8 replies to this topic

[Alj268]

Hi everyone, I've been taking 60 mg for the last 5 years. I started the cold turkey thing on Monday and was concerned about the wd symptoms so googled it. So glad I did!!!! Just took my regular dosage and will for the next week then take 1 pellet out every 2 weeks. I started feeling dizzy and a bit nauseous which led me here. Thank you for your site.

[Alj268]

My Dr. started me on Contrave as a replacement for Cymbalta.  Has anyone used this drug before?

[fishinghat]

Contrave is a weight loss pill and I can not find any record of it being used for anxiety or depression. Matter of fact anxiety and agitation are the most common side effects.

[DebMorris]

I just looked up Contrave & it is a anti depressant (bupropion) & (naltrexone).  The naltrexone is for weightloss.  I am not sure why your dr put you on this but please look into. This is coming from someone that was put on so many different meds that did me more harm then good.  Just be careful & do your research or ask questions on here.

 

Debbie

[fishinghat]

Good catch Deb.

This is from Drugs.com;

"CONTRAVE dosing should be escalated according to the following schedule:

                          Morning Dose                               Evening Dose


Week 1              1 tablet                                          None


Week 2               1 tablet                                         1 tablet


Week 3               2 tablets                                       1 tablet


Week 4                2 tablets                                       2 tablets


A total daily dosage of two CONTRAVE 8 mg/90 mg tablets twice daily (32 mg/360 mg) is reached at the start of Week 4."
 
As you can see you are only getting 32 mg of Wellbutrin (bupropion) a day and that is below therapeutic levels for depression but I will double check that.  More info to follow.

[fishinghat]

Yes, the minimum therapeutic dose is 300 mg/day as an antidepressant, 32 mg would should have little if no impact.

 

It is approved for weight loss at that level however.

[gail]

Hi Fisherman,

It is the reverse. 360mg bupropion and 32mg of the other thing.♥

[TryinginFL]

Guess I am fortunate then...     I take 200mg Bupropion daily

[fishinghat]

I am so glad you caught that Gail. After I saw your post I checked WebMD, Drugs,com and Medhelp which say it "contains a combination of bupropion and naltrexone.....at the dose of 8 mg/90 mg"
 
To me this would indicate that it is 8 mg bupropion and 90 mg naltrexone. I went to the FDA site and looked at the approval paper work submitted to the FDA and the wordage is reversed. It lists naltrexone first and bupropion second and gives the same ratio. I wonder if anyone has ever been confused by this? 
 
Anyway. I am really glad you caught my error. My bad and I am sorry Deb. By the way the FDA insert says...

"Patients undergoing an abrupt discontinuation of alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and antiepileptic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Drug Interactions (7.7)] "

And also a black box warning...

"CONTRAVE® is not approved for use in the treatment of major depressive disorder or other psychiatric disorders."

 

For whatever that is worth.

 

Again, I am sorry Deb for the misinfo.