Phentermine over-the-counter alternatives are an increasingly popular option for people struggling to lose weight and who are not eligible for or do not want to take prescription phentermine.
Weight loss supplements are big business. The global industry generated more than $254.9 billion in 2021 alone. There are many effective products on the market. The problem, however, is that there are many more products available that are ineffective or even outright scams in some cases.
A recent trend in weight loss supplements is the concept of a phentermine alternative. Many people are trying natural phentermine alternatives for weight loss, and while a lot of them have had good success, many more are wasting their money on products that simply do not work for them or at all.
In this report, we look at the top five phentermine alternatives based on consumer research. Our team looked at what was working and what was not and what people liked and did not like. Without further ado, let us list our top five picks. We will then break them down in greater detail. Finally, we will explore topics that help you pick the best product for you, avoid scams and get the most out of your efforts.
The Five Best Phentermine Alternatives for Sale in 2022
- PhenQ — The Top Weight Loss Pill Overall
- PhenGold — Best Choice for Appetite Suppression
- Phen24 — Best Metabolism Enhancer
- PrimeShred — Best Fat Burner for Active Men
- TrimTone — Best Fat Burner for Active Women
#1. PhenQ — The Top Weight Loss Pill Overall
Wolfson Berg Limited is one of the most respected names in supplements. In an industry where companies and products tend to come and go, this one has been here for more than a decade. It has never pulled a product from the market, and it stands behind them all. PhenQ is not just any product either. This is a flagship product for the brand and one that helped them rise to prominence. Like the prescription medication its formula is inspired by, PhenQ suppresses appetite, helps you to feel full longer, inhibits the creation of fat and boosts both your energy levels and moods. Not all phentermine alternatives deliver this multipronged approach to weight loss, which is why it tops our list.
Formula Overview
PhenQ is an all-natural over-the-counter phentermine alternative. A primary ingredient in the formula is chromium picolinate, which curbs overall appetite, helps you to feel sated longer and reduces sugar cravings. It also contains nopal, which is a fiber that increases the feeling of fullness, helps you to be regular and helps to avoid water retention. Anhydrous caffeine is a stimulant that boosts energy, improves mood and sharpens mental acuity. L-carnitine fumarate is an amino acid that promotes and is used in the process of converting store fat into energy. Alpha-lipoic acid along with magnesium is included to enhance your core metabolism and also to maintain a higher core temperature.
How It Works
PhenQ is the most well-rounded of the phentermine substitutes. It all starts with the appetite suppression. Most users report feeling satisfied much longer after their main means and not experiencing those cravings that undermine a diet as often or as intensely. This product also inhibits the creation of new fat. While it does not prevent it, this helps a great deal with your progress. It also makes it easier to burn fat, and you will definitely see great results if you exercise regularly. Furthermore, it boosts your metabolism, and it gives you the energy and right mood to stick with your plan.
The Ideal Candidates for This Supplement
As the top option on the market, it is fair to say that this a suitable option for just about anyone. By anyone, we mean men and women 18 or older and not women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and this is the basic rule for any supplement on the market. The product is also gluten free and vegetarian and vegan friendly, and that makes it a great option for almost everyone. It is also important to stress that the ideal candidate is the person who is serious about balancing their diet and exercising on a regular basis. We do not recommend any products on this list for people seeking passive weight loss.
Pros:
- Effective for a majority of users
- Established product from reputable brand
- Solid no-hassle money-back offer
- All-natural ingredients and vegetarian/vegan friendly
Cons:
- Pricey
- Contains caffeine
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#2. PhenGold — Best Choice for Appetite Suppression
PhenGold is among the best phentermine alternatives on the market. It is also another longstanding product that is developed by one of the most established and respected names in the industry: Swiss Research Labs. Like with PhenQ, the goal with PhenGold is to deliver a multipronged approach to weight loss overall. While the consumer satisfaction ratings are quite high with PhenGold, the general consensus is that PhenQ is better all around. That said, there is one thing—and a very important one at that—that PhenGold does better, and that is appetite suppression. If your appetite is your biggest hurdle or PhenQ did not work for you, then you may definitely want to consider this one.
