Drug & supplement interaction

Beer + Bupropion, Naltrexone

Bupropion, Naltrexone brand name: Contrave.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Beer has a moderate interaction with Bupropion, Naltrexone. Theoretically, concomitant use may increase the risk of adverse effects from alcohol.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Beer and Bupropion, Naltrexone

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

BUPROPION (Wellbutrin)

Theoretically, concomitant use may increase the risk of adverse effects from alcohol.
In patients taking bupropion, there have been rare reports of adverse psychiatric events or reduced alcohol tolerance. Additionally, in chronic alcohol users, abrupt discontinuation of alcohol while taking bupropion may increase the risk of seizure.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here is the honest picture with Contrave (bupropion plus naltrexone) and beer. This isn't about beer changing how your body breaks the drug down. It's really about how alcohol and bupropion don't mix well in the brain. The evidence here is thin, mostly rare anecdotal reports, so I don't want to scare you. But it's worth knowing.

Bupropion can lower your seizure threshold, and that risk goes up if you drink heavily and then suddenly stop. There have also been occasional reports of low alcohol tolerance and unusual mood or behavior changes (agitation, confusion) in people drinking while on bupropion. On top of that, drinking works against the whole point of Contrave, which is curbing cravings. Best move: keep alcohol to a minimum or skip it, and run your drinking habits by your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion) prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline LLC. Research Triangle Park, NC, March 2022. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/021515s044lbl.pdf

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Beer Also Interacts With Other Medications

Beer has 654 major, 271 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Bupropion, Naltrexone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 654 Moderate 271 No known interaction 1,905 (incl. Bupropion, Naltrexone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Beer

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Beer. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Bupropion, Naltrexone

This page covers Beer only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Bupropion, Naltrexone page lists 47 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate), Artichoke (moderate) and Astaxanthin (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 34 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Bupropion, Naltrexone page

“Anyone taking Contrave (bupropion with naltrexone) for weight management should treat this list with genuine care, starting with the single major-rated entry, activated charcoal, which can soak up the medication in the gut and sharply blunt its effect. Beyond that, two themes dominate.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Bupropion, Naltrexone interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Beer and Bupropion, Naltrexone Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Beer
Top 25%

#317 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Bupropion, Naltrexone
Top half

#1,314 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Beer

What is Beer?

Beer
  • Social and recreational drinking
  • Relaxation
  • Heart health (popular belief)
  • Bone health (popular belief)
  • Source of antioxidants and B vitamins

Beer is an alcoholic beverage that contains some minerals, B vitamins, and plant compounds from hops and grain, but it is not a health supplement. Any possible benefits come only from light-to-moderate intake, and they are easily outweighed by the well-known harms of alcohol. The safest amount of alcohol for health is none, and beer should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Beer monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Naltrexone and Bupropion

What Is Naltrexone and Bupropion Used For?

Brand name: Contrave

Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion extended-release tablets) is approved to help adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition, lose excess weight and keep it off long term. It is always used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity — not as a stand-alone treatment.

Contrave is not approved to treat depression, anxiety, or any other psychiatric condition, and it is not approved for use in anyone under 18 years of age.

See full Naltrexone and Bupropion drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Beer

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Beer — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

654Major
271Moderate
0Minor
1,904No known interaction
654 Major 271 Moderate 1,904 No interaction
Major

654 interactions

Showing 60 of 654 major interactions — see all 654 on the Beer page.

Moderate

271 interactions

Showing 60 of 271 moderate interactions — see all 271 on the Beer page.

No interaction 1,904 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Beer against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,904 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Beer list.

See the full Beer interactions page
See every supplement checked against Bupropion, Naltrexone, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Beer monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Bupropion, Naltrexone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Bupropion, Naltrexone, ranked by severity Naltrexone and Bupropion drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Beer and Bupropion, Naltrexone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Beer with Bupropion, Naltrexone?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Beer and Bupropion, Naltrexone interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Bupropion, Naltrexone and Beer?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.