Contrave in Australia
Contrave is a tablet that combines naltrexone and bupropion. The TGA registered it in August 2018 for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. It is not on the PBS, so every script is private.
At a glance
- Generic
- Naltrexone/Bupropion ER
- Maker
- iNova Pharmaceuticals (AU)
- Type
- Opioid antagonist + NDRI combination
- Form
- Daily oral tablets
- Avg weight loss
- 5.4% vs 1.3% placebo at 56 weeks (COR-I, AU PI)
Short answer
Contrave (naltrexone 8 mg with bupropion 90 mg) is a Schedule 4 prescription tablet registered by the TGA for weight management in adults. It is not on the PBS. A 112-tablet pack, 28 days at the full dose, cost $249.99 at Chemist Warehouse and $250.00 at Chemist Outlet on 9 November 2026.
- Last updated:
- 9 November 2026
- Prices, PBS and supply checked:
- 9 November 2026
Prices at three retailers, the November 2026 PBS Schedule, the TGA shortage database and the Australian Product Information (revised 3 September 2026) were rechecked on 9 November 2026.
Contrave Key Facts
Yes, TGA approved for weight management
TGA registered 21 Aug 2018 (ARTG 288372, sponsor iNova), on sale from Feb 2019. Schedule 4. One of four oral medicines registered for weight management in Australia, with phentermine, orlistat and, since 3 Nov 2026, Wegovy (semaglutide) tablets. The Product Information requires stopping at 16 weeks if less than 5% of body weight has been lost.
13 contraindications; no boxed warning in the AU PI
In trials 23.8% stopped for side effects vs 11.9% on placebo. Contraindicated with uncontrolled hypertension, seizure history, opioid use or dependence, MAOIs, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, pregnancy, severe liver disease and end-stage kidney failure. The PI (Sep 2026) says cardiovascular risks beyond one year "have not been fully determined".
12 years in the US, 8 years in Australia
FDA approved Sep 2014. TGA registered 21 Aug 2018; on sale in Australia since Feb 2019. Authorised in the UK as Mysimba.
$250/month (112 tablets)
Private prescription, not PBS subsidised. Chemist Warehouse $249.99, Chemist Outlet $250.00 and Your Discount Chemist $254.95 for 112 tablets (28 days at the full dose) on 9 Nov 2026.
Prescription from GP; oral tablet, no injections
Oral tablets: no needles. Any doctor can prescribe; no specialist referral needed. Prescribers must have received the sponsor's physician educational material (PI, Sep 2026). No TGA shortage entry (checked 9 Nov 2026); stock varies by pharmacy.
Who Contrave Is For
The Australian Product Information (PI) covers adults (18 and over) with a starting BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia or controlled hypertension, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. It is not recommended over 75 or with mild to moderate liver impairment.
The April 2025 AJGP review lists naltrexone/bupropion, with phentermine/topiramate, among "reasonable options" for patients without cardiovascular disease or hypertension "if there are no other contraindications". It puts incretin medicines first where type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, knee osteoarthritis or fatty liver disease is present.
Contrave Cost in Australia
Prices checked 9 November 2026.
A 112-tablet pack cost $249.99 to $254.95 at three retailers on 9 November 2026, about $8.93 a day at the lowest price. It lasts 28 days at the full dose of four tablets a day. The first pack lasts about 38 days, because the three titration weeks use 42 tablets.
| Strength | Used as | Chemist Warehouse | Your Discount Chemist | Chemist Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/90 mg, 112 tablets | Titration, then 28 days at the full dose | $249.99 | $254.95 | $250.00 |
| 8/90 mg, 28 tablets | Registered starter pack | not listed | not listed | not listed |
Your Discount Chemist shows $254.95 once its only option, Private, is selected (the page reads $0.00 before that); its in-store stock check showed no store stock on 9 November 2026. Chemist Warehouse and Chemist Outlet prices were unchanged from 6 October 2026.
