Contrave vs Wegovy in Australia
Contrave is a tablet combining naltrexone and bupropion, taken twice a day at full dose. Wegovy is a once-weekly semaglutide injection. Both are TGA-registered for weight management in adults with the same BMI criteria, both need a private prescription, and neither is on the PBS. No trial has compared them directly; in their own placebo-controlled trials and in indirect comparisons, semaglutide produced more weight loss.
Short answer
No trial has compared Contrave with Wegovy. In Contrave's largest trial, as reported in its Australian Product Information, people lost 5.4% of their body weight over 56 weeks against 1.3% on placebo. In STEP 1, people on Wegovy 2.4 mg lost 14.9% over 68 weeks against 2.4% on placebo. Contrave is cheaper: $249.99 for a 28-day pack at Chemist Warehouse on 9 November 2026, against $369.99 a month for Wegovy 2.4 mg. Contrave has 13 contraindications, including opioid use and a seizure history, that Wegovy does not.
- Last updated:
- 9 November 2026
- Prices, PBS and supply checked:
- 9 November 2026
Prices at three retailers, the PBS Schedule effective 1 November 2026, the Wegovy PBS medicine status records, the November 2026 PBAC agenda and the TGA shortage database were rechecked on 9 November 2026. Both Australian Product Information documents, the Contrave trial tables, the STEP 1 paper and the 2026 BMJ network meta-analysis were rechecked on 6 October 2026.
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy at a Glance
Prices, PBS and supply rows as at 9 November 2026. Weight loss figures are trial averages at the highest dose studied; see the head-to-head section for the direct comparison.
The Evidence: What the Trials Show
No randomised trial has put naltrexone/bupropion against semaglutide or any other GLP-1 medicine; a Europe PMC search restricted to randomised controlled trials on 6 October 2026 found none. The comparison rests on each medicine's own placebo-controlled trials, which used different people, durations and statistical methods, and on network meta-analyses that compare the two indirectly.
Contrave's Australian Product Information reports four 56-week trials with 4,536 people randomised, all in the United States. In COR-I, the largest, the Product Information's intention-to-treat analysis gives 5.4% average weight loss against 1.3% on placebo, with 31% against 12% losing at least 5% of their starting weight. COR-Diabetes, in people with type 2 diabetes, gives 3.7% against 1.7%.
STEP 1 randomised 1,961 adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition and no diabetes, to semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 68 weeks. Average weight loss was 14.9% against 2.4%.
| Result | Contrave (COR-I, 56 weeks) | Wegovy (STEP 1, 68 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Average weight change | -5.4% vs -1.3% on placebo | -14.9% vs -2.4% on placebo |
| Placebo-adjusted loss | 4.1 percentage points | 12.4 percentage points |
| Lost 5% or more | 31% vs 12% | 86.4% vs 31.5% |
| People randomised | 1,742 (538 and 536 in the full-dose and placebo analysis) | 1,961 |
| Nausea, pooled Product Information trials | 31.8% vs 6.7% | 38.3% vs 14.0% |
| Stopped for side effects, pooled Product Information trials | 23.8% vs 11.9% | 4.3% stopped for gut effects |
| Funding | Orexigen Therapeutics | Novo Nordisk |
Contrave figures from the Australian Product Information (Tables 3 and 4, intention-to-treat with last observation carried forward; responder rates on the randomised population) and its section 4.8; Wegovy figures from Wilding et al, NEJM 2021 (the placebo-adjusted loss is the paper's estimated treatment difference), and the pooled side-effect table in the Wegovy Australian Product Information. Two separate trials, not a comparison; the discontinuation rows measure different things.
Two network meta-analyses give indirect comparisons. The largest, in The BMJ on 8 July 2026 (262 trials, 99,791 participants, Chinese government funded), estimated one-year weight change against lifestyle change alone at 9.8% for subcutaneous semaglutide (31 trials, moderate to high certainty) and reported naltrexone-bupropion as "not convincingly different from lifestyle modification alone", a low-certainty estimate. It also found naltrexone-bupropion had the highest rate of gastrointestinal adverse events of the 19 drugs assessed (incidence rate ratio 4.2) and a discontinuation risk ratio of 2.3. A 2016 JAMA meta-analysis (Khera et al; 28 trials, 29,018 patients, before semaglutide existed) put naltrexone-bupropion at 5.0 kg more loss than placebo at one year.
Around half of COR-I participants completed the year; the analysis carried forward the last recorded weight of those who left.
