Contrave Alternatives & Comparison
How Contrave (naltrexone hydrochloride / bupropion hydrochloride) compares to Wegovy, Zepbound, Qsymia — mechanism, trial weight-loss results, and cost — plus where to compare vetted providers.
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Contrave Alternatives Compared
GLP-1 injection with substantially greater average weight loss in trials
Wegovy mimics the GLP-1 hormone to signal fullness to the brain, slow stomach emptying, and reduce overall caloric intake.
Wegovy wins on efficacy by a wide margin: STEP-1 reported -14.9% mean body-weight loss at 68 weeks versus about -6.1% for Contrave in COR-I, plus an FDA-approved cardiovascular benefit from SELECT. Contrave wins on cost (about $99/mo cash via Currax vs about $499/mo on Wegovy after the NovoCare intro discount) and on access — it is an oral tablet with no needles and no cold-chain storage. Side effects differ in kind, not severity: Wegovy causes more nausea and GI issues, Contrave more headache, insomnia, and constipation. Pick Wegovy if your goal is the largest possible weight loss or CV risk reduction; pick Contrave if cost, pill form, or food-noise/craving control matter more.
Full Wegovy vs Contrave comparison →Dual GIP/GLP-1 injection with the largest average weight loss of any approved option
Zepbound works through tirzepatide's dual GIP/GLP-1 mechanism to reduce appetite through both central brain signals and peripheral metabolic effects.
For raw efficacy, Zepbound wins decisively: SURMOUNT-1 showed -20.9% body weight at 72 weeks on the 15 mg dose versus -6.1% for Contrave in COR-I at 56 weeks. Zepbound also has an FDA-approved OSA indication (SURMOUNT-OSA, 2024) that Contrave lacks. Contrave's edge is practical: it is fully oral, ~$99/month cash, and avoids GLP-1-class GI burden. Zepbound makes sense when the goal is maximum loss; Contrave fits patients who cannot inject, cannot afford GLP-1 pricing, or have appetite-driven eating.
Full Zepbound vs Contrave comparison →Another non-GLP-1 oral combination, a common head-to-head comparison
Qsymia combines two mechanisms in a single capsule.
Qsymia wins on efficacy: EQUIP and CONQUER reported about -10.9% and -9.8% mean body-weight loss at 56 weeks on the highest dose, versus about -6.1% for Contrave in COR-I. Contrave wins on access — it costs about $99/mo cash via Currax, has no REMS program, and no contraception requirement. Both are oral second-line options that pre-date the GLP-1 era; neither approaches Wegovy or Zepbound on efficacy. Pick Qsymia for maximum oral weight loss; pick Contrave if cost, pregnancy planning, or craving-driven eating dominate.
Full Qsymia vs Contrave comparison →GLP-1 injection option for patients who want incretin-class treatment instead
Liraglutide is an acylated, 97%-homologous analog of native human GLP-1, modified with a fatty-acid side chain that lets it bind albumin and resist DPP-4 degradation — extending its half-life from minutes to about 13 hours.
In the pivotal SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (Pi-Sunyer et al.
Compare compounded Semaglutide providers
Compounded semaglutide runs a median of $195/month across 519 vetted-provider price points (range $59–$1,585). Featured partners below, ranked by our partner-economics ordering.
Compare compounded Tirzepatide providers
Compounded tirzepatide runs a median of $249/month across 473 vetted-provider price points (range $69–$1,400). Featured partners below, ranked by our partner-economics ordering.
Compare every Contrave provider
See current pricing, verification status, form, and states served across every vetted provider in one place.