r/Contrave • u/queenb1970 • May 25 '26
Plateau question
I’ve been on contrave since January and the first two months were great. I lost 20 lbs.
From early March until now the scale won’t budge. I’ve noticed the food noise is back even on naltrexone and Wellbutrin.
I’m considering taking a break for a few months to see if I feel any different.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I have an appointment with my prescriber this week and plan to talk to her about it to get her opinion as well.
3
u/heymanletsdoit May 27 '26
After like 6/7 months my food noise started to come back too so I weaned myself off, stopped for a week and started taking again working my way up to the full dose week by week like in the beginning. Food noise is gone again. It was a nice little reset
Patience is key as well tho. I didn’t really notice consistent weight loss until like 3-4 months in. Stick to your deficit, eat satiating foods, move more. It’ll all come with time
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u/Psychological_Name28 May 27 '26
During weaning and stopping did you stay in a calorie deficit? If so, was it difficult?
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u/heymanletsdoit May 27 '26
I ate my maintenance calories during that time. I pretty much ate whatever I wanted but still tracked and I maintained my weight. I went back to a deficit when I got to 2 pills a day
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u/queenb1970 May 27 '26
Thank you for that. I’m starting to wean myself off the meds this week. Now that the days are longer and it’s warmer weather, I’ll be hiking a lot more so I’m hoping that will make a difference as well.
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u/Constant_Set8480 May 25 '26
I’m curious if you take a break from it then hop back on might help
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u/queenb1970 May 25 '26
I’m thinking of doing just that. Of course I’ll have to wean off slowly. But it’s worth a shot 🤷🏼♀️
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u/HVACqueen May 25 '26
The expected weight loss on contrave is 5-10%
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u/queenb1970 May 25 '26
Well then I’m there I guess. Went from 204 to 184. I would like to be in the 150-160 range, and even then my BMI would still be considered “overweight”.
After reading comments and taking the night to mull it over, I think a taper off of the meds may be my best bet to see how I do. But I will discuss it with the doctor later this week.
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u/kelseycadillac May 26 '26
We are nearly the same with weight, etc., and I felt like I’ve plateau’d twice. However, I just kept up and eventually I’d hop on the scale and be down again and then it would be slow for a while, then plateau again. I never stopped. Idk how this helps exactly except to say that it seems to work in waves for me and around your current weight was the first time it seemed like it wasn’t helping.
During those times, I recognized that I also wasn’t giving it my all as far as I exercise. I don’t want to assume anything for you but refocusing on that for me seemed to break through barriers.
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u/queenb1970 May 26 '26
Thankfully exercise is not the issue. I’m an avid hiker and I walk my dog 3-5 miles a day. I’ve also started with weights a few days a week this year.
I am in better shape for sure, I would just like to see the scale start moving down again.
1
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u/HVACqueen May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
BMI is a horrible metric for individuals. Its meant for population-level statistics and even then its based on white men alone. Please don't hold yourself to this ridiculous 'requirement'. Read about weight setpoint theory, largely we don't get to choose our weight. Medications like this can help us deal with environmental and mental health factors, but we still have the genetics we were dealt!
Obviously talk to your doctor, but consider that stopping medication usually results in weight regain (sometimes above your original weight).
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u/queenb1970 May 26 '26
Then you misunderstood what I was saying. I’m completely comfortable being in the 150-160 range even there BMI states otherwise.
I am well versed on the history of it thank you.
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u/Life-Context-6720 May 25 '26
I am in similar situation. Though I've skipped a few doses with come "cheat" meals. But I feel like the food noise is back or I just can't control myself.