Contrave Clinical Trials

What are Contrave Clinical Trials?

Contrave is the brand name of an oral combination medication prescribed to encourage weight loss in cases of chronic obesity. It is made of the following compounds:

• Naltrexone: a drug that stops hunger pangs and food cravings. It is commonly used to curb the effects of alcohol and opioids on recovering addicts.
• Bupropion: an antidepressant that also decreases appetite.

An anorexiant, research shows that while Contrave can cause some weight loss when taken alone, it is more effective when following a reduced-calorie diet and regular, rigorous exercise. Patients can lose up to 5% of their body weight within a year.

Side effects of this medication include allergic reactions such as swelling, fever, joint pains, and itching. In patients under 25, it has been shown to alter mood and increase suicidal thoughts. Contrave is not recommended for weight gain caused by medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Why Is Contrave Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

In the US, 42% of the population is obese, and 9.2% are severely obese. That means 139 million Americans are over the recommended weight and have an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart problems. It has become increasingly important for these individuals to lose excess weight to improve their health and quality of life.

Even though Contrave can help patients reduce their weight quicker, more research is needed to determine its long-term safety and effectiveness in keeping the weight off. Additionally, with childhood obesity increasing in the US, the safety of Contrave for younger individuals needs to be studied further.

How Does Contrave Treatment Work?

A patient is classified as obese if their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30 kg/m². Once deemed a suitable candidate, doctors will prescribe Contrave to be taken orally twice daily. Patients will also be given a strict low-fat diet plan and advised to do regular, rigorous exercise. If no weight is lost after 16 weeks, dosages may be adjusted.

Contrave is not prescribed to people with a history of eating disorders, seizures, opioid use, MAOI use, or who have abruptly stopped using alcohol, barbiturates, antiepileptic drugs, and benzodiazepines. It is also not given to pregnant women.

What are Some Recent Contrave Clinical Trial Breakthroughs?

2018: this ongoing clinical trial is studying the effectiveness of Contrave in patients who have had bariatric surgery to decrease the size of their stomach but have not lost significant weight or have gained. Two hundred patients who had a sleeve gastrectomy or a roux en-y gastric bypass have been enrolled and given Contrave with dietary and behavioral counseling.

2021: These clinical trials studied the effectiveness of anti-obesity medications (AOM) in weight management programs (WMP). The participants enrolled were divided into two groups, one a standard WMP and the other medicated. Results show that the medicated weight management program achieved a higher average weight loss. This study suggests the need for employers to cover OAM to assist in weight loss.