Two sets of numbers exist for COR-I. The Lancet paper's modified intention-to-treat set gives 6.1% and 48%; this page uses the Australian Product Information's stricter set.
Wegovy's Product Information (revision of 22 June 2026) adds a 7.2 mg maintenance dose, three 2.4 mg injections, which STEP 1 did not test. In STEP UP (1,407 people, 72 weeks) it produced 18.7% average loss against 15.6% at 2.4 mg.
The BMJ wording reflects certainty grading against lifestyle change, not a finding of no effect; the COR trials and the 2016 analysis show a placebo-adjusted loss of about 4 to 5 percentage points, or 5 kg, at one year. Both analyses place naltrexone-bupropion among the medicines most often stopped for side effects.
Wegovy has been registered since December 2024 to reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease. Contrave's only cardiovascular outcomes trial, LIGHT (8,910 people), was terminated after the sponsor released confidential interim data; the authors wrote that cardiovascular safety "remains uncertain", and the Australian Product Information (revised 3 September 2026) states that the cardiovascular risks of Contrave beyond one year have not been fully determined.
Contrave vs Wegovy Prices in Australia
Prices checked 9 November 2026.
Contrave is cheaper at the maintenance dose. A 112-tablet pack, 28 days at the full dose of two tablets twice a day, cost $249.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $250.00 at Chemist Outlet and $254.95 at Your Discount Chemist on 9 November 2026. Wegovy's maintenance dose, 2.4 mg, was $369.99 a pen at Chemist Warehouse, and one pen is four weekly doses. The gap is $120 a month. In the first 12 weeks they cost about the same: Wegovy's starter pens were $249.99 each, and the first Contrave pack lasts about five and a half weeks because of the three-week step-up.
Every price is for a private prescription: you pay the full amount, Medicare pays nothing, and all three retailers require an Australian script.
| Strength | Used as | Chemist Warehouse | Your Discount Chemist | Chemist Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contrave 8/90 mg, 112 tablets | Weeks 1 to 3 step-up, then two tablets twice daily; 28 days at full dose | $249.99 | $254.95 | $250.00 |
| Contrave 8/90 mg, 28-tablet starter pack | Registered pack size for the first weeks | not listed | not listed | not listed |
| Wegovy 0.25 mg | Weeks 1 to 4 | $249.99 | $249.00 | $280.00 |
| Wegovy 0.5 mg | Weeks 5 to 8 | $249.99 | $249.00 | $280.00 |
| Wegovy 1 mg | Weeks 9 to 12 | $249.99 | $249.00 | $280.00 |
| Wegovy 1.7 mg | Weeks 13 to 16, or maintenance if 2.4 mg is not tolerated | $369.99 | $369.00 | $400.00 |
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | Maintenance from week 17 | $369.99 | $369.00 | $450.00 |
Private prescription prices read from the retailers' product pages on 9 November 2026. One Wegovy pen holds four weekly doses. Your Discount Chemist's Contrave page displays $0.00 until its only option, Private, is selected, then $254.95; its in-store stock check showed no store stock on 9 November 2026.
What the first year costs
| Path over 52 weeks | Cost at Chemist Warehouse prices |
|---|---|
| Contrave, step up over weeks 1 to 3, then full dose to week 52 (1,414 tablets, 13 packs) | $3,250 |
| Contrave, stopped at the 16-week review (4 packs) | $1,000 |
| Wegovy, step up to 2.4 mg by week 17 and stay there (13 pens) | $4,450 |
| Wegovy, stopped at 16 weeks (4 pens) | $1,120 |
Illustrative; assumes the registered schedule with no delays, missed doses or price changes. The Contrave Product Information requires treatment to stop at 16 weeks if less than 5% of starting weight has been lost, so the 16-week figure is the cost of finding out whether it works.
Costs on top of the medicine
- A script every month or every few months. The average out-of-pocket cost of a standard consultation at a GP clinic that does not bulk bill was almost $50 in January 2026 (Cleanbill). Telehealth consultations cost $20 (Hims) to $89 (InstantScripts); Weight Loss GP advertised Contrave through a bulk-billed telehealth assessment in August 2026. GLP-1 program bundles at Juniper, Hims, Moshy, Mosh and hub.health run $338 to $499 a month and do not say which medicine or dose they buy.
- Monitoring for Contrave: blood pressure and pulse before starting and at regular intervals, a review at 16 weeks and annually, and a yearly cardiovascular risk assessment (Product Information).
