Bupropion / Naltrexone / MIC / B12 / Carnitine (Contrave Plus)
What is Bupropion / Naltrexone used for?
Buproprion / Naltrexone is marketed as the brand name Contrave. It’s FDA-approved to help people lose weight and keep it off. Buproprion/Naltrexone is believed to work on your brain to reduce hunger and help control cravings. The exact neurochemical effects leading to weight loss are not fully understood.
​
What do you mean by Contrave plus? What is the plus part?
Well, the ingredients in Contrave are Bupropion and Naltrexone. I’m offering this combination of medication from a certified compounding pharmacy, with the addition of MIC, Vitamin B12, and Carnitine in the mix. You can learn more about this amino acid/antioxidant/vitamin mix here.
How do I take Bupropion/Naltrexone? How is Contrave dosed?
Bupropion/Naltrexone is dosed at 1 capsule taken by mouth twice daily. Usually, there is a starting dosage and then it is doubled if needed. If doubled, the concentration of each capsule is increased and you still only take 1 capsule twice daily. Brand name Contrave is compounded differently and can be up to 4 tablets a day on the higher dosage. My compounding pharmacy offers the double dosage in one capsule form that makes the equivalent to Contrave stay just 1 capsule twice daily at the maximum dosage. This helps you to have to take fewer pills to get the same effect.
What are the side effects of Bupropion/Naltrexone?
The possible side effects of Bupropion/Naltrexone are nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, increased sweating, flushing, and dry mouth, or strange taste in the mouth. If you experience nausea, you may also want to eat a small amount of dry toast with Bupropion/Naltrexone. For most people, this symptom goes away within the first four weeks of taking the medication.
What other conditions are the ingredients of Bupropion/Naltrexone used for?
Bupropion is widely known as the active ingredient in Wellbutrin and has been used by some people for anxiety, depression, and smoking cessation. Naltrexone is known for use to help narcotic dependents who have stopped taking narcotics to stay drug-free. It is also used to help alcoholics stay alcohol-free. However, in small doses, as is used in Bupropion/Naltrexone it has a different effect. Unlike higher doses of Naltrexone, Low dose Naltrexone (LDN) acts on β-endorphin receptors to stimulate the release of endorphins in the body. The FDA approved Naltrexone with Bupropion to treat overweight and obese patients. Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) works to suppress your appetite. It also may improve your mood and suppress your sugar and carb cravings to stop overeating once and for all.
Reviews
(found online)
“I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I am a 51-year-old female. My doctor has seen me yoyo with weight and struggle at times with my type 2 diabetes. She seemed excited to offer me this prescription. I read some reviews and had some doubts but I trust her implicitly, so started the process. Honestly, I wanted to quit within the first couple of months. Horrible nausea, terrible vomiting, and I hate vomiting. I persevered and am ecstatic with my results so far. I have been on this medication for 7 months and I have lost 57lbs. I don't count calories; I listen to my body. I don't drink coffee anymore. And I used to drink a lot! I don't even like alcohol. Changed my tastes for foods. I don't crave anything. I know it may be rough the first few months, but I recommend sticking it out. I can't even remember the last time I was this weight and size. I'm so emotionally happy. I wish you all the best, what do you have to lose? Hopefully weight. Lol.” -MK
“I was prescribed this medicine for weight loss, as I have a binge eating disorder. Started 12 weeks ago, and have lost 28 lb. Contrave curbed my appetite from the first time I took it. I did have low-level nausea for two weeks, but I stuck with it, and it resolved. No other side effects. Oh, except one. I've been drinking coffee for 25 years, and a month into this regimen, I noticed all of a sudden I didn’t want coffee (or caffeine in any form). So while this pill treats me for my addiction to food, it also helped me to get off of caffeine. Very happy with the results.”-MM
“I'm 3 weeks into taking Contrave. I've lost 10 pounds without going to the gym, which is my normal routine but because of the pandemic, my gym is closed. The only major side effect I've had started when I upped my dose to 4 pills a day, constipation!! I now take stool softeners every other day and laxative if I haven't gone in a few days. I am used to being a 2 time day goer but now I go every 3 days with laxatives. Hopefully, this gets better!”-SP
“I have been on Contrave for almost two weeks. I have had no noticeable side effects. Before starting Contrave, I was a sugar junkie - loved sweets every day. Since I started Contrave, my craving for sweets has decreased dramatically. I am so happy to report that I do not think about food or sweets, my meals are smaller, and I have lost a little weight. I will keep taking Contrave and will review again.”-LB
“I was overweight- 158 in Aug of this year. Probably the heaviest I've ever been- 4 kids, age 54, very busy. Now it's early November I'm down to 133. I eat two meals a day, a very light mid-morning breakfast, and a healthy lighter dinner about 6 pm. I will go out to dinner probably once a week- still healthy, salad and salmon or chicken, I avoid most carbs. I drink lots of water throughout the day. Once I got to the 4 tabs a day- I was no longer as hungry. If I do get hungry I snack on something like vegetables, a boiled egg, tuna, or an apple- I keep a snack and water in my car, as I'm on the road all day. I eat no processed foods. My goal is 125 by the end of December and I think I will be. I haven't been there since about 25 years ago. I don't exercise but know I should. I'm sort of amazed that it worked so well as I too was skeptical- but it really does work. No more high blood pressure meds. Very easy, I've had no side effects, and I've tried all sorts of things over the years.” -Anne
“I have a very low tolerance for medication and was not very optimistic about being able to handle Contrave but thought it was worth a try. I’m on day 8 and have very mild side effects. If I overeat I get nauseated, which isn’t a bad thing, reminds me not to overeat and experienced diarrhea for the first few days but that has cleared up. I could feel the effects immediately. I could feel my body telling me I was hungry and at the same time, my brain was telling me I wasn’t. I lost 6 lbs in the first week without adding any additional exercise. I feel more focused and it’s so much easier to eat healthily. Very happy with the results.” -PW
How much does it cost?
Labs for Buproprion/Naltrexone/MIC/B12/Carnitine
$50
Buproprion/Naltrexone/MIC/B12/Carnitine
90/6 dosing - 60 capsules. Start one capsule once daily for a week and titrate to twice daily as tolerated.
$210
Buproprion/Naltrexone/MIC/B12/Carnitine
180/12 dosing - 60 capsules.
$280 (for comparison, my local pharmacy charges $300+ for just Buproprion/Naltrexone)
How long will it take to get my Buproprion/Naltrexone/MIC/B12/Carnitine shipped to me?
About a week.
Do you offer discounts or promotions?
Yes. If you combine this service with one of my other services I will take 10% off your entire order (excludes lab work). Buproprion/Naltrexone/MIC/B12/Carnitine combines nicely with GOAL amino acids, Vitamin D therapy, Glutathione, Oxytocin, and Fat Loss Cream.
Make an appointment with Barbara Grubbs, NP to get started. If online availability doesn’t work for you then text 803.900.5758 to be worked in. You can also email me at BarbaraGrubbs@TelemedicinePractitioners.com
​
​
​
​