Contrave
SaxendaContrave vs Saxenda
Saxenda (liraglutide) was discontinued in Australia in December 2025, while Contrave remains available. Contrave is an oral tablet producing ~5-8% weight loss at $150-200/month, while Saxenda was a daily injection producing ~8% weight loss at $370-400/month. Contrave offers the advantage of no injections and remains one of two oral weight loss medications in Australia.
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda at a Glance
| Contrave | Saxenda | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| How taken | Daily oral tablets | Daily injection |
| Avg. weight loss | ~5-8% | ~8% |
| First approved | 2014 (FDA), 2019 (TGA) | 2014 (FDA), 2016 (TGA) |
| AU cost/month | $150-200 private | Discontinued |
| PBS status | No | N/A (discontinued) |
| Prescription needed? | Yes | Yes |
| AU supply status | No issues | Discontinued Dec 2025 |
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda Cost in Australia
Contrave: $150-200 private
Saxenda: Discontinued
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda Weight Loss Efficacy
Contrave Clinical Trials
COR-I
6.1% weight loss vs 1.3% placebo
COR-II
6.4% weight loss maintained
COR-BMOD
9.3% with intensive behaviour modification
Saxenda Clinical Trials
SCALE Obesity
8% weight loss vs 2.6% placebo
SCALE Maintenance
Maintained weight loss after initial diet
Clinical trial data at highest approved doses. Individual results vary.
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda Side Effects
Contrave
Very common
- Nausea (32%)
- Constipation (18%)
- Headache (14%)
Common
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhoea
Serious (rare)
- Seizures (contraindicated in seizure disorders)
- Increased blood pressure
- Hepatotoxicity
- Suicidal thoughts (bupropion, young adults)
- Cannot be used with opioids
Saxenda
Very common
- Nausea (39%)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
Common
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
- Dyspepsia
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
Serious (rare)
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder disease
- Increased heart rate
- Thyroid tumour risk (animal data)
- Acute kidney injury
Compare How Contrave and Saxenda Work
Contrave
Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
Targets two brain pathways. Naltrexone (opioid antagonist) blocks reward/craving pathways in the mesolimbic dopamine circuit. Bupropion (NDRI) acts on the hypothalamic appetite centre to reduce hunger. The combination addresses both biological hunger drive and reward-based food cravings.
Saxenda
GLP-1 receptor agonist
First-generation GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Same mechanism as Ozempic/Wegovy (appetite reduction, slowed gastric emptying) but requires daily injection and produces less weight loss than semaglutide.
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda Dosing Schedule
Contrave
Daily oral tablets
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tab morning | Week 1 | Starting dose |
| 1 AM + 1 PM | Week 2 | Escalation |
| 2 AM + 1 PM | Week 3 | Escalation |
| 2 AM + 2 PM | Week 4+ | Maintenance (4 tablets/day) |
Saxenda
Daily injection
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0.6mg | Week 1 | Starting dose (daily) |
| 1.2mg | Week 2 | Escalation |
| 1.8mg | Week 3 | Escalation |
| 2.4mg | Week 4 | Escalation |
| 3mg | Week 5+ | Maintenance dose |
Compare Contrave vs Saxenda Australian Regulatory Status
Contrave
Saxenda
Full Contrave profile
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This website is for informational and research purposes only. We are not medical professionals and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified doctor or specialist before making any decisions about medication.
The weight loss medication landscape in Australia is changing rapidly. Information on this page may become outdated without notice. Data sourced from the TGA, FDA, MHRA, NICE, PBAC, Australian Prescriber, Obesity Evidence Hub, and clinical trial publications. Last reviewed March 2026.