Bupropion and Naltrexone (Contrave)

What is this medication for?

Bupropion and Naltrexone (Contrave) tablets are used for chronic weight management. 

This medication works by suppressing your appetite.

It should be used together with other dietary and lifestyle measures (e.g. a reduced calorific diet and increased physical activity).

How should I take or use this medication?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• The dose of this medication may be gradually changed over a period of weeks depending upon how well it works and how well you tolerate it.
• You may take this medication with or without food, but avoid taking it together with high fat meals.
• Swallow tablets whole, do not cut, chew or crush tablets.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the ingredients of this medication.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
• You have a history of seizures / fits or mental / psychiatric disorders.
• You are undergoing a discontinuation of alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates or anti-epileptic drugs.
• You have liver disease or diabetes.
• You have a history of heart disease including hypertension or an increased heart rate.

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

• Common side effects include nausea, constipation, headaches, and vomiting.
• If you experience difficulty sleeping, avoid taking this medication too late in the evening as it may affect your sleep.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

This medication may affect your mood or alter your mental state including causing a risk of self-harm.

This medication can alter your heart rhythm or cause an increase in blood pressure.

This medication may cause or predispose towards the development of seizures / fits.

This medication rarely causes a condition called Serotonin Syndrome, particularly if used concurrently with other medications which cause the same condition. Symptoms may include diarrhoea, fever, increased blood pressure and heart rate, restlessness, loss of coordination, excessive sweating, muscle jerking or shakes.

This medication may rarely affect the liver. Signs of liver problems include yellowing of the skin, eyes, light coloured stools, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain.

This may increase pressure within the eye. Symptoms include eye pain, change in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye.

This medication may rarely cause a severe skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Symptoms include red, swollen, blistering or peeling skin. A fever, sore throat and red, irritated eyes may sometimes accompany the above symptoms.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

This medication may interact with some medications which are used to treat some psychiatric conditions.

This medication may increase the risk of seizures when given with some medications including some preparations which are used for imaging X-rays.

This medication may alter the effect of strong pain killers such as morphine or fentanyl.

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking other medications before starting this medicine. This includes pain killers (tramadol), cough, cold and diarrhoea medicines.

Avoid alcohol.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

For general waste: pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.