Contrave vs. Ozempic: Comparison

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 injection that helps to treat Type 2 diabetes. Much of the “Ozempic craze” has come from patients who have noticed that Ozempic does a tremendous job with weight loss. In fact, the average weight loss is around 10-15% of body weight over a 68-week period.

As a result of this craze, many new drugs and treatments have “hit the market” in order to help patients who seek specific weight loss treatment achieve similar results. Contrave is one of those treatment plans. However, Contrave is not a GLP-1 semaglutide injection. It’s an oral tablet containing Bupropion and Naltrexone, the two active ingredients that achieve the reduction of body mass.

Key Takeaways

Contrave and Ozempic are both considered to be effective brands of medications to help with weight loss. However, Ozempic is only prescribed to patients with Type 2 diabetes. And Contrave is prescribed to patients for the treatment of weight loss or obesity issues.
Ozempic (a GLP-1 semaglutide injection) has a very similar body weight reduction percentage as Contrave, with both showing anywhere from 5-15% of a reduction in body weight over a 56 to 68 week period.

Contrave vs. Ozempic: Comparison Chart

Here is a comparison chart showing the differences between Contrave and Ozempic:

Category	Contrave	Ozempic
Active Ingredients	Bupropion and Naltrexone	Semaglutide
Mechanism of Action	Bupropion: Affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine to reduce appetite and cravings. Naltrexone: Reduces cravings by blocking opioid receptors.	Mimics GLP-1 hormone, which increases insulin production, decreases appetite, and slows gastric emptying.
FDA Approval	Approved for weight management	Approved for type 2 diabetes and weight management
Administration Method	Oral (tablet)	Subcutaneous injection
Dosage	1 tablet daily, increasing to 2 tablets twice daily over 4 weeks	0.25 mg once a week, increasing to 1 mg once a week
Efficacy	Average weight loss of about 5% to 10% of body weight over 56 weeks.	Average weight loss of about 10% to 15% of body weight over 68 weeks.
Side Effects	Common: Nausea, constipation, headache, dry mouth. Serious: Suicidal thoughts, seizures, increased blood pressure.	Common: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation. Serious: Thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, kidney problems.
Cost	Generally lower cost, depending on insurance	Higher cost, but often covered by insurance for diabetes management
Who It’s For	Adults with a BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with weight-related conditions.	Adults with a BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with weight-related conditions or type 2 diabetes.
Considerations	Not recommended for individuals with a history of seizures or opioid use.	Requires monitoring for thyroid issues and pancreatitis.

Effectiveness of Contrave for Weight Loss

Recent trials have shown that Contrave has a fairly similar effective rate of reducing body fat as to Ozempic (semaglutide). The study revealed that there was a body fat reduction of 5-10% in patients who took the oral tablet twice daily (32 mg total).

Side Effects of Contrave and Ozempic

While the main concern for most patients is the effectiveness of reducing overall body weight and body mass index, side effects are another concern by most patients.

The good news is that both Contrave and Ozempic have fairly similar side effects, with them being quite minimal. Those include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, headache, and in some cases vomiting.

However, most of these side effects are fairly mild and don’t cause significant long-term damage to the patient. Or lasting long-term side effects.

Cost of Treatment for Contrave and Ozempic

Many patients who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and are offered Ozempic (semaglutide) as a treatment plan find the cost of a month’s supply of Ozempic can be quite high (ranging anywhere from $950 to $1,350).

However, one of the other benefits of those who are seeking only a weight loss treatment is that Contrave comes in at a much cheaper cost. Contrave sits at a reduced price tag of only $99 per month.

Which is Better: Contrave or Ozempic?

At the end of the day, the option simply comes down to what you’re looking to treat. If you are looking for a weight loss treatment, going with Contrave is going to be far easier for you than seeking Ozempic (semaglutide). While the weight loss treatment is marginally better with Ozempic, you’re going to have more difficulty getting insurance coverage in the United States with Ozempic (which will reduce your monthly cost) as well as get prescribed for weight loss treatment in the first place.

Getting the advice of a medical professional for your diagnosis is the first step toward deciding your path. Those with a true Type 2 diabetes diagnosis should not be looking at Contrave as a potential option for treatment.

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Sources

Contrave HCP. (n.d.). COR-BMOD study: Efficacy results. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://www.contravehcp.com/efficacy/cor-bmod-study/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.). Naltrexone. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naltrexone
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). (2018). Naltrexone. In J. L. Weller, & M. P. Davis (Eds.), StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470212/