7 Prescription Weight Loss Medications That Aren’t GLP-1s (But Still Work)

GLP-1s Aren’t the Only Prescription Weight Loss Medication

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Zepbound® have transformed weight loss treatment. However, they’re not the only prescription options available.

Some people can’t tolerate GLP-1 medications because of side effects. Others have reached a weight loss plateau on GLP-1s, want a more affordable option, or simply aren’t good candidates for these medications.

That’s where weight loss adjuncts come in.

Adjunct medications can be used on their own or alongside a GLP-1 to help reduce appetite, improve insulin sensitivity, decrease cravings, or support long-term weight maintenance.

At Flow Wellness, we believe the best weight loss plan is the one that’s personalized to you. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, we consider your medical history, metabolism, body composition, lifestyle, and goals before recommending treatment.

Here are some of the most common prescription weight loss medications we use beyond GLP-1s.

1. Metformin

Although metformin was originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, it’s become one of the most commonly prescribed medications for insulin resistance and prediabetes. It’s also a valuable tool for weight management in the right patient.

Unlike stimulant medications, metformin works by improving how your body responds to insulin. Lower insulin levels can make it easier for your body to use stored fat for energy and may help reduce hunger in some people.

Metformin may be a good option if you:

• Have insulin resistance or prediabetes
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Have experienced weight regain
• Want a lower-cost prescription option

Metformin is available at most retail pharmacies and is generally one of the most affordable prescription weight loss medications.

Flow Tip: Metformin isn’t a “weight loss drug” in the traditional sense. Instead, it helps improve your metabolic health, which may make healthy weight loss easier to achieve and maintain. We often like to pair it with GLP-1 when patients reach a plateau.

2. Phentermine

Phentermine has been used for weight loss for more than 60 years and remains one of the most commonly prescribed appetite suppressants in the United States.

It works by helping reduce hunger, making it easier to eat smaller portions and stay in a calorie deficit. Many patients also report increased energy and improved motivation while taking it.

Because phentermine is a stimulant, it isn’t appropriate for everyone. Your provider will carefully review your blood pressure, heart health, current medications, and medical history before prescribing it.

Phentermine may be a good fit if you:

• Struggle with constant hunger
• Need additional appetite control
• Have reached a weight loss plateau
• Are looking for an affordable alternative to GLP-1 medications

Like metformin, phentermine can often be prescribed through your local retail pharmacy, making it an accessible option for many patients.

Flow Tip: We don’t view phentermine as a long-term replacement for healthy habits. Instead, we use it strategically to help patients build sustainable nutrition and exercise routines while reducing appetite. This is best when patients need more appetite suppression and energy.

3. Compounded Caffeine, Vitamin B12, Naltrexone & Phentermine

For some patients, a combination medication may offer advantages over using a single ingredient alone.

One compounded option we prescribe is called LipoBurn and contains:

• Caffeine
• Methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12)
• Naltrexone HCl
• Phentermine HCl

Each ingredient plays a different role.

Phentermine helps reduce appetite, while naltrexone may help decrease food cravings and reward-driven eating. Caffeine can provide an energy boost and improve alertness, and methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) supports normal energy metabolism and healthy nerve function.

By combining these ingredients into a single capsule, some patients find it easier to stay consistent with treatment while addressing multiple aspects of weight management.

As with all prescription medications, this formulation isn’t appropriate for everyone. Your provider will determine whether it’s a good fit based on your health history, current medications, and overall treatment goals.

Flow Tip: The best weight loss plan isn’t always just one medication. We like this combination because it targets appetite, cravings, and energy all at once. For patients who aren’t ready to start injections or who have reached a plateau on a GLP-1 medication, a few months of this treatment can provide an extra push toward their fat loss goals.

4. Naltrexone

Naltrexone is best known as a medication used to treat alcohol or opioid dependence, but it can also help some people who struggle with food cravings and emotional eating.

Emotional eating isn’t about a lack of willpower. It’s eating in response to stress, boredom, anxiety, or even as a reward rather than because you’re physically hungry. That’s partly because highly palatable foods can trigger dopamine, one of the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, reinforcing the urge to reach for those foods that feel temporarily comforting.

