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Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave)

Evidence: ★★★★☆ · Status: FDA Approved

💡 Did you know? Contrave for weight loss combines an anti-addiction drug with an antidepressant — together they turn down the brain's food-reward cravings.

In plain English

Targets the brain's reward/craving circuit rather than gut fullness — useful for emotional or reward eating. Modest (~5–9%) loss.

How it works

Bupropion stimulates hypothalamic POMC neurons (dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibition); naltrexone (opioid µ-receptor, OPRM1 antagonist) blocks POMC's auto-inhibition — together sustaining appetite/craving suppression.

Molecular target & official sources

OPRM1 mu-opioid receptor (NCBI Gene) · Naltrexone (PubChem CID 5360515)

Bottom line

Reasonable non-GLP-1 option, especially for craving-driven eating.

Helps with: Lose Fat · Gut Health

Stacks with

Shares a pathway — often paired with: Caffeine, Modafinil / Armodafinil, Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), Methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Availability & where to buy

Available over the counter. Widely available OTC — e.g. iHerb (ships worldwide); in Singapore also Guardian, Watsons, GNC, Shopee / Lazada. Look for a third-party-tested / GMP mark and check the dose per serving.

How it works: the Monoamines pathway →

Compare Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave)

Common questions

Does Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) actually work?

Human-evidence rating: 4 of 5. Reasonable non-GLP-1 option, especially for craving-driven eating.

Is Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) legal or approved?

Regulatory status: FDA Approved.