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Key takeaways
Contrave is a brand-name prescription weight loss medication.
The retail price of Contrave is about $842 for a one-month supply.
You can save on Contrave with insurance coverage, SingleCare coupons, and financial assistance from the manufacturer.
An estimated 40% of U.S. adults have obesity, and for some, weight loss drugs like Contrave are a helpful adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity. 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.
Like most prescription medications, Contrave isn’t cheap. If you’ve been prescribed Contrave, it’s important to know that 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 $841 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, including Medicare, 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 (and if so, whether the drug requires prior authorization). If an insurance provider does offer coverage, the copay and out-of-pocket costs will vary by specific health plan.
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 money on Contrave.
Contrave coupons
SingleCare offers Contrave coupons to help you get the lowest price for your prescription. If you show your pharmacist your SingleCare prescription discount card or use a SingleCare coupon for Contrave, you could pay as low as $613 for 120, 8–90 mg tablets (a 30-day supply). That’s more than $200 off the retail price.
SingleCare discounts vary by pharmacy and drug quantity, strength, and form. Click here to learn more about where you can use a SingleCare savings card.
Manufacturer’s Contrave savings card
People who meet certain income requirements can receive Contrave at a discount through the CurAccess Patient Support Program by Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC, the drug’s manufacturer. However, there is still an out-of-pocket cost. For instance, eligible cash payers can get Contrave for $99 per month with free shipping. People with health insurance coverage can also apply and may get Contrave for even less..
Shop around
Drug prices vary by pharmacy and location. If you’re struggling to afford your Contrave prescription, use SingleCare.com 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, prescribers 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 in generic form as 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 $50 for a 30-day supply. With a SingleCare coupon for phentermine, you could pay as little as $10 per month.
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.
- Highlights of prescribing information, Food and Drug Administration (2021)
- Save on Contrave, Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC (2025)
- Proposed coverage of anti-obesity drugs in Medicare and Medicaid would expand access to millions of people with obesity, KFF (2024)