Contrave: Is New Diet Pill Worth the Risks?

The new diet pill, Contrave, has been recommended for approval by the FDA advisory committee. Does this mean there will finally be a miracle pill for weight loss? What will this new pill mean for obesity rates? Is this new diet pill worth the risks?

Contrave is only one of three diet pills submitted this year to pass FDA panel guidelines and be recommended for approval by the FDA. The other two weight loss drugs, Qnexa and Locaserin, were denied recommendations due to increased heart and cancer risks. You can read more about the FDA panel recommendations for Contrave in an article on WebMD.

Contrave is a combination of the antidepressant bupropion and the anti-addiction drug naltrexone. The combination of these medications is purported to work in the brain to reduce appetite and increase metabolism.

One of the side effects of bupropion is weight loss, though this effect doesn't appear to last long. A side effect of naltrexone is a possible loss of appetite. Both drugs can affect changes in taste, causing certain foods to taste funny. The combination of side effects of these two drugs sound promising for weight loss, but are there other risks?

Some side effects of naltrexone include anxiety, irritability and depression. Will the effects of the antidepressant bupropion counter these possible effects? Bupropion can also cause nervousness, restlessness and anxiety, so will the two drugs work together and emphasize these side effects? Plus, both drugs can cause other more serious health risks.

The study used by the FDA panel lasted for 56 weeks with side effects being deemed an acceptable risk, with the benefits of the drug outweighing these risks. Even if the FDA does approve Contrave for weight loss it doesn't mean it will prove safe over time. Meridia was approved for weight loss in 1997 and pulled off of the market just this year, after 13 years, when it was shown to increase risk of heart attack.

Contrave does appear to be effective when used with an intensive weight loss program. Although this intensive program worked well for those not receiving Contrave, those who did take the drug lost more weight. Almost 30% of participants who took the diet pill lost 15% or more of their body weight in that year.

More research is planned to see if Contrave will work with a less intensive weight loss program or even without one at all.

With obesity considered an epidemic it appears people no longer want to put effort into their weight loss. If a diet pill works best with an intensive weight loss program, why add the risks of side effects by using the drug?

Compared to the Contrave study results, I lost almost 20% of my body weight in one year due to small lifestyle changes and eating healthier, and more than 10% the following year. However, people seem to want maximum weight loss with minimal effort.

Dieting is not easy and people aren't willing to make sacrifices to their eating habits. If studies pan out, Contrave may be just the miracle cure for obesity they are looking for. If the FDA does approve Contrave for weight loss, speak with your doctor and ask yourself if the new diet pill is worth the risks.

Speak with your doctor before starting any exercise or weight loss program. All medications pose the possibility of risk to health. Only your doctor and you can decide if the benefits of using medication for weight loss outweigh potential side effects and risks to your health in your specific case.

SOURCES:

Daniel J. DeNoon; Contrave: New Weight Loss Drug Advances; WebMD

Orexigen; Contrave

Drugs.com; Naltrexone Side Effects

CNN Health; Weight loss drug pulled from market