Naltrexone for weight loss online

Naltrexone affects the brain’s reward system and works by blocking the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids. It can lead to weight loss by reducing food cravings and food consumption. A study examining naltrexone and reward-based behavior found that a 50-milligram dose reduced the reward eating drive (RED) and the intensity of food cravings for sugary and fatty foods in women with obesity.

Combining naltrexone with a medication like bupropion, which reduces appetite, can lead to more significant weight loss. Research suggests that within the first 12 weeks of starting Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion), a person with obesity can lose about 5% of their body weight.

If your provider thinks naltrexone weight loss is medically necessary for you, finding the right dose can help reduce appetite and food cravings. A decreased appetite can lead to less food intake and less weight gain. Blocking cravings for foods high in sugar and fat can make it easier to choose more nutritious foods. Combining naltrexone with nutritious, reduced-calorie meals and increased physical activity may boost weight loss.

Naltrexone comes in 2 forms: oral tablet and injection. The generic, naltrexone hydrochloride, and the brand name versions, ReVia and Depade, are available as 50-milligram tablets.

Your provider may recommend starting with 50 milligrams of naltrexone for weight loss every morning for the first week. As your body adjusts to the medication, your provider may add an evening dose and continue to increase your morning and evening doses as medically necessary.

If you and your provider decide that LDN is a good option for you, they may start you on a dose of 0.5 milligrams and gradually increase your dosage to up to 5 milligrams.

Vivitrol is a brand-name injection that contains 380 milligrams of naltrexone. Once every 4 weeks, a healthcare provider administers this intramuscular gluteal (buttocks) injection.

Contrave is a fixed-dose medication that combines naltrexone and bupropion. Each extended-release tablet combines 32 milligrams of sustained-release naltrexone and 360 milligrams of sustained-release bupropion. Learn more about Contrave.

Research shows that naltrexone can lead to some weight loss. In a systematic review, people taking naltrexone lost an average of 1.7% of their body weight after 24 weeks. Other weight loss medications may lead to greater weight loss over time.

Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight when used alongside changes in diet and physical activity. Clinical trial data shows that people taking Zepbound lost 20.9% of their body weight in 72 weeks, while those taking Wegovy lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight in 68 weeks.

People taking Contrave, which is FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight when used with diet and exercise, who made similar lifestyle changes lost 5 to 10% of their body weight in 56 weeks. 

Xenical (orlistat), a lipase inhibitor approved for the management of obesity alongside a low-fat and reduced-calorie diet, led to a loss of 5% of body weight in 52 weeks.

The side effects of these medications are similar and include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and headache. Because Xenical blocks your body’s ability to break down dietary fats, side effects often also include diarrhea and oily spotting.

Before taking any medication discuss all possible side effects, drug interactions, and contraindications with your pharmacist or provider and read the medication guide.

The best way to find out which weight loss medication is best for you, if any, is to talk to a licensed weight loss healthcare provider.