Phentermine or
Adipex, a medication you already may be familiar with, is, by far, the
most commonly prescribed weight-loss medication in the United States. It generally works very well, but several of it's properties make it less than ideal.
First, It is a member of the
amphetamine class of medication, and is, thus, addictive over time, and is classified as a controlled substance by the
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
It clearly facilitates weight loss by suppressing appetite and by
stimulating the metabolism to burn fat, in a mechanism that is not
clearly known.
Second, Phentermine suffers from the
fact that the weight that is lost may not be sustained. Because the
amount of time before the risk of dependency is limited, its utility for
sustained weight loss is also limited.
Enter CONTRAVE This medication is formulation of two medications. One is
Bupropion, also known as Wellbutrin, which has been used in the treatment of such condition as Depression, Smoking cessation, and Compulsive behaviors.
This medication, including side-effects, safety and risks, has been
studied extensively since it came on the market in 1989. One of the
interesting side-effects of Bupropion, which turns out to be a good
thing, is a consistent and predictable weight loss for patients
prescribed it for the classical indications or conditions.
The second medication is one called naltrexone. Naltrexone works on the "reward" center of the brain, to dis-incentivize overeating. The combination of both medications is to facilitate weight-loss through appetite suppression,
and maintaining the effect through inhibition of the brain's reward
center. Because of the nature of the medications comprising it, Contrave
is not recommended for patients with High Blood Pressure, or patients on medications for Chronic Pain. Contrave, unlike other weight-loss medications, can be used as long as is needed. It is not controlled by the DEA.
In many cases, it will be covered by your insurance, with you being responsible for your co-pay. If you do not carry insurance, A one-month supply will cost about $70, which is unheard of for a branded medication that is new to the market.
You medication will be shipped to you directly from the company.
When your medications arrives, you will be directed to the
CONTRAVE
website. You will be prompted to enter information, such as your
height/weight and dietary habits. The company will send you a scale to
weigh yourself for FREE. Yes, FREE!!! You will also receive instructions on how to download the special APP to your smartphone.
When you weigh yourself, that information will be transmitted to the App on your phone. If your weight increases,
the App will send you a message and provide some recommendations as to
things you can do to modify your behavior to send the weight change in
the right direction. Brilliant, right?!
There She is....
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