Contrave and Headaches: What Users Say

• Cou...
• November 4, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave about 3 months ago. I am 22 years old and am 5ft 11. When I started, I was 275lb and was just not happy with where I was with my body and health. I decided to start taking the medication and got up to taking 2 pills a day. I only really experienced constipation and headaches as bad side effects of this medication. They were not that bad but were worse on some days. As of now (3 months in), I am 45 pounds down, weighing in at 230. It is such a simple medication and works so quickly when paired with a good diet."

• Jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started at 153 lbs. I’m 5’2”. Three weeks later, after starting Contrave, I’m now 144. The side effect symptoms weren’t as severe as others describe, but I do feel a little loopy, occasional headaches. I haven’t upped my dosage to more than 2 a day because I haven’t found it necessary. I used to drink almost every day. It wasn’t only bad, but it was keeping me from losing weight. I felt like I was losing control of the drinking, and Contrave has absolutely almost eliminated all my drinking cravings. I’m so thankful to God, I’ve only drank 3 times in 3 weeks. And I must say, DO NOT DRINK WHILE ON THIS PILL, don’t take it for at least 2 days before drinking. My food cravings are very much diminished, and staying under 1000 calories has been easy. It’s gotten easier as time goes. It does make me sleep through the night, which I love, but it does make me feel slightly loopy during the day. I highly recommend Contrave for weight loss and to stop drinking."

• 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."

• Ren...
• July 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am in my mid-40s and am 5'5''. 3.5 months ago, I was 182 lbs (size 14). Today, I am 153 lbs and still losing (size 10). That is a loss of 29 lbs in 3.5 months, thanks to Contrave. Long story short, my doc suggested I try it. Some annoying occasional symptoms came and passed (headaches, stomach aches, not getting into deep sleep) but the main ones are this weird stretching/shaking symptom and clenching my jaw while I sleep. Once I was on week 3, I think is when I really began to realize this was going to work. I had TOTALLY lost the desire to snack between meals. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm still hungry for meals, I have not lost my appetite, BUT my craving for food outside my planned meals was GONE. And it still is. Fortunately, I haven't had any emotional or psychological side effects like some have. I no longer snore or hide behind baggy clothes or run out of breath climbing stairs. Best of luck to you if you decide to try Contrave. I hope it works for you as well as it has for me!"

• LDL...
• January 6, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 34-year-old mother of 3, and I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I've been on Contrave for 4 months and lost 29 lbs. I started at 194 (I'm 5'7) and down to 165. This is nothing short of a miracle for me. It works completely differently than typical diet pills. It does not make me jittery or give me a rapid heart rate. It somehow allows me to say no to, or greatly limit my intake of, the foods I love. In general, my appetite is decreased by at least 70%, and sweets (my kryptonite) are not something I have a compulsive need for anymore. It gives me slight headaches and nausea if I drink alcohol. I've heard it makes some very sick, but I haven't experienced this. I am SO glad I took a chance on it. Life changing for me."

• Jas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Contrave back in February 2019. I have been taking it ever since. I did, at first, get bad headaches when I first started taking the full dose so I backed off and took the smaller dose a week longer, which helped a ton. I eat smaller portions now since taking Contrave, and I do get full faster. My cravings are less, but I do get them occasionally, not bad though. I rarely snack. It's October now, so I've been taking it for over 8 months, and I have lost 50 lbs so far. I'm sure if I would stick to a strict diet and exercise, it probably would have come off faster, but my calorie intake is a lot less so it's coming off just fine for me. For me, it's working great."

• Har...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 50-year-old male. I started Contrave 4 weeks ago and have lost 10 kg. It causes some side effects, like a fuzzy head and a funny taste in your mouth initially. Sometimes I have a funny frontal headache. It has improved my mood and made me able to walk past food without stopping. I take snacks to eat during the day but usually don’t even touch them. I have been able to drop my cals to 1600-1800/day. It’s also had an incredible effect on my libido and performance. My wife is loving it. It is not a miracle drug. You still have to work hard but it certainly helps a lot."

• Lyd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started Contrave a week ago - 1 tablet in the morning. Only side effect was got a bit of a headache for the first two days, doubled my water consumption to approximately 4-5 liters a day and no more headaches. Prior to Contrave, I was addicted to all sweets, especially chocolate, drank sugary drinks, was a constant snacker and overeater. I do not crave these things anymore which feels amazing. Within a week, I have more energy, feel better about myself, and have gained the confidence to beat my food addictions. Week 2 starts tomorrow. My starting weight is 95 kg with a BMI of 37. Haven’t weighed in yet, however, can feel a slight difference in the tightness of my clothes."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am an emotional eater and in the past three years, I had gained over 60 pounds. My doctor put me on Adipex first, and it really didn't do anything except give me the jitters. She then put me on Contrave, and I have not looked back! Contrave has depleted the urge to constantly eat. I have been on it for about a month, and the urge for fast food, alcohol, and other unhealthy addictions disappeared. I eat healthy and mainly drink bubbly water. My skin has cleared up, my terrible acid reflux is gone, the stress in my face is gone, I am losing weight, and it is starting to be noticeable to everyone! The only side effect I have is a slight headache every once in a while and hot flashes. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover it, but the $100 is less than what I would pay for antacids and fast food every month, so it is a win-win!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Yoo...
• February 20, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for almost 11 months now. I just hit the 100 lb weight loss mark a few days ago and am now at 103 lbs lost. As I've said before in these reviews, it's been amazing for me. Low side effects and so much relief from my food addiction. I didn't really know that until this med let me take a step back from it and I could see exactly how all-consuming and crushing an addiction it was. I never had the nausea or headaches."