- A sharps container for Wegovy needles; the FlexTouch pack includes four needles. Contrave needs nothing else.
How these prices were checked
Prices were read from the retailers' product pages on 9 November 2026. Chemist Warehouse and Chemist Outlet Contrave prices and Chemist Warehouse and Your Discount Chemist Wegovy prices were unchanged from 6 October 2026; the Chemist Outlet Wegovy 0.25 to 1.7 mg prices were not found at that check. Prices will be rechecked every three months; if a figure has gone unchecked for longer, the date at the top will say so. Contrave's price has barely moved since launch: "up to $250 a month" in February 2019 (Nine News), $242 at 2021 prices (Australian Prescriber), $249 at 2024 prices (Australian Journal of General Practice). Wegovy launched in August 2024 at $460 for 2.4 mg; 2.4 mg retail prices at the three retailers are now below that.
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy Cost in Australia
Private prescription cost per month in AUD.
Is Contrave or Wegovy on the PBS?
PBS status verified 9 November 2026
- Contrave
- Not on the PBS.
- No naltrexone with bupropion item is on the PBS or the Repatriation PBS in the Schedule effective 1 November 2026. The naltrexone 50 mg tablet (8370M) and Zyban bupropion (8465M, 8710K) are separate products. No PBAC submission for naltrexone/bupropion in weight management was found. The Australian Journal of General Practice (April 2025) states that pharmacotherapy for chronic weight management is not subsidised under the PBS.
- Wegovy
- Not on the PBS.
- On 5 November 2025 the PBAC recommended a narrow listing for adults who have already had a heart attack, stroke or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease and have a BMI of 35 or more (32.5 or more for people of Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background). Novo Nordisk lodged its documentation on 27 February 2026 and the PBS record shows it as "Not Accepted". A revised proposal was on the agenda of the PBAC's 4 to 6 November 2026 meeting; outcomes are due on the PBS website on 18 December 2026. If it is ever listed, that group would pay $25.00 a script ($7.70 concession); everyone else would still pay the private price.
- TGA registration
- The TGA has assessed the medicine as safe and effective for a stated use. Both have it for weight management: Contrave since August 2018 (on sale from February 2019), Wegovy since September 2022 (on sale from August 2024).
- PBS listing
- The government subsidises the medicine for a defined group, who pay the co-payment. Neither has this. Ozempic, semaglutide at lower doses, is PBS-listed for type 2 diabetes only; that does not extend to Wegovy, to Contrave or to weight loss.
- Private prescription
- Written for a TGA-registered medicine by any registered doctor, or a nurse practitioner working within their scope of practice and state or territory rules; you pay the pharmacy's full price. This is how everyone in Australia gets Contrave and Wegovy today.
- Private health extras
- Some funds pay a benefit on non-PBS prescription medicines, but weight-loss medicines are often excluded or capped. HCF excludes them; Teachers Health pays a flat $60 a purchase on its top extras; Bupa pays on "select" weight-loss medicines with yearly limits.
Contrave and Wegovy Supply in Australia
Supply status verified 9 November 2026
- Contrave
- No shortage notice.
- The full database has no current, anticipated, resolved or discontinuation entry for Contrave, naltrexone or bupropion. It is the only naltrexone/bupropion product on the ARTG. On 9 November 2026 the Chemist Outlet page showed both "In Stock" and an out-of-stock notice; Your Discount Chemist's in-store stock check showed no store stock.
- Wegovy
- No shortage notice.
- The database lists no current, anticipated or resolved shortage for any Wegovy strength.
- Wegovy tablets
- Not yet supplied.
- The TGA registered Wegovy tablets (1.5, 4, 9 and 25 mg) on 3 November 2026. Novo Nordisk told newsGP it expects availability "later this year". None of the three retailers listed them on 9 November 2026, and the shortage database has no entry for them.
Different strengths and pack sizes of the same medicine can go short at different times. The database is the authority; this line is updated each quarter and whenever a notice appears.
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy Weight Loss Efficacy
Contrave Clinical Trials
Wegovy Clinical Trials
COR-I
6.1% weight loss vs 1.3% placebo (5.4% in the Australian PI analysis)
COR-II
6.4% vs 1.2% placebo
COR-BMOD
9.3% vs 5.1% placebo (both arms had intensive behaviour modification)
COR-Diabetes
5.0% vs 1.8% placebo; HbA1c -0.6 vs -0.1 points
STEP 1
14.9% weight loss vs 2.4% placebo
SURMOUNT-5 (vs Mounjaro)
13.7% weight loss vs 20.2% with tirzepatide
STEP UP (7.2mg)
18.7% weight loss vs 15.6% at 2.4mg
SELECT
20% lower risk of major CV events (6.5% vs 8.0%)
OASIS 4 (25mg tablet)
13.6% weight loss vs 2.2% placebo
Clinical trial data at highest approved doses. Individual results vary.
