Contrave

tomatoey

grandmothercharlie wrote: »

I am not going to advise you to take or not to take and I'm not going to comment on whether it is helpful or harmful. But...the article you posted said that patients also had to make lifestyle changes. In most cases, those lifestyle changes include: Eating less and exercising more.

I had a BMI of 45 with heart failure and cardiomyopathy. My doctor was desperate for me to lose weight and recommended bariatric surgery. Well, my insurance and the surgeon I went to see, both required a six month pre-surgery program. Psychiatrists, nutritionist, regular checkups by your family doctor, etc. before they would perform the surgery. At my initial visit with the physician, I learned that even after the bypass surgery, I would have to eat only 1200 calories a day and walk at least 30 minutes everyday. Not to mention 90 grams of protein, no liquids with meals, and small meals more often. The protein, no liquids, and frequent meals (I'm a three meal a day girl) sounded the most difficult for me. So during the 6 months to guarantee that I could do what I needed to do after surgery and the expense, I tried adopting the required lifestyle. By the time the six months were over with 1200 calories a day and moderate exercise, I no longer even qualified for surgery as my BMI was below 35! Plus I was able to eat less than 90 grams of protein, still drink liquids with my meals, and eat my preferred 3 times a day. I also was able to avoid dumping, hair loss, surgery, and out-of-pocket costs of about $3,000 in co-pays.

In the end, it seems that the changes in lifestyle are probably the main reasons for weight loss successes whether or not you use anything else.

Yeah. I mean, you'll have to do all this anyway, can't stay on the drug forever, so why expose yourself to its risks?

Lilyquinn83

I used Contrave for about a week before I couldn't take it anymore. I lost a few pounds, yes. But I also lost all desire for food. I mean ALL desire. I was eating a whole wheat waffle with a little pb spread over it for breakfast one morning and remember looking at it like it was dog crap. I couldn't finish it and it was barely 170 calories worth of food. I was also dead tired almost from day one on that med. I had been doing well with working out before I talked to my doctor about my weight. Once I started that medication, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had to nap every day I took it. My throat was also sore, my heart raced, and I just felt crappy. So I stopped.

You're supposed to eat food and have energy to exercise. Even if it takes me a long time to get down to the weight I want and learn how to be successful, I'd rather do that than hate even healthy food and sleep all the time. Plus it's 60 dollars a pop if your insurance doesn't cover it.