Having a hard time losing those extra COVID pounds? Consider CONTRAVE…

 

The American Psychological Association released a study conducted in February 2021 that showed that 42% of Americans gained more weight than they intended since the start of the pandemic. Average weight gain was 29 pounds, with 10% reporting that they gained more than 50 pounds.

Diet and exercise are of course the best ways to approach a return to a healthy weight.  But if you’ve been trying and diet and exercise alone just isn’t working for you, I wanted to share information about a non-stimulant, non-controlled substance weight loss medication. It’s called Contrave, and many of my patients have reported a good response.

Contrave is a combination of two medications, bupropion (Wellbutrin) and naltrexone. Together, these two medications work on the hypothalamus and the mesolimbic circuit in the brain to reduce hunger AND reduce cravings. In clinical studies, the average percentage weight loss with Contrave was 5.4% of body weight (or about 12 pounds).

It is generally well tolerated, but common side effects include:

·         Nausea

·         Constipation and other GI side effects

·         Headache

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Dry mouth

There are also serious side effects, especially in people who have a history of seizures or use opioid medications.

As with any medication, you should speak with your doctor before starting Contrave to see if it is a good (and safe) choice for you.

For more information visit the Cotrave web site by clicking HERE. There are coupons available (insurance usually doesn’t cover the cost) and much more information.