Formula Overview
PhenGold includes a complex that contains green tea and other substances. Green tea is a known natural appetite suppressant, and it is also rich in minerals that your body needs and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and flush toxins. Green coffee is included as an unprocessed extract because it is known it is raw state—due to chlorogenic acid—to inhibit fat absorption and help with weight maintenance in general. There is also a much greater focus on mental heath with this formula than some of the others reviewed here. DMAE is a nootropic that improves and balances mood, boosts brain function and energizes you, and L-theanine is an adaptogen that reduces stress and anxiety levels.
How It Works
PhenGold works much the same way that PhenQ does, it just uses different ingredients to try to do it, which likely explains the differences in success rate. Let us start with what this product does very well: suppress your appetite. The green tea complex used here—perhaps in combination with the other ingredients—is very impressive at modulating your appetite throughout the day to help you to feel fuller and for longer and helping you to avoid those sudden and intense cravings. It is also designed to inhibit the formation of new fat and to make it easier to burn the fat that you already have stored. Finally, it seeks to enhance your metabolism so that you get more from the foods you eat and burn more fat.
The Ideal Candidates for This Supplement
If you are someone who has tried PhenQ and are unfortunately in that small pool that it does not work for you, then you are the ideal candidate for this product. Otherwise, we probably recommend PhenQ first unless you know that appetite is your biggest challenge and this is what you want to tackle. We encountered a number of reviews of people who used this product on an ongoing basis after having achieved their weight loss goals. The appetite problem simply did not go away, and PhenGold was the tool in their toolbox that let them control that flaw that was otherwise undermining them.
Pros:
- Less expensive than PhenQ
- Very effective at suppressing appetite
- Better money-back guarantee than PhenQ
- All-natural ingredients and vegetarian/vegan friendly
Cons:
- Contains caffeine
- Slightly higher failure rate than PhenQ
>Take control of your appetite with the proven PhenGold supplement at a great price!
#3. Phen24 — Best Metabolism Enhancer
Phen24 is the first product developed by Delta Health. They are a relatively new brand that does not have the cachet of either Wolfson Berg or Swiss Research Labs. Nevertheless, this product is achieving good success, and Delta Health has been there to stand behind the product and provide support. Phen24 is a bit different than the first two products reviewed, which seek to mimic the effects of phentermine overall. This company instead focus on mimicking the metabolism boosting qualities in particular. One of the more interesting aspects of phentermine is that it is able to enhance metabolism even at times when it would normally transition into a lower gear, such as when you are asleep.
Formula Overview
What makes Phen24 an excellent option as an OTC phentermine is the approach. There is a nasty dynamic that exists between high stress levels and a low-functioning metabolism, and these issues exacerbating each other is a fundamental problem present in many obese people. The substance driving these high stress levels is a stress hormone called cortisone. Phen24 contains a unique blend—copper, caffeine, cayenne pepper, guarana extract, iodine, L-phenylalanine, manganese and zinc—that is designed to lower your cortisone levels and help to balance your circadian rhythms. The inclusion of caffeine is perhaps the most interesting and unusual choice here. It does not seem to fit the goal, and yet, we found that most users taking this supplement experienced excellent and consistent sleep.
How It Works
We should clarify that it is not exactly as if Delta Health is having you take a caffein supplement right before bed. In fact, Phen24 is split into two types of doses. The day dose is designed to supplement your diet with vitamins, boost your energy levels, improve your focus and alertness and lower stress. The night dose does not contain the same amount of caffeine but does presumably have some from the green tea. The aim with the night does is to lower stress, help you to sleep better once you fall asleep naturally and regulate your circadian rhythms for a better metabolic rate and stress management.
The Ideal Candidates for This Supplement
This approach is apparently not well suited for everyone. We have already mentioned people under 18 and pregnant and breastfeeding women, but there are particular concerns with this product with anyone who is bipolar or experiences anxiety to the point of needing medication or therapy. If none of those characteristics describe you, then this product is an intriguing option for anyone seeking to lose weight who has experienced heightened stress levels and disrupted sleep due to it. However, it is important to note that this is not a fat burner and may not help in the direct process of losing weight.
Pros:
- Solid no-hassle money-back offer
- Improves metabolic rate day and night
- Helps many people achieve better sleep
- All-natural ingredients and vegetarian/vegan friendly
Cons:
- Pricey
- Inconvenient dosage requirements
>Get the best sleep of your life and even lose some weight doing it with Phen24!
