Contrave vs. Jardiance

See how Contrave and Jardiance compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Contrave is an oral weight-loss combination of naltrexone and bupropion, while Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor approved for type 2 diabetes and related heart and kidney conditions.

  • Contrave carries a boxed warning for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, while Jardiance's main risks are genital and urinary infections, dehydration, and rare diabetic ketoacidosis.

  • Jardiance has broader FDA approvals spanning diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, while Contrave is approved specifically for chronic weight management.

Contrave vs. Jardiance Drug Summary

Contrave

Contrave combines naltrexone and bupropion in an extended-release tablet approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition. It is taken twice daily after a short titration period, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Jardiance

Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor taken once daily that lowers blood sugar by increasing glucose excretion through urine. It is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and also reduces cardiovascular death risk in heart failure and slows chronic kidney disease progression.

Contrave vs. Jardiance Side Effects

Contrave

Most common
nausea (up to 32.5%)
constipation (up to 19.2%)
headache (up to 17.6%)
vomiting (up to 10.7%)

Jardiance

Most common
urinary tract infection (up to 9.3%)
female genital mycotic infection (up to 5.4%)
increased urination (1%-10%)
dyslipidemia/increased LDL-C (1%-10%)

Contrave vs. Jardiance Dosage

Contrave

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 8 mg/90 mg once daily Week 1
Maximum dose 16 mg/180 mg twice daily Week 3
Dose changes 2 increases Every week

Jardiance

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 10 mg once daily At the start
Maximum dose 10 mg once daily Same as starting
Dose changes None Fixed dose

Contrave vs. Jardiance Indications

Contrave

Contrave is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. It works by combining an opioid antagonist and an antidepressant to help reduce appetite and food cravings.

  • For adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (≥27) with a weight-related condition

  • Used with reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity

  • Combines naltrexone and bupropion to reduce appetite and cravings

  • Taken as an oral tablet, titrated up over three weeks

Jardiance

Jardiance is FDA-approved to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also carries approvals to reduce cardiovascular death in adults with heart disease, reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure, and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

  • For adults and children 10+ with type 2 diabetes

  • Reduces cardiovascular death risk in adults with heart disease

  • Reduces cardiovascular death and hospitalization in heart failure

  • Slows progression of chronic kidney disease

Contrave vs. Jardiance Pros and Cons

Contrave

Contrave is the only oral, non-GLP-1 prescription combination pill approved specifically for weight loss, giving people who prefer tablets over injections a real option. Its bupropion component carries a boxed warning for suicidal thoughts, and it has more contraindications than many weight-loss medications.

Pros

  • Only approved oral, non-GLP-1 weight-loss combination pill

  • No injections needed, taken as a tablet

  • Simple three-week titration schedule

  • May reduce food cravings through central appetite pathways

Cons

  • Boxed warning for suicidal thoughts and behaviors

  • Contraindicated with seizure history, opioid use, and MAOIs

  • Higher list price, roughly $750 to $840 per month without insurance

  • Nausea affects about a third of users

Jardiance

Jardiance's SGLT2 mechanism gives it benefits well beyond glucose control, including proven reductions in heart failure hospitalization and chronic kidney disease progression. It is not approved for weight loss, though modest weight loss can occur as a side effect of its glucose-lowering action.

Pros

  • Also approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease

  • Once-daily dosing with no titration required

  • Lower list price, roughly $350 to $620 per month without insurance

  • Proven cardiovascular death risk reduction beyond glucose control

Cons

  • Not approved for weight management despite modest weight loss effect

  • Risk of genital and urinary tract infections

  • Rare risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, even with normal blood sugar

  • Rare but serious risk of Fournier's gangrene

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