If you’re looking at options for weight management, you may want to learn more about Contrave.

Contrave is a prescription drug that’s used with a balanced diet and exercise to help manage weight in adults who:

Contrave has two active ingredients: naltrexone and bupropion. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) This medication comes as an extended-release tablet that you swallow. (“Extended-release” means the drug is released slowly over a certain period of time.)

Contrave is available in one strength: 8 milligrams (mg) of naltrexone/90 mg of bupropion.

Keep reading for details on Contrave and cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more information about Contrave, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Contrave can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Contrave, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Contrave. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Contrave in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Contrave requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Contrave requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Contrave and cost.

What’s the cost of Contrave without insurance vs. with insurance?

The price of Contrave without insurance can vary based on several factors, including:

  • where you live
  • which pharmacy you use
  • your treatment plan

If your insurance covers Contrave, your out-of-pocket cost for this medication can also vary depending on certain factors. These may include:

  • your treatment plan
  • which pharmacy you use
  • the quantity of Contrave you’re prescribed (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

Keep in mind that many insurance plans may not cover Contrave. But insurance coverage can change from year to year. Before you start taking Contrave, check with your insurance company to find out if it covers Contrave. It can also tell you what your price with insurance will be.

Your doctor or pharmacist can also answer your questions about the cost of Contrave with or without insurance.

To learn more about ways to save on Contrave, see the “How can I lower my long-term drug costs?” and “Can I get help paying for Contrave?” sections below.

Is there a copay card or coupon card available for Contrave?

Yes. You may qualify for the Contrave Savings Coupon Card, which could help lower your out-of-pocket cost for this drug. If eligible, you can use this card with certain insurance plans to help cover the cost of Contrave. A program called CurAccess may also be available.

For more information on financial assistance for Contrave, see the “Can I get help paying for Contrave?” section below.

Contrave only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Contrave long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Contrave if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Contrave. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Contrave. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. The CurAccess Program is a mail-order service to help you save on Contrave offered by Currax Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s manufacturer, in partnership with Ridgeway Mail Order Pharmacy. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need help covering the cost of Contrave or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called the Contrave Savings Coupon Card may also be available.

If you still have questions about the cost of Contrave, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Contrave.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Are there other treatment options I can try if Contrave is not covered by my insurance?
  • Will the cost of Contrave be different during my first 3 weeks of treatment?
  • Will my dosage of Contrave affect the cost?
  • Can I get a 90-day supply of medication through the CurAccess Program?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.