#4. PrimeShred — Best Fat Burner for Active Men
PrimeShred is a relatively new company in this space, and their eponymous flagship occupies an interesting place among the top phentermine alternatives. It is designed for people seeking to burn fat and are working hard to achieve it. Does this make it a product that appeals to most people considering a safe phentermine substitute? Probably not, which is why it falls to the fourth spot on our list. It is an effective product, but it is really aimed at the individual who is far along his weight loss journey, is building lean muscle and seeking to burn away that last bit of stubborn fat. Can it work for people earlier in their journey? Perhaps, but we strongly advise being prepared for the workload. If you are not ready to mix cardio and strength training six days a week, then this most likely is not the product for you.
Formula Overview
A core ingredient of PrimeShred is the extract of non-roasted green coffee beans. Roasting removes many of the components found in these beans that help enhance thermogenesis and metabolism. Other ingredients that assist with burning stubborn fat include capsicum and green tea extract. Most of the other ingredients are focused on mental health because bursting through that fat plateau is not just draining on a physical level but a mental and an emotional one as well. These include DMAE, which is a nootropic, and L-tyrosine, an amino acid that helps to regulate hormones and melanin.
How It Works
According to the PrimeShred team, this phentermine HCL alternative is designed to provide your body with the resources that it needs to shed that remaining fat. Some people change their diet and work hard and still have trouble losing their belly. This is often referred to as the fat plateau. PrimeShred is formulated to help you break through with the help of diet, cardio and weight training. It also helps with stress, which is another reason your body could be holding onto the fat you cannot shed. Another reason is inadequate sleep, and this is something that you will want to emphasize on your own.
The Ideal Candidates for This Supplement
This product is specifically formulated for men. Does it work for women? We do not know. There is simply not enough data to suggest an answer one way or the other. We would recommend considering the fifth and final product on our list. As mentioned earlier, if you are a man who has been working hard and losing weight and has reached that stage where the remaining fat is getting hard to shed, this is an amazing option for you. Could you get results with this product if you are just starting out? Yes, probably, but we think you would be much better off with a product like PhenQ.
Pros:
- Effective fat burner
- Effective at busting the fat plateau
- Helps to boost mood and lessen stress
- All-natural ingredients and vegetarian/vegan friendly
Cons:
- Brand not well established
- Demands proper diet and exercise
>Burn away that last bit of fat as you get shredded and look your best with PrimeShred!
#5. TrimTone — Best Fat Burner for Active Women
Do not mistake this as a one-to-one comparison, but we look at TrimTone as the female equivalent of PrimeShred. The most notable difference is that TrimTone is more forgiving. Whereas we do not recommend PrimeShred to men just starting out, we do recommend TrimTone to women who are just starting out if you are really committed to the effort. That is not to suggest that any of these products are magic pills. They are not. They all require you to make an effort when it comes to diet and exercise. But if you are someone who is easing themselves into exercise, this product is not for you. If, on the other hand, you can work at least five days a week for 30 minutes at a time, TrimTone is great.
Formula Overview
One of the prevalent criticisms of TrimTone is that it features a lot of stimulants. We have even included that among our cons. It includes caffeine from coffee, green tea and a number of other sources. This may not be for everyone. If you already consume a lot of caffeine, you may need to dial that back when you begin to take this product. The green tea is there to help you break down fat and limit the carbs you absorb. Green coffee has helped people in multiple studies lose more weight and burn more fat than those taking a placebo. This is also true with grains of paradise and glucomannan.
How It Works
TrimTone is designed to help you get the most out of your workouts. One way it does that is by ramping up your energy levels and giving you everything you need to stay motivated and work harder and longer. It also contains a lot of substances that have been shown in clinical trials to help people lose weight and burn fat. It is important to note that in the vast majority of trials the participants were working out and weight training regularly. These are among the reasons we recommend this for active woman.
The Ideal Candidates for This Supplement
This product is ideal first and foremost for active woman who are 18 and older and who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Does it work for men? We have no data to suggest that it does or does not. Does it work for inactive women? Not likely! But it does work quite well for those who are active. The before and after images of women getting over the proverbial hump is rather impressive, and we know many middle-aged and older women continue to take it as a preventative measure to deal with that fat that can sneak up on them even though they are easting reasonably well and working out.
Pros:
- Works for most active women
- Boosts calorie and fat burning
- Solid no-hassle money-back offer
- All natural with no chemicals or fillers
Cons:
- Contains numerous stimulants
- No suitable for vegans and vegetarians
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What Is Phentermine and How Does it Help with Weight Loss?