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy Side Effects
Contrave
Wegovy
Very common
- Nausea (31.8% vs 6.7% placebo)
- Constipation (18.1% vs 7.2%)
- Vomiting (9.9% vs 2.9%)
Common
- Dizziness
- Tremor
- Dry mouth
- Upper abdominal pain
- Tinnitus
- Palpitations
- Hot flush
- Excessive sweating
- Stopped for side effects: 23.8% vs 11.9% placebo
Serious (rare)
- Seizures (0.06% in trials; contraindicated with any seizure history)
- Hypertensive crisis (post-marketing, during titration)
- Suicidal thoughts (post-marketing; no suicides or suicide attempts in trials to 56 weeks)
- Serotonin syndrome (with SSRIs, SNRIs or some opioids)
- Severe skin reactions, including TEN and DRESS
- Cardiovascular safety beyond one year uncertain (LIGHT trial stopped early)
- Contraindicated with opioids
Very common
- Nausea (38% vs 14% placebo)
- Diarrhoea (27%)
- Vomiting (22%)
- Constipation (22%)
- Headache (13%)
Common
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Reflux and indigestion
- Gallstones (1.6%)
- Hair loss (2.5%)
- Injection site reactions
Serious (rare)
- Acute pancreatitis (0.2%)
- Gallbladder inflammation
- Dehydration and kidney injury
- Sudden vision loss (NAION)
- Bowel obstruction
- Severe allergic reaction
Safety: What the Australian Product Information Says
Figures are from the Australian Product Information for each medicine, not the American labels; the American Contrave label carries a boxed suicidality warning, the Australian document does not.
On Contrave, nausea, constipation and vomiting are the very common effects: in the pooled trials 31.8% had nausea against 6.7% on placebo, 18.1% constipation against 7.2% and 9.9% vomiting against 2.9%. Most nausea began within four weeks of starting and almost all had resolved by week 24. Across five trials 23.8% of people on Contrave stopped because of a side effect against 11.9% on placebo.
On Wegovy, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting cluster around each dose increase: in the pooled trials 38.3% had nausea against 14.0% on placebo, 26.8% diarrhoea against 14.3%, 21.8% constipation against 10.2% and 21.8% vomiting against 5.7%. Gut effects led 4.3% to stop, and the Product Information says to consider delaying the next dose step until symptoms improve.
Contraindications: Contrave lists 13. Uncontrolled high blood pressure; any history of seizures; a central nervous system tumour; acute alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal; a history of bipolar disorder; current or past bulimia or anorexia nervosa; any other bupropion or naltrexone product; opioid dependence, opioid-containing medicines, opioid-substitution treatment (methadone, buprenorphine) or acute opioid withdrawal; monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 14 days; pregnancy; severe liver disease; end-stage kidney failure; and allergy to either ingredient. Wegovy's only contraindication is allergy to semaglutide or an excipient.
Opioids: the Contrave Consumer Medicine Information says opioid medicines must have been stopped for at least 7 to 10 days before starting, and that Contrave is stopped at least 3 days before any planned opioid treatment, such as surgery.
Seizures: two of 3,239 people on Contrave in the trials had a seizure (0.06%) against none on placebo; after a seizure it is stopped and never restarted. Caution applies with head injury, heavy alcohol use and medicines that lower the seizure threshold, including antidepressants, antipsychotics and tramadol.
Blood pressure and heart: post-marketing cases of hypertensive crisis have occurred during Contrave dose escalation, and the Product Information recommends against it after a recent heart attack, with unstable heart disease or with class III or IV heart failure. Wegovy is registered to reduce major cardiovascular events in people with established cardiovascular disease.
Mental health: both documents warn about suicidal thoughts. Contrave's asks for close supervision early in treatment and after dose changes, and bipolar disorder and eating disorders are contraindications. Wegovy's carries the class warning the TGA aligned across GLP-1 medicines in December 2025.
Serotonin syndrome: in June 2022 the TGA added a warning to bupropion products, including Contrave, about serotonin syndrome with SSRI or SNRI antidepressants, after six Australian reports.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Contrave is contraindicated in pregnancy (Category B3). Wegovy is Category D, must be stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy and should not be used while breastfeeding.
