Contrave and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• Cla...
• July 29, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've had great success on this medication. I experienced mild side effects (headache, constipation, dry mouth, occasional ear ringing) the first 4 weeks while increasing. I have lost a total of 35 pounds so far in 3 months! Binging has stopped, the cravings have significantly subsided, and I get full faster when I eat. This is with minimal diet and exercise. I'm sure when I introduce those 2 things it will take off even more. I have food addiction and no matter what, my brain always told my body to eat even if I was full - I couldn't turn that off no matter how hard I tried. All that has stopped. Contrave has worked great for me and I hope others have the same experience."

• T r...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on this medicine for 2 1/2 months and have lost 26.5 pounds so far. I can't eat on this medicine. After a few bites, I feel stuffed. It works great for me, and I have tried everything out in the past 10 years. The only side effects are dry mouth and lower back pain. Well worth the trade-off."

• 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."

• Lev...
• January 9, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Had to beg my doctor into prescribing Contrave. Had bad dry mouth at the beginning. It went away for a while, came back, and then went away for good. I started at 170 lbs and am down to 134 lbs, losing about 1 to 2 lbs a week. I have not craved carbs at all. My question for those taking this drug is: has anyone experienced involuntary hand movement? I'm on my 3rd neurologist with no answers except to stop the Contrave. I've done research and haven't found this as a side effect. Can anyone share their experience and possible involuntary hand movement as a side effect of Contrave."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’m 45 and either just don’t have the metabolism anymore or my hormonal changes are hindering weight loss. I exercise, diet, fast, and still my weight steadily creeps up or remains at a standstill each month. I’ve been on Contrave for just over a month now. I took it exactly as prescribed, and I’m now on two pills morning and night. The first couple of weeks I didn’t really have many side effects, initially, the dry mouth was a nuisance but tolerable. Once I reached the full dose, I would say the nausea is worse. Initially, it was random, but now it’s almost all day. I’m not vomiting and can eat, but I just feel sick throughout the day. Keeping busy and working helps deter the awareness of it, but it’s there. Happily, I have lost nearly 15 pounds. It does reduce cravings and generally feeling hungry, but right now the nausea is enough to make me not eat! I’ll stick with it for now…"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Love this weight loss tablet! I have lost 15 kg in 5 months. I have had very little side effects, being dry mouth. I can sleep and function on these tablets. I feel so much more confident, I'm getting great comments from people telling me how amazing I look, even asking me what my secret is! I started at 95.9 kg, now at 80.4 kg. Makes me feel fuller and definitely eat less."

• 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!!"

• EDi...
• January 1, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm on the 4th week of taking Contrave, with 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. So far the only side effects I've experienced were in the second week. I started getting dry mouth and motion sickness when in the car. The motion sickness stopped after a week. I still get dry mouth, but I can deal with that. The first 3 weeks, it didn't seem to suppress my appetite, but I successfully stopped a lifelong habit of drinking soda with no cravings. Since I started taking the full dose, it's now controlling my appetite. The past 4 days, I have no desire to snack, and I feel very full after eating half of a meal, and I continue to have that full feeling long after eating. So far, 5 lbs down with no exercise. I'm optimistic, time will tell."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Contrave for 6 weeks and have lost 16 pounds. For reference, I am 5’4” and weighed 165 lbs. This morning I weighed 149 lbs. Dry mouth and constipation are the only side effects I have now. I will get a headache if I miss a dose (I take 2 pills in AM and 2 in PM). I have to say this medication really works. It doesn’t kill my appetite, but no more binges or overeating. I have total control over my appetite now. Fast food was a big problem for me, but now I don’t really want it. Same with my favorite foods like carbs and pizza — one slice and I’m satisfied. This has really helped me lose weight without suffering through a strict dieting. I found tapering up my dosage over 4 weeks as recommended by the manufacturer really helped with the side effects. For me, the immediate side effects (foggy brain, headache, tiredness, anxiety) went away within a few days of increasing my dosage."

