Itching From Contrave (Top voted first)

I have been taking Contrave for three weeks and have developed itching on the insides of my hands and the bottoms of my feet. Has anyone else experienced this?

REPLY

REPORT

Hi, I am currently going through a case of really bad itching. I am on my third week of contrave, 2 in the am 1 in the pm. I am itching every where from hands to the feet, head, neck, etc. How long after going back to 1 am 1 pm did the itching go away? My iching is so bad that was thinking about stopping it altogether but it has been helping me so much that I do not want to stop.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 12

I too just started with the itch under my feet and hands. However today I have been itching everywhere. I am currently on 2 in the am and 1 in the pm. Thinking about going back to 1 and 1. Has anyone else experienced the all over itching?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 9

I have been on Contrave for 3 months. It made it itch uncontrollably. It always happen around 10pm or so. I tried just taking one pill a day, but nothing changed, the itching got so bad that I stopped talking Contrave. Note: I did lose 15 pounds

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

It took a day or two to somewhat subside and a few weeks to totally go away.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I also started the 2:1 this passed Friday 8/21 and on 8/24 woke up with bad itching back of neck and ears. Got so bad by 8/25 and 8/26 my hands swelled up and burned when touched, my right eye was alos swollen. I went to dr on 8/25 and he had me stop the Contrave and prescribed me with steroids, but i still have the itching everywhere. I did not want to stop it because it is working 9#'s down since 8/7. he did state i could start all over once the rash/itching has subsided. should i just go back to the 1:1?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Been on Contrave for 1 month & I ITCH BADLY!!! Thinking about asking my doc to just prescribe the Wellbutrin and calling it a day

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Just after I increased dosage to 2 twice a day, I got hives. Had no idea what caused it. They went away after a few days, then I got strange intense itching on my palms & soles of my feet. I found these threads relating it to Contrave & that solved the mystery. I was able to control the itching with Zyrtec. I stopped the Contrave a few weeks ago (after losing no weight in ~2 1/2 months of taking it). But my feet still sometimes itch if I don't take the Zyrtec.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Yes, the itch spread and I had the itching at the same point in the medicine process. I did go back to one and one, and the itching, for the most part, went away. I am now wondering if the cause of the itching, since there is no rash, is that this drug dries out your system to such a great extent, that the skin is so dry, thus the itching (although hand lotion did nothing to stop the itch).

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I took contrave and within 1 week, i was itching on feet and hands and then everywhere, also lymph nodes start to swell. stopped it and reaction is still going strong after a month and a half that i quit. went to ER twice and to several doctors. seems that this is a severe allergic reaction. been on prednisone twice and had to go to an allergist and put on 2 different meds and this may not go away. also, i have Sarcoidosis and it flared it up after being in remmission for 2 years and 3 months. i am very upset about this, this is defeating its purpose. being on prednisone has increased my weight. this is really upsetting.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I have been on Contrave for 5 weeks and am currently doing the 2:2. I have been itching everywhere from inside my hands down to my thighs. I feel better now knowing that I am not alone. It seemed to happen overnight. I, too, thought it was my fabric softener or possibly even the brand of soap before realizing that Contrave is the culprit of my now extremely dry skin. I bought lotion specifically for dry skin - exzema. It hasn't worked. May try Zyrtec to see if that helps.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I stopped about 2 weeks ago after taking it 7 days and it took me a week and half to stop itching. I'm wondering if I start again will it happen again.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Imy doctor had me start taking a Zyrtec D at night. Stopped the itching immediately

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Re: Amy (# 56)

I took Contrave a few years ago. The insanely intense itching of my feet and palms of my hands was it for me. I gave it up. No rash just pure misery from the itch. My body said stop, so I did.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

The itching is awful. I stopped taking and still itchy. Going to doctor today to get prednisone. How long will it take for this to go away. Scratching big marks in my sleep

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Holy Moses! 2 days into week three, I woke up with hives all over, itching palms ,ears and worst of all the bottoms of my feet! I fully blamed new fabric softener but after 3 more days, I'm finally conceding that it's the Contrave. I'm going to stop it until it goes away and then try again, stopping at 1 twice daily, to see if that will keep it at bay. Yikes! This is miserable!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hello have you noticed a difference? Are you still experiencing the itching? Happened to me just after I started the twice a day dosage. Thanks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

How long does it take to get Contrave out of your system?? I had severe nausea and itching with Contrave to the point that I had bumps and the itch was all over my body. According to my doctor I was allergic to Contrave which is why my symptoms were so intense and not going away. I stopped Contrave 3 and half days ago and the itch is still there but the nausea is getting better.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Lucy (# 34)

Zyrtec helped me more than Benadryl. Shortly after taking a Zyrtec, no more itchy palms or feet.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I also experienced itching a little over two weeks into Contrave and had to stop. I did not try Zyrtec because it just didn't feel right to be walking around with a suppressed allergic reaction all day. But I'm not a doctor so maybe it would have been fine.

I am wondering if anyone has tried getting Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Naltrexone LDN prescribed separately and if that stopped the itching side effect. Contrave basically just combined those two drugs into one pill but they have been being prescribed as two separate drugs used together for weight-loss for years.

I can't find anyone complaining of itchiness who have gotten the two prescribed separately but maybe its just not as common (or "hot right now") a subject for people to be posting about it.

Anyway, would love to know anyone's experiences!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Minnie (# 49)

I think you are done with Contrave Minnie as you are having an allergic reaction for sure. Benedryl really helped the itch.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi - I am switching from Wellbutrin XL 300 mg/day (brand) to Contrave. I do not have the Rx yet but wanted to ask in adv...

3 REPLIES

I would like to know how to switch from Bupropion HCL XL 300 to Contrave 8/90? I have been taking Bupropion for years. I...

1 REPLY

I am off contrave but still having breathlessness. How long will this last? ## How long has it been, since you stopped t...

1 REPLY

I have been on Contrave for 5 days. 2 days ago, I noticed a splotchy rash on my buttocks, legs and around my armpits. It...

17 REPLIES

I took Contrave for about four months and lost 10 lbs. Decided I would stop and didn't take it for a month. I immedi...

3 REPLIES

Only side effect I'm having is crazy itching from head to toe. On gabapentin 300mg 2xs a day for 4 months due to ner...

9 REPLIES

I take 20MG of Lisinopril daily for high blood pressure. I have been experiencing severe itching all over. No rash is vi...

1 REPLY

I have been on Lovastain for three years. My eyes are itching like crazy. I itch all over at night. Has anybody else had...

1 REPLY

I want to know how many are suffering from withdrawal from this drug that causes itching all over the body. At the peopl...

717 REPLIES

I have been taking lisinopril 20mg - 2x for a long time. Earlier this year I was given carvedilol 6.25mg - 2x along with...

1 REPLY