Vision: the Wegovy Product Information (June 2026 revision) warns that some epidemiological studies indicate an increased risk of NAION, a rare optic nerve condition, during semaglutide treatment; the TGA issued a class-wide safety update on 23 July 2026. Contrave has no equivalent warning.
Age and organ function: Contrave is not recommended under 18, over 75 or in mild to moderate liver impairment, and is capped at two tablets a day in moderate or severe kidney impairment. Wegovy is registered from age 12.
Duration: the Contrave Product Information states that safety and efficacy beyond one year have not been established.
This is not a complete list of adverse effects. The Consumer Medicine Information for each medicine is.
Compare How Contrave and Wegovy Work
Contrave
Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
The Australian Product Information says the exact neurochemical appetite suppressant effects of naltrexone/bupropion are not fully understood. Naltrexone is a mu-opioid antagonist; bupropion is a moderately weak inhibitor of dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake. The two act on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, which regulates appetite, and on the mesolimbic dopamine reward system. In laboratory and animal studies the combination increased the firing of appetite-regulating POMC neurons and reduced food intake.
Wegovy
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Same molecule as Ozempic at a higher dose (2.4mg, or 7.2mg given as three injections) registered for weight management. Mimics the GLP-1 hormone, reducing appetite, slowing gastric emptying and improving satiety. Registered as a weekly injection and, since 3 Nov 2026, a daily tablet (25mg maintenance).
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy 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) |
Wegovy
Weekly injection (daily tablet registered Nov 2026, not yet on sale)
| Dose | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg | Weeks 1-4 | Starting dose |
| 0.5mg | Weeks 5-8 | Escalation |
| 1mg | Weeks 9-12 | Escalation |
| 1.7mg | Weeks 13-16 | Escalation |
| 2.4mg | Week 17+ | Maintenance dose |
| 1.7mg | Week 17+ | Maintenance if 2.4mg is not tolerated |
| 7.2mg (3 x 2.4mg) | After 4+ weeks on 2.4mg | Adults with starting BMI 30+; drop to 2.4mg if no further loss |
Compare Contrave vs Wegovy Australian Regulatory Status
Contrave
- TGA Status
- Registered on ARTG (AUST R 288372) for weight management in adults with BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related comorbidity
- PBS Listed
- No PBS listing
- Supply Status
- No TGA shortage notice (checked 9 Nov 2026)
- Stopping Rule
- The Product Information requires stopping at 16 weeks if less than 5% of body weight has been lost, and at one year if 5% is not maintained
- UK Name
- Authorised in the UK as Mysimba (MHRA licence PLGB 50742/0001)
Wegovy
- TGA Status
- Registered for chronic weight management in adults (Sep 2022) and adolescents 12+ (Feb 2024, injection only), cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with established heart disease (Dec 2024) and, provisionally, MASH liver disease (Mar 2026, injection only). Tablets registered 3 Nov 2026 for adult weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2 (PI 3 Nov 2026).
- PBS Listed
- No. PBAC recommended a narrow listing on 5 Nov 2025. Documentation the sponsor lodged in Feb 2026 was not accepted. A revised proposal was on the agenda of the 4 to 6 Nov 2026 PBAC meeting; outcomes are due on the PBS website on 18 Dec 2026. Status as at 1 Nov 2026.
- PBS Criteria
- Proposed only (Nov 2026 agenda): adults with a documented prior heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, with BMI 35 or more; single-dose pens, Authority Required. Nothing is listed yet.
- Supply Status
- No TGA shortage notice for any Wegovy strength (checked Nov 2026). Tablets not yet supplied.
- Highest Dose
- 7.2 mg weekly approved in Australia (PI Jun 2026) as three 2.4 mg injections; no 7.2 mg pen is registered here
- Oral Pill
- Wegovy tablets 1.5, 4, 9 and 25mg registered 3 Nov 2026 (ARTG 522753, 522757, 522758, 522759) for adult weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction; not yet on sale; Novo Nordisk expects availability later this year; price not announced
Getting a Prescription
Both are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines. Compounded GLP-1 medicines have been illegal to make or supply since 1 October 2024, and in March 2026 the TGA reported that imported products labelled as GLP-1 contained none. Contrave has no generic.
A GP, a specialist or a nurse practitioner (within their scope of practice; rules vary by state and territory) can prescribe either. Both Product Information documents set the same starting criteria: a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-energy diet and more physical activity.
