TALK TO A DOCTOR ONLINE
fa-times-orange

Speak to a Doctor Online and Find Out if CONTRAVE Is Right for You

You are now leaving CONTRAVE.COM and going to our partner site.

This online service is not available to Louisiana residents.

questionnaire-icon

Fill out a quick medical questionnaire

down-arrow
physician-icon

Speak one-on-one with a licensed healthcare professional*

*If prescribed CONTRAVE, a $45 doctor consult fee is applied.

down-arrow
group-icon

Pay no more than $99 for CONTRAVE and have it delivered to your home

If you have more questions, please visit our FAQs page.

Actor Portrayal

You are now leaving CONTRAVE.COM and going to our partner site.

This online service is not available to Louisiana residents.

The Connection Between Weight and Stress

Heart racing. Palms sweating. You know stress when you feel it. Stress is, well, stressful. But could it be keeping you from your weight loss goals? Experiencing everyday low-level stress—like what you may experience with relationships, family, or work—can trigger hunger cues and lead you to eat more. Here’s why.

 Fight or Flight: Understanding the Stress Response

The “fight or flight” response is your body’s natural response to stress. Even when you aren’t in any physical danger, your body’s defense mechanisms will still kick on—it can’t tell the difference between running into a mountain lion or your boss before a work deadline. To help you “escape” the stressor, your body will release molecules including adrenaline (which increases your heart rate) and cortisol (also known as the stress hormone).  

The science of how stress and cortisol affect your body is complex, but here is the short story: the cortisol released by a short-term stressor can lead someone to eat more, as their body works to ensure it will be prepared to escape the perceived danger (aka the scary work deadline). And if the stress sticks around (like maybe it turns out your job is just this hectic all the time), then cortisol can stay high, and you stay hungry. Cue the “stress eating.” 

The Other Sides of Stress 

Let’s be real—no one stress eats broccoli. Stress eating seems to be correlated with consuming high-sugar and high-fat foods. Eating too many of these calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods can, of course, lead you to gain weight. Plus, if you’re experiencing more stress, you may be more likely to sleep worse and consequently less likely you are to exercise.


There are also the emotional side effects of stress eating you may experience, such as feeling out of control or spiraling into emotional or binge eating. This may impact your mental health and reverberate to impact your weight loss goals.

Tips to Manage Stress for Weight Loss

When you hear all of this, it can be hard to think of your body as self-sabotaging your weight loss goals through stress reactions. But everything your body does as a response to stress is to defend and take care of you. The key to taking back control is to manage stress and prioritize self-care:

  • Move your body: it’s not just great for burning calories—working out or any sustained physical movement (like dancing!) is a classic way for your body to burn through stress. Starting your day with some cardio can set your body up to handle stress later.
  • Practice mindful eating: It can be hard in the moment to register why you’re reaching for that bag of chips but taking a moment to slow down can give you the space your brain needs to recognize what is actually going on. Some people find that a food journal can help them better understand exactly what they’re putting in their stomachs.
  • Sleep more: Being sleep-deprived can be a one-way ticket to stress itself, but not getting enough sleep can also lead to eating more or choosing less-healthy foods.
  • Calm your brain: Whether you are drawn to meditating, journaling, or finding peace by going for a walk outside, discovering which healthy stress responses work for you can help you wind down your body’s stress response.

Part of the journey to a healthier lifestyle is learning about your body. Understanding why you feel stressed and how you can best manage it is key to improving both your physical and your mental health.
 


CON-1541-001 09/23

Back to Blog
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is CONTRAVE?
See More

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
See More

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

What is CONTRAVE?
See More

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:
  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.
  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

    • have trouble breathing
    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing
    • have slow, shallow breathing
    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms
  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.
  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.
  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.
  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.
  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.
  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.
  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.