Contrave

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on July 12, 2024

Contrave is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed to help with weight loss. Contrave is not available in a generic version. The cost of Contrave with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Contrave for weight management, along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It’s approved for use in adults with either:

• obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater
• a BMI of 27 or greater and at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure

Read on to learn about Contrave and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Contrave, including its uses, refer to this overview article. 

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Cost of Contrave

Like other medications, the cost of Contrave can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the quantity prescribed

To find out how much Contrave costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Contrave” section.

Coupons for Contrave

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of Contrave. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for Contrave

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of Contrave. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Contrave. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply: If you’re taking Contrave long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Brand names vs. generics

Contrave is a brand-name medication. It contains two drugs: naltrexone and bupropion. Currently, this combination does not come in a generic version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about generic and brand-name medications.

Why costs are different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions.

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Common questions about Contrave and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Contrave.

How much does Contrave cost per month?

The amount you’ll pay per month for Contrave depends on your treatment plan and other factors. For example, the Contrave price with insurance differs from the price without insurance or discounts.

If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket cost may vary depending on whether the drug is covered by your plan and your copay structure. For example, some plans have fixed copays, while other plans have copays that vary.

To find out how much Contrave costs per month, check with your insurance provider. If you don’t have insurance, talk with the staff at your pharmacy or doctor’s office. They can connect you with resources that may help lower the cost of medications.

How does the cost of Contrave compare with the cost of Wegovy?

Contrave and Wegovy are different prescription medications used for weight loss. Contrave contains the active ingredients naltrexone and bupropion, while Wegovy contains semaglutide.

In general, the cost of Contrave without insurance is lower than the cost of Wegovy without insurance. Even if Contrave or Wegovy is covered by insurance, the out-of-pocket cost may vary based on your dosage, where you fill your prescription, and whether you use any savings options.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to determine whether one of these medications may be an option for you.

Resources

• Contrave (naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/200063s021lbl.pdf
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.