Rankings / Weight Loss — Other
Contrave (bupropion + naltrexone)
Weight loss · Combination
Tier B-
What this is
COR-I trial: ~6.1% weight loss vs 1.3% placebo. Also mildly helpful for food cravings and mood. LIGHT cardiovascular trial terminated early due to sponsor data dispute — CV safety uncertain.
Mechanism
Bupropion: NE/dopamine reuptake inhibitor stimulates POMC neurons in hypothalamus; naltrexone: opioid antagonist that blocks autoinhibitory feedback on POMC — combination produces sustained appetite suppression
Dose & route
Titrated to 32 mg naltrexone / 360 mg bupropion daily
Citations
- https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)60888-4/fulltext
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23804960/
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1607141
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