• Dol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave 5 days ago and have lost 5 lbs already! I’m excited to see how much weight I will lose on this! Side effects: I felt a little jittery; however, I think this could be from not eating very much. I notice once I eat something, this goes away. Feel slightly ‘out of it’, for instance I can ask someone something and they tell me, and I won’t remember a second later what they said. Very difficult getting to sleep and staying asleep the first couple of days, but it has been getting better by the day. I am nervous about increasing the dose and not being able to sleep again. Increased energy, mild constipation, mild dry mouth. Zero cravings for anything. It makes it really easy to eat clean, avoid carbs, and sugar. I’m not hungry at all. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m obsessing over food like an addict. I don’t even think about it. When I do eat, I get full really fast."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Contrave December 8, 2017. I have a very stressful job and sit pretty much all day. My weight is a problem and I need to lose around 120 lbs total. Today, 2 and 1/2 months after starting Contrave, I am down 28 pounds!!! I no longer crave chocolate and I don't eat unless I'm hungry. I haven't started a set exercise plan yet, have just been modifying my eating/sugar intake. First month or so, I did not experience any negative side effects. Have recently had some issues with constipation but I added back my morning cup of coffee and that has helped :) Also have experienced a little bit of dry mouth but that helps me drink more water, which is a plus. Overall I am very happy with these results!"

• Mam...
• June 24, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm down 17 pounds in 23 days. I have NEVER had this kind of positive result from anything I've tried. I have PCOS so my hormones made losing weight almost impossible. I have found that I've had to play with the dosage a bit... when I got to week 3 where I'm supposed to take 2 pills in the morning and 1 at night, the nausea was intolerable and I wasn't able to sleep at night. I found that taking one in the morning and 1 around 2-3 in the afternoon seems to be my 'sweet spot'. The only side effects are occasional nausea, constipation (easily managed with senna), and extreme dry mouth, which helps with my water intake! I cannot wait to see what results are down the road for me!"

• Sas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am in week 5 and have lost 10 pounds, and people are noticing. I started at 245 and am now 235 lb. I have always been overweight but have led a healthy lifestyle and am quite fit and muscular, but my weight kept creeping up, and I could not lose no matter what. I have consistently lost 2 pounds a week so far, which is record-breaking for me. I seem unable to overeat even on vacation! I cannot drink more than one glass of wine, and it doesn't even taste good. I have no cravings for sweets, and when I taste them, I think, meh, not worth the calories. Obviously, it has rewired my reward system and satiety signals. As far as side effects, yes, at first, I was jittery with a strange lightheaded headache, but it was pretty mild. I often have a dry mouth, so I'm drinking more water. I think it does cause constipation, but I've always been on the loose side, so my bowel movements have normalized. So far so good - I'm curious to see how it works now that I'm on the full dose."

• Fin...
• March 24, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am 52 years old and have struggled with weight loss all my life. I have tried Phentermine and cannot handle the sleepless nights. Even 1/2 of a pill taken at 4:30 AM keeps me up at night. I finally tried Contrave with the advice of my doctor and have very few side effects. I started using this medicine 3 weeks ago and have lost 8 pounds (186 pounds to 178 pounds). I do have minimal side effects of dry mouth and feel a little 'out of it' which well outweigh the benefits. I have not only lost weight but no longer crave the sugar I always have. I am very satisfied! It's worth a try!"

• Ste...
• December 28, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave on Feb 5, 2016. It took me a minute before I actually began to use the medication because I was nervous about the side effects. During that time, I weighed 240 pounds, wearing a size 18 pant size. After speaking with my physician, who is also a weight specialist, he informed me that the side effects would be minor and would not last long. Once I began the medication, I took one pill a day for the first week and 2 for the 2nd week; increasing the dosage until I was taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. I did suffer from mild headaches and dry mouth during the first 2 weeks, but it went away and I have been doing fine ever since. As of Dec 27, 2016, I can joyously say I am 201 pounds, wearing a size 12 pants."

• Twe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave on 3/20/19. This is my first time taking the drug, and I have read plenty of comments. This is my second day, and I did have a slight headache today, but it didn't last long at all. I can say that I like to eat, but my cravings for food have decreased a lot. I only ate twice today, but I had to force myself to eat that. My starting weight is 320 lb. I will post again soon, I pray this works for me. Don't give up on it. Also, I have had dry mouth as well and trouble sleeping at night. I am also following a light diet."

• 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."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was the heaviest I have ever been when I had my annual physical in July 2015. My doctor spoke with me about the possibility of trying a medication to help jumpstart my weight loss. She was very nice in not saying that I am obese. I read it in the report :(. She told me to think about it and let her know if I wanted a prescription. That was July 22, 2015. Filled the script on August 14, 2015 and haven't looked back. I was 206.8 when I took the first pill. I am now down to 189.4. Dry mouth is the only side effect. Forces me to drink lots of water. Looking to get down to 160. I can do it!"