Contrave adds three steps that Wegovy does not. Prescribers must have received iNova's physician educational material. Blood pressure and pulse are measured before starting. And the contraindication list means a screen for opioid use (including codeine and tramadol), seizures, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and antidepressant use before the first script.
Which Is Better?
On weight loss, Wegovy, by every measure available. Its placebo-adjusted loss in STEP 1 was 12.4 percentage points over 68 weeks; Contrave's in COR-I was 4.1 points over 56 weeks. The 2026 BMJ network meta-analysis put semaglutide at 9.8% more loss than lifestyle change at one year and could not distinguish naltrexone-bupropion from lifestyle change with confidence. Contrave is $120 a month cheaper at maintenance and is a tablet. It excludes more people, and more people stop it: 23.8% for side effects in its trials against 11.9% on placebo, where 4.3% stopped Wegovy for gut effects.
The Australian Journal of General Practice (April 2025) puts incretin medicines such as Wegovy first line for people with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease or knee osteoarthritis, and lists naltrexone/bupropion as a reasonable option for people without cardiovascular disease or hypertension when there are no other contraindications.
| Consideration | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How much weight loss you are aiming for | Trial averages were 5.4% on Contrave and 14.9% on Wegovy 2.4 mg, each against its own placebo. The Contrave Product Information expects 5% by week 16 or treatment stops |
| Monthly cost for as long as you take it | Contrave $249.99 a pack (28 days at full dose); Wegovy 2.4 mg $369.99 a pen (four weeks), both Chemist Warehouse, 9 November 2026. Weight is usually regained after stopping semaglutide, so this is a long-term bill |
| Tablets or an injection | Contrave is two tablets twice a day with food; Wegovy is one injection a week with a pen that includes its needles |
| Opioid medicines | Codeine, tramadol, methadone or buprenorphine rule out Contrave until stopped for 7 to 10 days, and Contrave must stop 3 days before planned opioid treatment |
| Seizures, bipolar disorder, eating disorders | Each is a Contrave contraindication; none is a Wegovy contraindication |
| Blood pressure and heart disease | Uncontrolled hypertension excludes Contrave, and it is not recommended after a recent heart attack or with unstable heart disease or advanced heart failure. Wegovy is registered to reduce cardiovascular events in people with established heart disease |
| Antidepressants and other medicines | SSRIs and SNRIs carry a serotonin syndrome warning with Contrave; antipsychotics, antidepressants, tramadol and several others lower the seizure threshold. Wegovy's document has no antidepressant warning; its interaction cautions cover other GLP-1 products, insulin or sulfonylureas (hypoglycaemia) and warfarin (INR monitoring) |
| Pregnancy plans | Contrave is contraindicated in pregnancy; Wegovy must be stopped two months before conceiving |
| Age | Contrave is not recommended under 18 or over 75. Wegovy is registered from age 12 |
| How you handle gut side effects | Nausea affected 31.8% on Contrave and 38.3% on Wegovy in their pooled trials, against 6.7% and 14.0% on placebo; Contrave's trial discontinuation rate was higher |
| Previous response | People who had lost 5% on Contrave by week 16 averaged 11.3% at one year; those who had not are told to stop |
Switching Between Them
No Australian guideline covers moving from Contrave to Wegovy or back. Neither Product Information mentions the other medicine. The Wegovy document says it should not be used with another GLP-1 medicine and has not been studied in people treated with other weight-management products. The Contrave document says nothing about other weight-loss medicines.
The two have no dose equivalence and a switch is a fresh start on the new medicine's own schedule: Wegovy at 0.25 mg a week, stepping up every four weeks; Contrave at one tablet a day, stepping up weekly over three weeks. No washout period is specified for either in Australian sources.
Taking the two together has not been tested in a trial. In Australian Prescriber in April 2022, Proietto wrote that liraglutide or semaglutide "could be combined" with naltrexone/bupropion, an opinion with no trial cited and with iNova and Novo Nordisk advisory roles declared. The only published combination data are retrospective records from one Vancouver clinic (415 people, self-reported weights), which is preliminary.
Weight regain after stopping semaglutide is documented: in the STEP 1 extension (327 participants), people had regained two thirds of what they lost a year after stopping. No post-withdrawal data for Contrave were found in the research for this page.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Do I meet the BMI criteria in the Product Information, and which of my conditions count?
