How to save on Contrave

In this article:

• How much does Contrave cost?
• How do I get Contrave for free?
• How to save money on Contrave
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Contrave?

In this article

• How much does Contrave cost?
• How do I get Contrave for free?
• How to save money on Contrave
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Contrave?

Contrave is a prescription brand-name weight management medication with two active ingredients: bupropion and naltrexone. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more and adults with a BMI of 27 or more who also have a weight-related condition, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or Type 2 diabetes. Contrave isn’t cheap, but there are ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs. 

How much does Contrave cost?

Without insurance or other financial assistance, the current cash price of Contrave is about $753.09 for 120, 8–90 mg extended-release tablets. Since the standard Contrave dosage is two tablets twice daily, this constitutes a one-month supply. At that price, Contrave treatment costs more than $28 per day, or over $10,000 per year.

Most people with drug prescriptions rely on health insurance coverage to help offset costs. Unfortunately, with weight loss drugs like Contrave, insurance coverage is “variable,” according to Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. 

Many insurance plans do not have Contrave on their list of preferred drugs. Since insurance coverage varies by company and plan, it’s worth checking your health plan’s drug formulary to see if Contrave is listed. Even if it’s covered, the insurance plan may not approve it without prior authorization, a process that requires the prescriber to submit additional documentation demonstrating the need for the drug. If an insurance provider does offer coverage, the copay and out-of-pocket costs will vary by specific health plan.

RELATED: What insurance plans cover weight loss medication?

How do I get Contrave for free?

Unfortunately, you cannot get Contrave for free. If your insurance plan covers Contrave, you may have a low copay, but you will not likely get it completely free. 

How to save money on Contrave 

If you do not have insurance or have insurance that doesn’t cover Contrave, there are still ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs for this weight loss drug. Here’s how to save on Contrave.

1. Contrave coupons

Use a Contrave free coupon from SingleCare to help you maximize Contrave savings. If you show your pharmacist your SingleCare prescription discount card or use a SingleCare coupon for Contrave, you could pay $648.21 for 120, 8–90 mg tablets.

SingleCare discounts vary by pharmacy and drug quantity, strength, and form. Members save even more, and it’s free to sign up. 

2. Contrave savings card

The manufacturer, Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC, offers a Contrave copay card to eligible insured patients called the Contrave Savings Coupon Card. People with commercial insurance can use this Contrave coupon with insurance to pay a minimal out-of-pocket cost, sometimes as low as $20, for each monthly fill. Terms and eligibility can be found on the Contrave website. 

3. Contrave patient assistance

Patients with or without insurance can receive Contrave at a discount through the manufacturer’s CurAccess patient support program. However, there are eligibility requirements to be met. See the Contrave website for more details. 

4. Shop around

Drug prices vary by pharmacy and location. If you’re struggling to afford your Contrave prescription, use SingleCare.com or the SingleCare app to search for Contrave prices at pharmacies near you and access coupons to help you save. You can also ask your healthcare provider if any local nonprofits or healthcare groups offer financial support for prescription drugs.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Contrave?

Dr. Ali says that, in some cases, healthcare providers help patients save money by prescribing the generic version of Contrave’s two active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion, instead of Contrave itself. “Otherwise, finding a medication covered for weight loss is the next alternative,” he says.

Contrave works by “targeting appetite regulation and reward pathways,” explains Ishita Prakash Patel, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology in Austin, Texas. Popular Contrave alternatives include new injectable weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. Dr. Patel says these GLP-1 receptor agonists might even have benefits beyond obesity treatment. “[They] are showing positive effects on treating sleep apnea, renal disease, and inflammation as well,” she says. However, these brand-name injectables probably won’t be cheaper unless a person’s insurance company prefers them to Contrave.

Other weight loss drugs include Qsymia, Xenical, and Adipex-P. Of these, only Adipex-P is available as a generic: phentermine. It is an older weight loss drug still considered to be effective. As a generic drug, it is also much more affordable, even without insurance, costing about $10.57 for 30, 37.5 mg tablets. 

Ultimately, it’s important to seek personalized medical advice from a healthcare provider who knows your medical history, current health conditions, and other medications you’re taking. A prescribing healthcare professional can also offer advice on Contrave alternatives if you struggle to afford your prescription.

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