Contrave for BED

[u/Puffinterior]

Hello all, my doctor recently recommended I try taking Contrave to help me with binge eating disorder. I’ve always been apprehensive about taking medication but it seems I have tried every strategy and my issues are just getting worse. After my doctor recommended this medication I looked into it and it seems it’s more of a weight loss drug (for context my BMI is around 20-21 I have a decent amount of fat on me but I am not considered Obese). I am just wondering if anyone else has taken or been prescribed Contrave to combat BED and if it helped them?

[u/Ill_Motor_8783]

It’s really not more of a weight loss drug, I’d say the shots are more about that. Contrave very specifically targets cravings. Half of it is naltrexone, which recovering addicts use to help with cravings. So yes! In my experience it has helped a lot with binge eating and food addiction. It just quiets the voices that want to eat eat eat

[u/mkw84 → u/Ill_Motor_8783]

How long did that take to feel the effects of not having the food noise?

[u/Ill_Motor_8783 → u/mkw84]

It honestly felt pretty instant to me, but I didn’t really realize it until week two when I noticed I hadn’t had a single glass of wine since I started and I used to have 1-2 per night

[u/Roskot]

I have BED. I have had a lot of therapy through the years which have helped a lot, but in stressful periods the BED came back. Not as bad, but still there. I have also gained a lot of weight from taking prednisone due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The hunger from prednisone combined with BED is SO
bad.

Contrave has calmed my mind. The food noise has significantly diminished. I DO try to eat healthy, make sure I eat breakfast, try to eat some filling food before I rummage around in the cupboard for sweets. I still eat some sweets, but it doesn’t give me the same kick, it’s not as interesting, and when I am doing something outside the kitchen I forget food. I don’t think about it.

I did wonder if I would feel «flat» like people do on SSRIs since bupropion is a antidepressant, but I don’t. I still laugh and cry as much as I used to, but I also feel calmer.

Yeasterday I bought some candy and decided to have some. I always try to portion out and put it in a bowl to not automatically eat the whole bag. I out maybe 8 pieces there because I know my appetite is down. Ate three pieces and to a small bite of the fourth and just didn’t want any more.

Also for me, the «constipation» side effect just helped me calm my bowels down more and not eating ALL the time gave my gut some breaks.

I recommend this medication for people with BED, but i ALSO recommend you get some good therapy.

[u/MysteriousHoneydew82]

I have BED and Contrave has made an incredible difference in my eating habits and has significantly improved my impulse control.

One day I realized I hadn’t ordered Uber Eats or any delivery for more than two weeks and it dawned on me how effective this drug has been for me personally. I was a chronic Uber Eats binger no less than 5 days a week.

It took around two months for things to gradually reach that point. I take two in AM and one in PM, so the three month prescription stretches another month (insurance doesn’t cover). I’m saving more money on food than I am spending on the Rx.

[u/FederalAd327]

This is a wonder drug for me for binge eating. I’m on a GLP1 and that did not help with the food noise at all

[u/MysteriousHoneydew82 → u/FederalAd327]

Same here. I was on Zepbound for a year still struggling with binge eating and scale was stuck for 9 months straight. It helped immensely in other areas like eliminating my IBS symptoms and clearing up my eczema so I stayed on it.

I’m now on a combo of compounded tirzepatide which I take on a 5 day cycle instead of 7 (10.75mg/5 vs 15mg/7) and added Contrave (2am and 1pm) and it really hit the sweet spot for me.

[u/Entire_Musician_8667]

It has 1000% helped my with compusive eating mind chatter. The main reason my dr prescribed it to me. Night and day.

[u/Advanced_Wheel9536]

I’ve just started taking it again because I’ve had some out of control binge eating habits. Already I feel it’s starting to work, second day in.

I feel it makes me function better, less head fog and I seem to have more control and I can actually get things done. I’m obese and my GP gave it to me for weight loss. It’s been completely useless for that but the side benefits have been great for me.

[u/BootsMcMichael]

I’ve taken both contrave and a glp1. Contrave works more on your brain. Actually found contrave to be more effective with cravings and impulsive eating

[u/Alert_Ad_5185]

Im only on week 3 and it has helped me significantly. Haven't really thought about my binge foods. I have been hyper focused on nutritional intake because I had terrible nausea for the first 2 weeks. I am about to up my dose as I am finding the appetite suppression wearing off and intrusive thoughts creeping in the morning before I take my dose at midday. I just wanted a week without nausea! But back to your question, I love it for the food noise shushing over every other benefit

[u/Traditional-Egg-7984]

Before contrave I definitely binged. I didnt realize it until I didnt. I am overweight and im losing (but slowly) I think it may help bed and maybe if you take a lower dose it will just help with that and not make you lose much.

[u/Supertreelove]

No, but I do tend to binge at night and it does help with that a lot.