What the first year costs
| Path | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stop at the 16-week check (406 tablets, 4 packs) | $999.96 at Chemist Warehouse |
| Continue for 52 weeks (1,414 tablets, 13 packs) | $3,249.87 at Chemist Warehouse |
Illustrative. Assumes the PI titration, no missed doses, whole packs and no price change.
Costs on top of the medicine
- Doctor visits: blood pressure and pulse checks before starting and at regular intervals, a review at 16 weeks and one every year. Consultation fees are separate.
How these prices were checked
Private-script prices read from the Chemist Warehouse, Your Discount Chemist and Chemist Outlet product pages on 9 November 2026.
Is Contrave on the PBS?
PBS status verified 9 November 2026
- Contrave
- Not listed.
- No naltrexone with bupropion item is on the PBS or the Repatriation PBS. The naltrexone 50 mg tablet (8370M) and Zyban bupropion (8465M, 8710K) are separate products.
- TGA registration
- On the ARTG (AUST R 288372) since August 2018. Registration allows supply; it does not set or subsidise the price.
- PBS listing
- None, so the $25.00 general and $7.70 concession co-payments do not apply.
- Private prescription
- The only way to buy it, at the pharmacy's price.
- Private health extras
- Australian Prescriber (December 2025) notes some policies partly rebate the injectable weight-management medicines. No fund rule naming Contrave was reviewed.
Contrave Supply in Australia
Supply status verified 9 November 2026
- Contrave 8/90 mg
- No shortage entry.
- The database has no record for Contrave, naltrexone or bupropion.
There was also no entry at the 6 October 2026 check. Stock varies by pharmacy.
Contrave Australian Regulatory Status
- TGA Status
- Registered on ARTG (AUST R 288372) for weight management in adults with BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related comorbidity
- 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)
How Contrave Works
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.
Contrave Dosing Schedule
| 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) |
How Contrave Is Taken
The tablets are blue, round and modified-release, marked "NB-890". The maximum dose, two tablets morning and evening (32 mg naltrexone, 360 mg bupropion a day), is reached at the start of week 4.
Swallow them whole with water, preferably with food; do not cut, chew or crush. After a missed dose, take the next one at the usual time without an extra dose. With moderate or severe kidney impairment the maximum is one tablet morning and evening.
Contrave Side Effects
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
Contrave Safety: What the Australian Product Information Says
The Australian PI has no boxed warning. In pooled trials (3,239 people on Contrave, 1,515 on placebo, up to 56 weeks), 23.8% on Contrave and 11.9% on placebo stopped because of an adverse event, most often nausea, headache, dizziness or vomiting.
Seizures occurred in 2 of 3,239 people (0.06%) on Contrave and none on placebo. The risk rises with dose and with medicines that lower the seizure threshold, such as antidepressants and tramadol. Serotonin syndrome can occur with SSRIs, SNRIs and some opioids.
The 3 September 2026 revision says cardiovascular risks beyond one year "have not been fully determined" and asks for a yearly cardiovascular check. The PI recommends against use after a recent heart attack or with unstable heart disease. Severe skin reactions, including TEN and DRESS (added in 2026), mean stopping for good.
Naltrexone blocks opioids. Contrave starts only after opioids have been stopped for at least 7 to 10 days, and stops at least 3 days before planned opioid use such as surgery. Alcohol should be minimised or avoided.
The 13 contraindications:
Allergy to naltrexone, bupropion or any ingredient
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Seizure disorder or any history of seizures
A known central nervous system tumour
Acute alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal
A history of bipolar disorder
Other medicines containing bupropion or naltrexone
Current or past bulimia or anorexia nervosa
Current opioid dependence or opioid medicines, methadone or buprenorphine for dependence, or acute opioid withdrawal
MAOIs, including reversible MAOIs, or within 14 days of stopping one
Pregnancy
Severe liver impairment
End-stage kidney failure
Contrave is Pregnancy Category B3 and contraindicated in pregnancy. It is not recommended while breastfeeding, as both medicines pass into breast milk. This is not a complete list; the PI and the Consumer Medicine Information have the full list.