- Do I take anything, or have any history, that rules out Contrave: opioids, antidepressants, seizures, bipolar disorder, an eating disorder?
- Is my blood pressure controlled, and how will you monitor it if I start Contrave?
- What will each option cost me per month at my pharmacy, including reviews and scripts?
- What is the plan at 16 weeks if I have not lost 5% on Contrave, or if Wegovy's side effects are a problem?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek urgent care?
- I am planning a pregnancy, or might be. What changes?
- If this one does not suit me, would you consider the other, and how would we make the change?
Contrave vs Wegovy FAQ
Should I ask about Contrave or Wegovy?
Start with what rules each one out. Contrave is excluded by opioid use, a seizure history, uncontrolled blood pressure, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, pregnancy, severe liver or kidney disease and MAOIs; Wegovy is ruled out by allergy or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, with extra assessment needed after pancreatitis, gut disease, eye disease or kidney impairment. Wegovy produced about three times the placebo-adjusted weight loss in its trials; Contrave costs $120 a month less and is a tablet.
Which works better for weight loss, Wegovy or Contrave?
Wegovy. No trial has compared them directly, but in STEP 1 Wegovy 2.4 mg produced 14.9% average loss over 68 weeks against 2.4% on placebo, and in COR-I Contrave produced 5.4% over 56 weeks against 1.3%. The 2026 BMJ network meta-analysis could not distinguish naltrexone-bupropion from lifestyle change alone at one year.
How much does Contrave cost in Australia, and is it cheaper than Wegovy?
$249.99 for 112 tablets at Chemist Warehouse, $250.00 at Chemist Outlet and $254.95 at Your Discount Chemist on 9 November 2026, on a private prescription; that is 28 days at full dose, or $8.93 a day. Wegovy 2.4 mg was $369.99 a pen (four weeks) at Chemist Warehouse, so Contrave is $120 a month cheaper at maintenance.
Is Contrave on the PBS?
No. The PBS Schedule effective 1 November 2026 has no naltrexone with bupropion item; its naltrexone 50 mg and Zyban (bupropion) items are different products. No PBAC submission for it in weight management was found. Wegovy is not on the PBS either; the PBAC recommended a narrow cardiovascular listing in November 2025 that has not progressed, with a revised proposal on the agenda of the 4 to 6 November 2026 meeting; outcomes are due on the PBS website on 18 December 2026.
Can you take Contrave and Wegovy together?
No trial has tested the combination and neither Product Information covers it; Wegovy's says it has not been studied with other weight-management products. One Australian specialist wrote in 2022 that the two classes "could be combined", an opinion with declared industry ties, and the only published data are one Canadian clinic's records.
Is Contrave the same kind of medicine as Wegovy or Ozempic?
No. Wegovy and Ozempic are both semaglutide, a GLP-1 medicine given by injection; Ozempic is PBS-listed for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy registered for weight management. Contrave is a modified-release tablet of naltrexone 8 mg and bupropion 90 mg.
Which causes less nausea, Contrave or Wegovy?
In their pooled trials, nausea affected 31.8% of people on Contrave (6.7% on placebo) and 38.3% on Wegovy (14.0% on placebo); the figures come from different trials. More people stopped Contrave for side effects (23.8% against 11.9%) than stopped Wegovy for gut effects (4.3%), and the 2026 BMJ analysis found naltrexone-bupropion had the highest rate of gastrointestinal side effects of 19 obesity drugs.
How long does Contrave take to work?
The Australian Product Information sets a 16-week test: if you have not lost at least 5% of your starting weight by then, treatment stops. In the trials, people who had reached 5% at week 16 (50.8% of those on Contrave) averaged 11.3% loss at one year.
Is Contrave available in Australia, and at Chemist Warehouse?
Yes. It has been on the ARTG since August 2018, with no shortage or discontinuation notice in the TGA database on 9 November 2026. Chemist Warehouse listed the 112-tablet pack at $249.99, script required; Chemist Outlet listed it at $250.00, with its page showing both "In Stock" and an out-of-stock notice, and Your Discount Chemist at $254.95.
