Contrave® ER 8 mg/90 mg Tablets for Chronic Weight Management

What Contrave® Is and How It Works

Contrave ER is an oral, extended‑release prescription medicine for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight‑related condition. It combines two medicines: naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, and bupropion, a norepinephrine‑dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Together they act on appetite and reward pathways in the brain to help reduce hunger and control cravings. Many people refer to the strength as Contrave ER 8 90mg tablets.

CanadianInsulin is a prescription referral service. Prescriptions are verified with your clinic, and orders are filled by licensed Canadian pharmacies. Partner pharmacies are vetted, source authentic brand medications, and offer a broad selection with value‑focused pricing.

Contrave ER tablets are taken by mouth and titrated over four weeks to a maintenance dose. The medicine is used along with reduced‑calorie meals and increased physical activity for best results. It is not a treatment for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and it contains no GLP‑1 receptor agonist.

Dosage and Usage

• Week 1: 1 tablet (8 mg naltrexone/90 mg bupropion) in the morning.
• Week 2: 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening.
• Week 3: 2 tablets in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening.
• Week 4 and onward (maintenance): 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the evening (maximum daily dose).
• Swallow tablets whole. Do not cut, crush, or chew.
• Avoid high‑fat meals, which can increase bupropion exposure and seizure risk.
• Evening doses earlier in the evening may help limit insomnia.
• Missed dose: skip and resume the next scheduled dose. Do not double up.
• Do not use with chronic opioids. Naltrexone can precipitate opioid withdrawal.
• Do not use with other bupropion‑containing products or within 14 days of an MAOI.

• Storage: keep at 20–25°C (68–77°F); brief excursions 15–30°C (59–86°F).
• Store in the original container with the desiccant. Protect from moisture.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Travel: carry in hand luggage with original labels and a copy of the prescription.
• Avoid leaving medicine in hot cars or near heaters or windows.
• If traveling across time zones, maintain morning/evening spacing as directed by the prescriber.

Benefits and Savings

Contrave ER targets both appetite and cravings. Clinical studies showed greater average weight loss versus lifestyle changes alone, with more patients reaching 5%–10% body‑weight reduction. The tablet format avoids injections, and the steady, extended‑release design supports twice‑daily dosing after titration.

Many customers save 60–80% vs typical U.S. prices. See our promotions page for current offers, including any contrave er 8 90 mg coupon if available.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common: nausea, constipation, headache, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth.
• Gastrointestinal: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
• Central nervous system: anxiety, tremor, restlessness.
• Cardiovascular: increased blood pressure or heart rate.
• Other: flushing, tinnitus, altered taste, sweating.

Serious risks include seizures (risk increases with higher doses, predisposition, or high‑fat meals), suicidal thoughts and behaviors (bupropion is an antidepressant; monitor mood changes), hepatotoxicity, angle‑closure glaucoma, hypersensitivity reactions, and opioid withdrawal. Avoid use in seizure disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, chronic opioid therapy, bulimia or anorexia nervosa, and during pregnancy. With insulin or sulfonylureas, hypoglycemia risk may rise if background therapy is not adjusted by a clinician.

Onset Time

Appetite and craving changes often begin during the first 2–4 weeks as titration progresses. Weight change typically becomes clearer after reaching the maintenance dose, with meaningful differences by 8–12 weeks. Maximal effects commonly build over 3–6 months with continued lifestyle measures. Prescribers often reassess response around 12 weeks at maintenance to guide ongoing therapy.

Compare With Alternatives

Contrave ER is an oral, non‑GLP‑1 option. GLP‑1 receptor agonists offer different mechanisms and formats:

Saxenda® (liraglutide) is a once‑daily injection GLP‑1 approved for chronic weight management. It may produce larger average weight loss than Contrave ER in some studies and can help with glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. See Saxenda 6 Mg Ml for details.

Wegovy® (semaglutide) is a once‑weekly injection GLP‑1 for obesity that has shown substantial average weight loss in trials. Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) is a once‑weekly GIP/GLP‑1 medication approved for diabetes and, in some regions, for obesity at specific doses. These injectables differ in dosing, side‑effect profiles, and coverage. Oral options such as Rybelsus® (semaglutide) treat diabetes, not weight management, and are mechanistically distinct from Contrave ER.

Combination Therapy

• Used with reduced‑calorie diet and increased physical activity.
• May be combined with metformin in people with type 2 diabetes under clinician guidance.
• Avoid combining with other bupropion‑containing products or other chronic opioid therapy.
• Avoid concurrent MAOIs and allow a 14‑day washout.
• When used with insulin or sulfonylureas, background dose adjustments may be considered by the prescriber to reduce hypoglycemia risk.
• Avoid other prescription or OTC weight‑loss products unless a clinician directs otherwise.

Patient Suitability and Cost‑Saving Tips

Candidates typically include adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher, or 27 kg/m² or higher with conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes. Not suitable for people with seizure disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, chronic opioid use or acute opioid withdrawal, bulimia or anorexia nervosa, severe hepatic impairment, end‑stage renal disease, those taking MAOIs, or during pregnancy.

Prescribers often review progress and tolerability during titration and around 12 weeks on the maintenance dose. If side effects occur, clinicians may adjust the plan. Report mood changes, severe headache, persistent vomiting, or signs of liver problems such as dark urine or yellowing skin to a healthcare professional.

Cost‑saving tips: consider a multi‑month supply if appropriate, compare available pack sizes, and place related items in one shipment. CanadianInsulin offers prompt, express, cold‑chain shipping and supports secure reorders when it is time to replenish.

Authoritative Sources

FDA Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Contrave

Health Canada Product Monograph: Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave)

Manufacturer product information for Contrave

Order Contrave® from CanadianInsulin: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold‑chain handling.

This page is educational and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about diagnosis, treatment choices, and medicine safety for individual needs.