Contrave Clinical Trial Results
Four placebo-controlled trials, each 56 weeks, tested the registered maximum dose. All were run in the United States and funded by the developer, Orexigen Therapeutics.
| Trial | Who | Dose and length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| COR-I | 1,742 adults (583 on the full dose, 581 on placebo, 578 on a lower dose), BMI 30 to 45, or 27 to 45 with dyslipidaemia or hypertension | 32/360 mg a day, 56 weeks | -5.4% vs -1.3% placebo (AU PI); -6.1% vs -1.3% (journal) |
| COR-II | 1,496 adults, same criteria, 2:1 randomisation | 32/360 mg a day, 56 weeks | -6.4% vs -1.2% at 56 weeks (journal); -5.7% vs -1.9% at 28 weeks (AU PI) |
| COR-BMOD | 793 adults; intensive behaviour modification in both arms | 32/360 mg a day, 56 weeks | -8.1% vs -4.9% (AU PI); -9.3% vs -5.1% (journal) |
| COR-Diabetes | 505 adults with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c 7 to 10% | 32/360 mg a day, 56 weeks | -3.7% vs -1.7% (AU PI); -5.0% vs -1.8% (journal); HbA1c -0.6 vs -0.1 points |
AU PI figures are the PI's intention-to-treat analysis; journal figures are modified intention-to-treat. About half of participants completed each trial. Mean starting BMI was 36; 83% were women.
In the PI's pooled analysis of people with week-16 data, 50.8% on Contrave and 19.3% on placebo had lost at least 5% by week 16; those early responders on Contrave averaged 11.3% loss at one year. The cardiovascular outcomes trial, LIGHT (8,910 adults), was terminated early after the sponsor publicly released interim data; its authors called cardiovascular safety "uncertain".
No randomised trial compares Contrave with a GLP-1 medicine. In the BMJ 2026 network meta-analysis, an indirect comparison of 262 trials, one-year loss beyond lifestyle change was 14.9% for tirzepatide and 9.8% for injected semaglutide. Naltrexone/bupropion was "not convincingly different from lifestyle modification alone", judged against the analysis's 5% threshold for an important difference. The Lancet 2024 analysis found it, with phentermine/topiramate, had the highest risk of stopping for side effects (odds ratio 2.69).
Contrave Clinical Trial Sources
COR-I
NCT005327796.1% weight loss vs 1.3% placebo at 56 weeks in 1,742 adults
Lancet 2010;376:595-605
COR-II
NCT005672556.4% vs 1.2% placebo at 56 weeks in 1,496 adults
Obesity 2013;21:935-943
COR-BMOD (Behavioural Modification)
NCT004565219.3% vs 5.1% placebo at 56 weeks, both arms with intensive behaviour modification, n=793
Obesity 2011;19:110-120
COR-Diabetes
NCT004746305.0% vs 1.8% placebo at 56 weeks in 505 adults with type 2 diabetes; HbA1c -0.6 vs -0.1 points
Diabetes Care 2013;36:4022-4029
Published, peer-reviewed Contrave trials. Links open the trial registry, the journal article or PubMed in a new tab.
What Happens When You Stop Contrave
The PI says to stop after 16 weeks if less than 5% of starting weight has been lost, and after one year if a 5% loss has not been maintained. Anyone continuing is re-evaluated every year.
The trials found no withdrawal syndrome after abrupt or tapered stopping, and the PI gives no tapering schedule. After stopping, sensitivity to opioids may be increased and digoxin levels may rise.
How much weight returns after stopping is not known. The COR trials did not follow people off the drug, and a 2026 meta-analysis of regain after weight-loss medicines reported drug subgroups only for semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide. No Australian guidance on stopping beyond the PI rules was found.