Sources and References
- Contrave 8/90 Australian Product Information, iNova Pharmaceuticals, revised 3 September 2026
- Contrave 8/90 Consumer Medicine Information, Medsinfo, reviewed September 2026
- Wegovy Australian Product Information, Novo Nordisk, revised 3 November 2026
- Wegovy FlexTouch Consumer Medicine Information, July 2026
- TGA, ARTG entry 288372, Contrave 8/90
- TGA, prescription medicine registration: Contrave (iNova Pharmaceuticals)
- TGA, ARTG search "contrave", read 6 October 2026
- Greenway et al. Effect of naltrexone plus bupropion on weight loss in overweight and obese adults (COR-I). Lancet 2010 (PubMed abstract)
- Hollander et al. Effects of naltrexone SR/bupropion SR on body weight and glycemic parameters in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes (COR-Diabetes). Diabetes Care 2013
- Nissen et al. Effect of naltrexone-bupropion on major adverse cardiovascular events in overweight and obese patients with cardiovascular risk factors (LIGHT). JAMA 2016 (PubMed abstract)
- Wilding JPH et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021
- Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide (STEP 1 extension). Diabetes Obes Metab 2022
- Comparative effects of drugs for adults with overweight or obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ, 8 July 2026
- Khera et al. Association of pharmacological treatments for obesity with weight loss and adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2016
- Europe PMC search, randomised controlled trials of naltrexone and bupropion with liraglutide, semaglutide or tirzepatide, run 6 October 2026
- Endocrinology Advisor, Bupropion-naltrexone plus GLP-1 therapy elicits additional weight loss (Naude et al, Int J Obes 2024), 9 May 2024
- Forner and Hocking. Pharmacotherapy for the management of overweight and obesity. Australian Journal of General Practice, April 2025
- Proietto. Medicines for long-term obesity management. Australian Prescriber, 1 April 2022
- TGA, Bupropion and serotonin syndrome, safety update, 21 June 2022
- TGA, GLP-1 RAs: warnings aligned over potential risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviours, 1 December 2025
- TGA, GLP-1 RAs and rare vision disorder (NAION), 23 July 2026
- TGA, Update on GLP-1 RA pharmacy compounding changes, 18 June 2024
- TGA, Counterfeit weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1, 2 March 2026
- TGA Medicine Shortage Reports Database, all shortage types, searched for naltrexone and bupropion, 9 November 2026
- TGA Medicine Shortage Reports Database, searched for tirzepatide and semaglutide, 6 October 2026
- PBS medicine search, naltrexone, 6 October 2026
- PBS medicine search, Contrave, 6 October 2026
- PBS medicine search, bupropion, 6 October 2026
- PBS Medicine Status, semaglutide (Wegovy), November 2025 submission
- PBS Medicine Status, semaglutide (Wegovy), November 2026 submission
- PBAC outcomes, November 2025 meeting
- PBS fees, patient contributions and safety net thresholds, 1 July 2026
- PBS, Nurse Practitioner PBS prescribing
- Healthdirect, Weight loss medicine
- Chemist Warehouse, Contrave 8mg/90mg Tablets 112, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Contrave Tab 8mg/90mg 112, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Contrave 8/90mg Tablets 112, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Wegovy 2.4mg/Dose FlexTouch Pen, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Wegovy 0.25mg/Dose FlexTouch Pen, read 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Wegovy listings, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Warehouse, Wegovy 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg FlexTouch pens, read 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Wegovy 2.4 mg FlexTouch pen, read 9 November 2026
- RACGP newsGP, Wegovy launches in Australia (launch prices), August 2024
- Nine News, Weight loss pill Contrave launched in Australia, 14 February 2019
- Cleanbill, 2026 Blue Report media release, January 2026
- Weight Loss GP, Contrave in Australia: 2026 guide, 3 August 2026
- Telehealth pricing pages read 6 October 2026: Juniper
- HCF, Claiming prescriptions and PBS medications
- Teachers Health, Medications used for weight loss
- Bupa, Pharmacy cover FAQs
- TGA, prescription medicine registrations: Wegovy, chronic weight management (1 September 2022) and cardiovascular risk reduction (19 December 2024)
- Australian Prescriber, Injectable medicines for weight management, 9 December 2025 (weight regain after stopping)
- FDA, Contrave prescribing information (US label with boxed warning), revised November 2025
- Chemist Outlet, Wegovy 0.25 mg FlexTouch pen, read 9 November 2026 (0.5 mg and 1 mg pages read the same day)
- Chemist Outlet, Wegovy 1.7 mg FlexTouch pen, read 9 November 2026
- PBAC, November 2026 meeting agenda
- PBS calendars (PBAC November 2026 outcomes publication date)
- TGA ARTG search, Wegovy entries (tablets entered 3 November 2026), read 9 November 2026
- RACGP newsGP, TGA approves Wegovy weight-loss pill, 4 November 2026
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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. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.