Naltrexone works on these reward pathways. For some people, it helps reduce the mental “pull” toward food, making it easier to recognize the difference between true physical hunger and a craving.

Naltrexone may be a good option if you:

• Struggle with frequent food cravings
• Eat when you’re stressed, bored, or emotional
• Feel like food is constantly on your mind
• Need additional support building healthier eating habits

Flow Tip: We often recommend naltrexone for patients whose biggest challenge isn’t hunger, but food cravings or emotional eating. Instead of simply suppressing appetite, it targets the brain’s reward pathways to help support healthier, more intentional eating habits.

5. Metformin + GLP-1 Therapy

Sometimes one medication isn’t enough.

If you’ve made progress on a GLP-1 medication but still have signs of insulin resistance such as prediabetes, elevated fasting insulin, PCOS, stubborn abdominal weight, or difficulty continuing to lose weight despite healthy habits, adding metformin may provide additional metabolic support.

Because the two medications work differently, they can complement one another nicely. While GLP-1 medications primarily help regulate appetite and slow stomach emptying, metformin improves insulin sensitivity, helping your body use insulin more effectively and supporting healthy glucose metabolism.

Not everyone needs combination therapy, but it may be appropriate if you:

• Have insulin resistance or prediabetes
• Have PCOS
• Have reached a weight loss plateau despite healthy lifestyle changes
• Want to support long-term weight maintenance

Your Flow Wellness provider will determine whether combination therapy is appropriate based on your medical history, lab results, symptoms, and treatment goals.

6. Phentermine + GLP-1 Therapy

Some patients continue to experience persistent hunger even on a GLP-1 medication. Others find their progress slows over time.

Sometimes, adding phentermine may provide additional appetite control and a little bump of energy.

Because phentermine is a stimulant, it requires thoughtful prescribing. At Flow Wellness, we carefully evaluate your cardiovascular health and other medications before considering this combination.

For good candidates, combining medications with different mechanisms helps patients continue progressing toward their goals while maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.

Flow Tip: We don’t automatically increase your GLP-1 dose when weight loss slows. Sometimes a different strategy is more effective than simply taking more medication. We have found that combining medications can sometimes allow you to take lower doses of medication with better effect.

7. Personalized Weight Loss Plans

Social media is great for recipes and workout ideas, but not for personalized medical advice. Just because a medication worked for someone else doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you. The right treatment should be based on YOU.

Many online weight loss companies use streamlined questionnaires and limited follow-up to prescribe medications quickly and uniformly. While that may work well for some people, it doesn’t always provide the opportunity to understand why you’re struggling with your weight or what approach is most likely to improve your long-term health.

At Flow Wellness, we take a more personalized approach. We get to know you through thoughtful conversations, body composition testing, lab work when appropriate, and ongoing follow-up. That allows us to recommend the medication, or combination of medications, that’s most likely to help you lose fat, preserve muscle, improve your metabolic health, and build results that last.

Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss Adjuncts

Can I take phentermine with a GLP-1 medication?

Sometimes.

For the right patient, combining a GLP-1 medication with phentermine will provide additional appetite control, especially during a weight loss plateau. Candidates need to be carefully selected, and phentermine usually isn’t used as a long-term treatment.

Is metformin only for people with diabetes?

No.

Metformin is commonly prescribed for insulin resistance, prediabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It may also support weight management by improving insulin sensitivity and making it easier for your body to regulate blood sugar.

Are compounded weight loss medications safe?

When prescribed appropriately and prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy, like we do at Flow Wellness, compounded medications are a good option for many patients.

Compounded medications are personalized prescriptions. They may combine multiple ingredients into a single capsule or provide strengths that aren’t commercially available. Your provider will determine whether a compounded medication is appropriate based on your health history and treatment goals.

Are these medications expensive?

Many aren’t.

Metformin and phentermine are available at most retail pharmacies and are generally among the most affordable prescription weight loss medications.

Compounded medications vary in cost depending on the ingredients and formulation, but they may offer a convenient way to combine multiple therapies into a single prescription. But you won’t be spending hundreds of dollars on these medications.

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