How to Get Contrave in Australia
Contrave is Schedule 4: any doctor can prescribe it, with no specialist referral and no PBS authority step. Since September 2026 the PI requires every prescriber to have received the sponsor's physician educational material and to discuss benefits and risks with the patient. Some Australian telehealth services prescribe it. The sponsor, iNova, runs a pharmacy-based Contrave Support Program with phone nurse support; its undated notice says enrolment may be capped at 1,000 patients.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Contrave
- Do any of my medicines, such as antidepressants, tramadol, metoprolol, clopidogrel or digoxin, interact with Contrave?
- If I need surgery or opioid pain relief, when do I stop Contrave and when can I restart?
- Is my blood pressure controlled well enough to start, and how often will you check it?
- Does a history of seizures, head injury, heavy drinking, bipolar disorder or an eating disorder rule it out for me?
- What happens at 16 weeks if I have not lost 5%?
- What contraception should I use, given Contrave is contraindicated in pregnancy?
Contrave FAQ
How much does Contrave cost in Australia?
A 112-tablet pack cost $249.99 at Chemist Warehouse, $250.00 at Chemist Outlet and $254.95 at Your Discount Chemist on 9 November 2026. It lasts 28 days at the full dose, or about 38 days for the first pack while the dose builds up. A year takes about 13 packs, around $3,250.
Is Contrave available in Australia?
Yes. The TGA registered Contrave 8/90 (AUST R 288372, sponsor iNova) on 21 August 2018, and it went on sale in February 2019. It is Schedule 4, so a prescription is needed. The TGA shortage database had no entry for it on 9 November 2026.
Is Contrave on the PBS?
No. Neither the PBS nor the Repatriation PBS lists naltrexone with bupropion in the November 2026 Schedule. Naltrexone 50 mg tablets and Zyban (bupropion) have their own PBS items, but they are different products. Every Contrave script is private.
How much weight can you lose on Contrave?
In COR-I (1,742 adults, 56 weeks), average loss in the Australian PI's analysis was 5.4% on Contrave against 1.3% on placebo. By week 16, 50.8% on Contrave and 19.3% on placebo had lost at least 5%, and those early responders averaged 11.3% at one year.
Who cannot take Contrave?
The PI lists 13 contraindications, including uncontrolled high blood pressure, any seizure history, current opioid use or dependence, bipolar disorder, bulimia or anorexia, MAOIs, pregnancy, severe liver impairment and end-stage kidney failure. It is not recommended after a recent heart attack.
What are the side effects of Contrave?
In the PI's pooled trials, nausea affected 31.8% against 6.7% on placebo, constipation 18.1% against 7.2% and vomiting 9.9% against 2.9%. Dizziness, tremor, dry mouth and palpitations are common. 23.8% stopped because of side effects, against 11.9% on placebo. Serious risks include seizures, hypertensive crisis and serotonin syndrome.
What should you avoid while taking Contrave?
Opioid medicines, including tramadol; MAOIs; and other products containing bupropion or naltrexone. The PI says alcohol should be minimised or avoided. It also lists interactions with medicines that lower the seizure threshold, such as some antidepressants and antipsychotics, and with metoprolol, clopidogrel and digoxin.
Is Contrave better than Ozempic?
No trial has compared them, and Ozempic is registered in Australia for type 2 diabetes, not weight management. The BMJ 2026 network meta-analysis, an indirect comparison, estimated one-year loss beyond lifestyle change of 9.8% for injected semaglutide (analysed as one group, not as Ozempic) and found naltrexone/bupropion not convincingly different from lifestyle change alone. See Contrave vs Ozempic.
Can Contrave be taken with Wegovy, Mounjaro or Ozempic?
The Contrave, Mounjaro and Ozempic PIs say nothing on combining. The Wegovy PI says its safety has not been studied with other weight-management products and does not recommend that use. No randomised trial has tested Contrave with a GLP-1 medicine, and a 2024 Canadian cohort study of the combination was retracted on 19 December 2025.
Food, recipe and meal finders with general nutrition information for people prescribed a GLP-1 medicine: eating on GLP-1 medication.