• STA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Like most of you, I was wary of starting Contrave due to bad reviews. Well, I started Contrave on Feb. 12th, 2018, at 250 lbs. Now I've come back to shed a little light in the dark! July 30th, 2018, I'm 155 lbs and so happy. Contrave does do its job, but you have to let it. Don't give up because of headaches and etc. Contrave does come with a lot of side effects, but you have to let your body get used to it. Adapt to the change. It took me a while, but I did do it. Any spare chance I got, I was working out. Even for a few minutes in my bedroom every night. Eating right also helped, fruits, vegetables. I did have the bad constipation and headaches, but I found ways to look past it, and what helped was vitamins, fibers, natural medicines! Anything to keep me pushing forth!! I hope this helped reassure a few people that you can do it - because I did."

• 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."

• Edz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started using Contrave 2 weeks ago. The first day I was good, the second day I felt a little sick. On the third day, I was Googling the 'best nausea pills.' I was ready to give up. I had headaches, felt very weak, and didn't eat at all for the next 2 days. I also was sleeping very lightly (I'm a heavy sleeper) and woke up multiple times during the night. That was my first week. In the second week, I was afraid to take 2 pills, but I must say in the second week my body got used to the pills. I'm now coming into my third week. I feel fine. I lost 2 kgs already, but it was mostly from being sick and not eating. I do feel my appetite has lessened a lot. If you can get through the first week, give it a chance. Drink lots of water, exercise, and eat a lot of small portioned healthy meals and snacks, our body still needs its fuel :)"

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So I’ve been on Contrave for one week so far. I’m starting on two pills today. Since I started Contrave, I have noticed more energy. Sometimes I have a slight headache, but I don’t know if that’s because of allergy season or not. I have not had any nausea. I have noticed in the last three days that my appetite has decreased. My sugar cravings are also decreased, and I’ve lost 3 lbs this week. I did pay cash for the first prescription. But I found out from Aetna, my medical insurance, that if I get a pre-op form filled out from my doctor, then sent to my insurance company, a person with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or any heart condition, then it would only end up costing me about $65 (depending on the diagnosis) instead of $330. I called my insurance company to find out whether it was covered or not. The doctor was unaware and thought it was only a cash pay medication. So my advice is to check with your insurance company."

• Mje...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for 5 months now. I started at 219, I am now 183! I cannot say enough about this medicine. No jitters, no nausea, or headaches. Controls my cravings all day. I would recommend it to serious people that will take it as directed and truly want to drop weight. I look forward to the next few months to see how much more I can go, my goal is 145!"

• Mar...
• February 14, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I hate to say that I would not recommend this med, Contrave. I started taking it 3 weeks ago and am now stopping. The side effects headaches, nausea, cramping, sweating, and lethargy are not worth it. True, I am losing weight, but I am also on W.W. I will admit, I don't crave anything, but mostly because I am focusing on the nausea and cramping. I am happy it works for some. As for me, I think I'll pass."

• suc...
• March 13, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've had an excellent experience on this medication. I have been on the medication and it is now close to the time where I need to wean off. I have had side effects from this medication, though they were short-lived and tolerable. During the first 6 weeks (+/- a week), I experienced nausea, headaches, borborygmus (or a loud active sounding intestinal tract). I did not have any vomiting or diarrhea ever. I did occasionally experience constipation which was alleviated by taking Colace (1-2 pills 1-2 times daily as needed). I began this journey almost a year ago to the date. I started out at 166 lbs (5'4) and moderately overweight. I am now healthier and happier. I currently weigh 138 lbs and have a target weight of 135 lbs. Very successful."

• 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."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Okay, so I am only 3 days in, and all I can say is wow!! If you struggle with self-control on food, if once you start eating sugar and you can't put it down or carbs, then this is for you! I haven't had any cravings, and my appetite has been suppressed! Usually, if I eat one tortilla, that kicks off a whole feast of sugar and carbs! Nope, not on this pill, I was able to eat one burrito and stop there. Which doesn't happen with me. The only side effect that I've had is a headache. Right now, I weigh 233. We will see what the scale says in a week. I will check in and let you all know how I feel on week number two. I am so happy this pill works, I was desperate and needed something. My insurance doesn't cover it, so I had to pay out of pocket for a hundred and twenty pills, I paid $313... like I said, I was desperate! I'm glad this wasn't a waste of money, this is helping me get to my goal and get healthy. Just the push I needed."

• Fir...
• April 1, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Contrave for a month and a half now, and I am down 23 lbs. I would always enjoy a cocktail or two when I came home from work and felt like I needed it to unwind, but this has totally changed that feeling. I don't have a desire to drink, and my appetite is definitely decreased. This morning I was down to 216. Two minor side effects I have experienced: 1. I get a feeling of nausea which discourages me from eating, and 2. I have been getting headaches all day. Both are well worth the results!"

• 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."