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "6/24/18 I was 291 lbs starting weight. My first week I lost 8 pounds. I did not experience any side effects except dry mouth, which is OK, that increased my water intake. 2nd week I lost 5 lbs, again no side effects, only dry mouth. 3rd week I lost 1 lb, as long as the numbers are going down, right? 4th week I gained 2 lbs, it was my fault. 5th week I lost 9 pounds, THAT'S 21 POUNDS LOST IN 35 DAYS!! NO EXERCISE AT ALL!! But I am going to start my workouts soon. I try to eat a healthy low-carb diet, no fatty or greasy foods. My portion intake has decreased by 90%, I can't finish a single serving of food on my plate. Most of the time I forget to eat because I am not hungry, especially after my first meal of the day. Dinner time is the same thing, just a few bites, and I am full. Contrave is working for me so far. I will come back and give an update for my next results."

• Lol...
• December 31, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Took for two months and couldn't take it a day more. I did lose seven pounds in those two months, but I don't know if it was from the medication or the vomiting I did every single day while on it. I didn't have much of an appetite, which was a plus, again, though I was sick every day. I couldn't even make it up to the full dose because it made me so ill. Vomiting, headaches, dry mouth, diarrhea, extreme mood swings, shakes, sleeplessness, and heart palpitations and pains. I stopped at two months, which was a year ago today, and I still am having long-term heart problems from this stuff. That's under my doctor's words, not mine. I do need help with weight loss, but have decided to eat better and exercise to my ability. No side effects from these!"

• Sna...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Seven days on Contrave. I travel all week for work and am a comfort/stress eater, totally addicted to sugar. Our family has a long history of diabetes. Only one side effect, mild dry mouth. Noticeably less craving for sugary snacks. Also, less craving for coffee (my normal drink from daylight to dark). At this point, down 5 lbs with very little exercise. This was a long week of driving to several states, so zero exercise. Savings from the cost of snacks and coffee I spend at gas stations have already paid my $20 co-pay. I am very happy with Contrave and wish others could have the same experience I'm having."

• Fin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Contrave for 6 weeks. I have lost 18 pounds (186 to 168) and have been extremely pleased with the results! The initial side effects of nausea, constipation, and headaches have all gone away! If you are just starting, stick with it. Give it a week. I am taking the full dose now, and the sugar cravings are gone. I am using my Fitbit to log my intake and set up challenges with friends to encourage exercise. I hope to lose 20 more pounds using this medication. I have tried phentermine and had a terrible time with sleep. I have not found Contrave to affect my sleep. It relaxes me enough, and the exercise has helped. I have dry mouth, but I can live with that!"

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was prescribed Contrave to help with binge eating disorder. First few days, dry mouth, weird taste, and headache. It is all worth it, I don't obsess over food, I haven't binged at all since starting. I've gone from at least 9x a week binges to none. I am making better choices, exercising, and learning healthy habits. The weight loss is just an added bonus at this point - I finally feel sane, my brain is quiet!"

• Ted...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Just started 2 pills in the AM and two in the PM. No side effects besides dry mouth, which is tolerable. I don't see people saying how great this med makes me feel. I feel lighter and have a bounce in my step. I'm finally showing a 5 lb loss on the scale, and that excites me. I wish fewer people had bad side effects because those reviews almost scared me from trying this med. I am glad I decided to try Contrave. Please keep in mind this is a long-term solution to obesity, so expecting overnight results is unrealistic. I plan to continue for a year at least. Good luck."

• Ter...
• March 10, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave on December 16, weighing 274. I am 5'5'. I have done every diet out there, with varying degrees of success. As of this morning, I have lost 32 pounds. My only side effects were queasiness for the first day and dry mouth, which I don't mind because it reminds me to drink water. Within a day or two, I felt better than I had in years. I could actually move easier and without as much stiffness. I am not sure that the medicine is as effective now as in the beginning, but now I am in a routine of what to eat, how much, and how much to exercise. If I exercise 4 days a week (stationary bike for 45 minutes/11 miles) and eat right, I lose about 3 pounds per week. I still eat out occasionally, but just eat less. Very happy."