Sources and References
- iNova Pharmaceuticals, Contrave 8/90 Australian Product Information, date of revision 3 September 2026 (read 9 November 2026)
- iNova Pharmaceuticals, Contrave 8/90 Consumer Medicine Information, last reviewed September 2026
- TGA, CONTRAVE (iNova Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd), prescription medicine registration, date registered 21 August 2018
- TGA, Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, search "naltrexone bupropion", 9 November 2026
- Novo Nordisk, Wegovy Australian Product Information, revised 3 November 2026
- TGA, Bupropion and serotonin syndrome, safety update, 21 June 2022
- TGA, Medicine Shortage Reports Database, naltrexone record, 9 November 2026
- TGA, Medicine Shortage Reports Database, bupropion record, 9 November 2026
- PBS, medicine search "naltrexone", 9 November 2026
- PBS, Fees, patient contributions and safety net thresholds, as at 1 July 2026
- Healthdirect, Contrave 8/90, read 9 November 2026
- Greenway et al (COR-I, Lancet 2010), Apovian et al (COR-II, Obesity 2013), Wadden et al (COR-BMOD, Obesity 2011), Hollander et al (COR-Diabetes, Diabetes Care 2013), PubMed abstracts
- Apovian et al, A randomized, phase 3 trial of naltrexone SR/bupropion SR on weight and obesity-related risk factors (COR-II), Obesity, 2013
- Wadden et al, Weight loss with naltrexone SR/bupropion SR combination therapy as an adjunct to behavior modification: the COR-BMOD trial, Obesity, 2011
- Hollander et al, Effects of naltrexone SR/bupropion SR on body weight and glycemic parameters in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Care, 2013
- Europe PMC, citation check for the COR trials, 9 November 2026
- Nissen et al, Effect of naltrexone-bupropion on major adverse cardiovascular events (LIGHT), JAMA, 2016, PubMed abstract
- The BMJ, Comparative effects of drugs for adults with overweight or obesity: systematic review and network meta-analysis, 8 July 2026
- Shi et al, Pharmacotherapy for adults with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, The Lancet, republished 6 April 2024
- Europe PMC, Cureus 2026 meta-analysis of weight regain after stopping weight-loss medicines (17 studies, 3,793 people), 9 November 2026
- AJGP (RACGP), Pharmacotherapy for the management of overweight and obesity, April 2025
- Australian Prescriber, Injectable drugs for weight management, 9 December 2025
- International Journal of Obesity, Retracted article: Effect of combined GLP-1 analogue and bupropion/naltrexone on weight loss: a retrospective cohort study, retracted 19 December 2025
- Nine, Weight loss pill Contrave launched in Australia, 14 February 2019
- MedAdvisor, Contrave (naltrexone HCl/bupropion HCl) Support Program now live, undated (read 9 November 2026)
- Chemist Warehouse, Contrave 8mg/90mg Tablets 112, 9 November 2026
- Your Discount Chemist, Contrave 8/90mg Tablets 112, 9 November 2026
- Chemist Outlet, Contrave Tab 8mg/90mg 112, 9 November 2026
- Orexigen Therapeutics Ireland, Mysimba 8 mg/90 mg prolonged-release tablets, UK Summary of Product Characteristics (PLGB 50742/0001), revised July 2026 (read 9 November 2026)
Compare Contrave with Other Medications
Contrave vs Ozempic
GLP-1 receptor agonist
4.5-6.9 kg weight change at 1 to 2 mg in type 2 diabetes trials
Contrave vs Wegovy
GLP-1 receptor agonist
~15% average weight loss at 2.4 mg in STEP 1, 68 weeks
Contrave vs Mounjaro
Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
~21% average weight loss at 15 mg in SURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks
Contrave vs Orlistat
Lipase inhibitor
2.9 kg more than placebo, 16 trials of 1 to 4 years
Contrave vs Saxenda
GLP-1 receptor agonist
~8% average weight loss at 3 mg in SCALE Obesity, 56 weeks
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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. Last reviewed 9 November 2026.