for my food issues. I have obsessed about food for a long time. It has removed that obsession. You do have to do work, the pill is not magic. I exercise, drink plenty of water, and log my food. I currently limit my calorie intake to 1400 per day. I have hit plateaus, but the funny thing is that my clothing sizes still went down, so I think it was my body adjusting. I did have some of the side effects initially. I had a dry mouth, was dizzy, had hot flashes, and had headaches. They all went away in the first two weeks. I have to tell you that the medication would be worth it if the side effects continued."

• Nel...
• July 7, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on Contrave on May 16th. Today is July 7th. I have lost 26.2 lbs! I am a very young-at-heart, middle-aged lady, and I am quite optimistic and excited. On May 16th, I wore a size 22, and last week I sported a pair of black slacks (same style and maker) in size 16! Yes, they were a wee bit tight, but I could fasten them and breathe freely while sitting. After reading the reviews, I was paranoid about the potentially sickening side effects, but other than a single episode of dizziness when I increased my dosage from 2 to 3 pills, I have had no negative issues. I am also taking advantage of the Scale Down program, and I know that it is an enormous incentive booster. Contrave definitely curbs my desire for excessive eating. Thank you!"

• Tes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "This was positively the worst experience and the biggest waste of $239.99. I literally threw this money away, I can't sell the tablets, can't return them, I have 10 out of the box. This made me so sick. The first couple of days I was tearful, the next week I was just miserable and felt pissed off all the time. But I thought it would subside, and then I started to feel horrible in my own skin, with a little headache, also a little dizzy, it steadily got worse through the day. By lunchtime, I could barely function. By 2 PM, I was ready to go to the medical center but got someone to drive me home. I had to remove every item of clothing and jewelry off my body, I put the air conditioning on and slept for 3 hours. I fell asleep quickly, and when I woke, I was 70% better. I stopped the tablets immediately and swear I would rather be fat than go through that. The support line said I was just unlucky."

• Rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave last Wednesday. I was 77 kg and today, Saturday, I am 75.5 kg, so I’ve lost 1.5 kg in 4 days. Wow, I have to lose some weight because I have a fatty liver. I do eat reasonably well, but menopause has not been too kind to me, putting on 10 kg in 6 months. I have a little nausea only taking the one tablet and a few headaches, but hopefully that will pass. I am walking on my treadmill about half an hour most days, which adds up to about a 2.5 km walk. My appetite is suppressed, and when I do eat, I can only eat very little. I am making myself eat to avoid dizziness and feeling sick. I am having a lot of fruit during the day and a small healthy main meal at night. I’m very happy but scared when I up the dose of the sick feeling I get. I’ve decided only to go as far as one tablet in the morning and one at night."

• LWa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 63 y/o female, 5'4", weight 185. I started on Contrave 4 weeks ago and have had increasing side effects with nausea, dizziness, ear ringing, insomnia, constipation, and hot flashes. I thought I could tough it out and it would get better, but as I went to 4 pills a day, I couldn't stand it anymore and stopped. It's not worth feeling like this (and paying so much to feel terrible too)! There is no way to exercise either with the side effects. It did decrease my appetite substantially and did away with cravings. I lost 3-5 pounds in that time, but I would rather stay heavy than feel like this."

• Ast...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started taking Contrave 7 days ago. Took the 1st dose at 11 AM. Felt dizzy and tired. Now I take it at bedtime, and I have no side effects. I have been on Wellbutrin before and tolerated it well, so I guess I had a head start. It seems to be curbing my appetite and my wine urges! Lol So far, so good."

• cfi...
• January 8, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My doctor prescribed Contrave for weight loss. I started taking it yesterday with only one tablet around lunchtime. About an hour later, I was bowing down to the toilet and extremely dizzy. It's been 24 hours now and I'm still feeling nauseous, and I feel 'out of it.' I'm glad I only took one pill!"

• reg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am about to be on week 2 of Contrave. I have cut out all caffeinated beverages and am sticking to a low-fat/low-cal diet, and I am down 6 pounds! The first day was complete torture due to the nausea, headache, and vertigo, but I am determined to not quit and be successful at this! I want to be able to feel as though I can do anything, go anywhere, and not have my weight dictate my path in life. I am 5 ft 9 and weighed 262, and again on day 7, I am at 257! Just waiting on my scale now! Good luck everyone and don't get discouraged!!"

