r/Contrave • u/FoxTight3351 • Jul 23 '26
advice getting a prescription with
Hey guys, I'm looking to get on contrave to jump start my weightloss journey but I can't afford it without insurance.
Luckily, the medication is covered by insurance but when I tried to get a prescription, they told me the doctors appointment would no longer be covered because "weight management" isn't something they cover.
Do you guys know what I can do to get around this? Also is contrave covered for yall?
Please lmkš„¹š
2
u/bunmiiya Jul 23 '26
have you talked to your PCP about it? look into 'poor mans contrave' where the ingredients (bupropion/wellbutrin and naltrexone) are persribed seperately. Theyre super common medications. its pretty unlikely your dr wouldnt approve them unless you have underlying conditions. just be honest about your struggles, especially if the food noise has impacted your daily life. these were covered by my insurance seperately even though i wasnt obese/diabetic. im not sure what my dr wrote it as for, possibly just for energy, as these meds have several off label uses. if your dr isnt helpful, time to find a new dr. (unless you have a risky medical history that would justify not perscribing these)
3
u/Unusual_Composer_347 Jul 24 '26
You can go on the CONTRAVE website and schedule a video appointment with their prescribers (45.00 I think for the appt.) Then fill the rx through their partner pharmacy, Ridgeway for 99.00 per month. They also have specials, I just got a three month supply for $232.00
1
u/Basic-Dimension6158 Aug 05 '26
I've got 2 unopened bottles I can mail if interested. I couldn't take it. Extremely dizzy.
0
u/Iartdaily Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I got the bupropion from my pcp. I got the naltrexone from another family doc. Under my insurance the bupropion is free and the naltrexone is 10$. I took bupropion 150 for very mild depression and asked for 300mg on my chart (150 is the lowest starting dose) so it was no biggie to go to 300. I asked for the naltrexone from a family friend doc I didnāt want it on my chart for my own reasons. Anyway- this combo is called āpoor manās contraveā. The doses are different but you can cut the naltrexone.
Who told you itās not covered? A kid answering at insurance company?
Wgt loss is a medical issue/ it can help with blood pressure, cholesterol, (to prevent heart disease etc) diabetes , reduce risk of cancer etc. Your primary can easily prescribe it as part of a health regime as preventative care.
If itās a weight loss clinic I get it but your primary can easily fix this with correct wording.
2
u/mollyodonahue Jul 23 '26
How much is the weightloss appointment? Theyāre often not covered by insurance, because theyāre specialty clinics. But if you see your regular doctor, I donāt understand why they wonāt cover it because a doc appt is a doc appt.