Ways to save
- Compare providers above — prices vary by $10/month for the same medication
- If your provider issues e-scripts, fill at a discount pharmacy (Chemist Warehouse)
- Discuss dose optimisation with your doctor — lower doses cost less
How Contrave pricing works
Contrave is sold in monthly packs of tablets. The full dose is 4 tablets per day (2 morning, 2 evening). During the 4-week escalation, you use fewer tablets — which means your first month's pack lasts longer. Some patients find they can use Contrave at 3 tablets/day (a lower dose) with good results, which also extends each pack.
Contrave vs GLP-1 cost comparison
At ~$300/month, Contrave sits between the cheap options (Duromine ~$100, Xenical ~$80) and the expensive GLP-1 injections ($350–500). However, its weight loss (5–10%) is closer to the cheap options than the expensive ones. The value proposition is strongest for people whose weight is specifically driven by cravings and emotional eating — where Contrave's unique mechanism provides benefits that cheaper medications don't.
Is Contrave worth $300/month?
Contrave's cost-effectiveness depends on your specific situation. At ~$300/month for 5–10% weight loss, the pure cost-per-percentage calculation isn't favourable compared to GLP-1 medications. However:
- If your weight is driven by emotional eating and cravings, Contrave targets the specific mechanism — GLP-1 medications don't directly address reward-driven eating
- If you can't tolerate GLP-1 side effects, Contrave is a viable long-term alternative with a different side effect profile
- The bupropion component may provide mood benefits if you have co-existing depression
For most patients seeking maximum weight loss per dollar, GLP-1 medications offer better value. Contrave's value is highest for the specific subset of patients whose weight is craving-driven.