• luu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "The worst side effects I ever experienced. Since the first pill, I had dizziness, nausea, I vomited several times, I can't eat anything because I feel so sick. I can't believe a doctor prescribed this to me. I want this to work, but I have literally spent 5 days in bed because I can't do anything. This thing is poison. Today is my last day taking this."

• Cru...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 49-year-old female. I started Contrave in October 2016. I started this drug at 226 lbs, I'm 5'6". To date, I have lost 31 pounds with minimal exercise. The first 4 weeks were rough: dizziness, feeling foggy, sleepless nights, when I did sleep, I had crazy dreams, constipation, dry mouth. But at about week 5, the side effects seemed to diminish. I still have a dry mouth, which makes me drink lots of water, but the other side effects are gone. This drug has really reduced my cravings. I LOVE sweets, but I now find I can pass on them. I also love wine, and I find I can just drink a small glass or nothing at all. I fill up very quickly when I eat a meal. I have tried other weight loss drugs, this is the only one that has worked for me."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I try my best not to take Contrave at work. I get very dizzy and feel almost like I'm out of my body. Like now, I forgot to take it early this morning, so I took it later. I have 4 hours left of work, and after taking my medication, I feel like I can't walk 10 meters. I went on a walk to get fresh air, but Contrave makes you have a headache, out-of-body feeling, ears ringing, head feeling very heavy, and then I become very tired and feel almost not there."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I never write reviews. I was searching to see if it is okay I keep taking Contrave and found this site! I have lost 29 pounds in 13 months and have kept it off. I feel great and went down three sizes! After the first 5 days, I felt loopy or slightly dizzy, I never had any side effects. I take one in the morning with protein (egg or shake) and follow my plan. You can't expect any pill to be a miracle worker. You also have to have willpower. When someone puts a piece of chocolate in front of you and you eat it, the pill won't work! You have to put time and energy into your plan. I feel Contrave takes away the urges. Watch your diet, eat well, be happy, and this will work. It did for me! Feeling great and maintaining my weight loss."

• Bec...
• August 7, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Do your research, please. Side effects are not precautionary, they are severe. If you read other reviews, it’s clear that 70% have debilitating side effects. You won’t find a lot of journeys on YouTube or blogs because people discontinue use - that’s the first clue. Despite this, I gave it a go. Day 1 was all I could tolerate. I felt drunk, dizzy, and nauseated. Walking down the hall, I fell into the wall suddenly from a huge bout of dizziness. That was it for me. I don’t doubt you will lose weight, but I do doubt it’s good for you. People have reported constant nausea, hair loss, rapid heartbeats, ear ringing, dizziness, BP increases, headaches, side effects after months of use, and sudden bouts of anger/depression. Heart studies have not been fully done as well, which should be noted. It depends on how desperate you are to lose weight. All I have to say is research and calculate your own statistics. This medication is clearly harsh and messes with your body/mind. Good luck!"

• Bec...
• August 7, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Do your research, please. Side effects are not precautionary, they are severe. If you read other reviews, it’s clear that 70% have debilitating side effects. You won’t find a lot of journeys on YouTube or blogs because people discontinue use - that’s the first clue. Despite this, I gave it a go. Day 1 was all I could tolerate. I felt drunk, dizzy, and nauseated. Walking down the hall, I fell into the wall suddenly from a huge bout of dizziness. That was it for me. I don’t doubt you will lose weight, but I do doubt it’s good for you. People have reported constant nausea, hair loss, rapid heartbeats, ear ringing, dizziness, BP increases, headaches, side effects after months of use, and sudden bouts of anger/depression. Heart studies have not been fully done as well, which should be noted. It depends on how desperate you are to lose weight. All I have to say is research and calculate your own statistics. This medication is clearly harsh and messes with your body/mind. Good luck!"

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I knew to expect side effects and mentally prepared myself to push through as best I could. But as the constant heaviness in my head, the whole-body dizziness, loss of coordination, blurred vision, constant nausea, and fear of suddenly projectile vomiting at my work desk became harder to cope with, I gave myself permission to quit. As much as I want this medication to work for me, I cannot imagine putting myself through 2 more weeks of titrating my dose up to 4 pills a day, only to then find that my body never adjusted to the dosing and I felt sick nearly every moment of the day for a month only to have to titrate back down over the course of another month. I got up to 2 pills and just couldn't take any more of the unwavering side effects."

• 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."