Phentermine is a medication that is similar to an amphetamine in many ways. It was not originally discovered with weight loss in mind, but it was soon found to be very effective in that regard. A core reason is how well it suppresses appetite. People who take it are hungry less often. When they eat, they are full for longer, and they are less prone to intense and sudden cravings. The drug also helps to improve the metabolic rate substantially. In the weight loss supplement world, we are fond of saying that there is no magic pill. But phentermine can be a magic pill in some ways. Some people are able to lose significant weight with phentermine having made little to no other lifestyle changes.
How We Ranked the Top Phentermine Alternatives
The wealth of our data is based on consumer responses to these products. We did our best to eliminate reviews that were bogus or reviews that were not well founded. Initially, we ranked the products based on the overall customer satisfaction rate. PhenQ was the clear winner. When then chose four categories that were important to people beyond an all-rounder natural over-the-counter phentermine pill. We found the product that performed best in each category, and then, we added them to our list in the order that they appeared on our initial list.
Ingredients Used in Natural Phentermine Alternatives
This is an interesting topic. Many people expect there to be this almost standard base formula that is used across all of the most effective phentermine alternatives, but that is not really true at all. Perhaps the most consistent element is caffeine. Phentermine is after all an amphetamine-like substance, and many designers seek to replicate those effects using other stimulants. You will find many products with coffee, green coffee, green tea and so forth. Beyond that, however, you will find a lot of variety. Phentermine is not a simple compound to mimic, and there are many different medicinal chemists out there trying to find that perfect balance with the different ingredients available to them.
Benefits of Phentermine OTC Alternatives
PhenQ is the product that comes closest to mimicking phentermine overall, which is the reason we put it at the top of our list of best over-the-counter phentermine alternatives. With many products, they do some things well and other things not that well. In other words, the benefits come down to the particular product you choose. That said, let us consider this in a broader sense. One of the main benefits is appetite suppression. Diet is a big part of losing weight. It is not even about dieting but just eating right. That can be tough to do, but it is easier to do when you are not as hungry as often, when you stay fuller longer and when you are less prone to cravings. Other benefits include increased metabolic rate, inhibited fat production and easier conversion of fat into energy.
How Do Natural Alternatives Compare to Phentermine?
We have encountered a number of reports that compare phentermine directly to over-the-counter phentermine alternatives without comparison, and that is not really fair. Phentermine is very potent and a controlled substance that requires a prescription. A phentermine OTC alternative does not require a prescription and usually contains all-natural ingredients. You also have to consider that there are few side effects with natural solutions, which is not the case with real phentermine. In addition, the OTC options can be used by practically anyone, and again, this is certainly not the case with real phentermine.
The Potential Risks of Prescription Phentermine
It is important to note that earlier usages of phentermine were associated with heart disease and other serious complications, but those brands of the drug that caused those issues have been changed or are no longer available. Side effects, however, are not uncommon with phentermine. The good news is that most are minor and resolve themselves within just several days of usage. These include bad taste in the mouth, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, vomiting, restlessness and insomnia. Symptoms can be serious in some people and lead to bigger problems. This is the reason that phentermine is a controlled substance and is only prescribed to people who will use it to lose weight under the ongoing supervision of a physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can You Buy Real Phentermine Over the Counter?
You cannot. Phentermine is a Class IV medicine and thus a controlled substance. Phentermine diet pills require a prescription. Phentermine prescriptions are generally reserved for people who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise. Real phentermine has serious side effects associated with it, and you must be carefully monitored by a physician over the course of usage.
Q. Can You Buy Phentermine Online?
Yes, you can buy phentermine online. However, you still need a prescription. You cannot acquire the prescription online. The prescribing physician must be available to you locally. Sites offering to sell it to you without a prescription are probably a scam or at best an illegal operation that will not be around long.
Q. Does Phentermine Work for Weight Loss?
Yes. It works quite well. It is thus far the most powerful and effective weight loss pill ever created. What is interesting is that it is not as powerful as it once was. It was first introduced in 1959. It became prominent in the 1970s in the form of the cocktail Fen-Phen. However, certain effective aspects of the drug were linked to heart failure and were removed from the formula.
Q. How Much Do Phentermine Substitutes Cost?
The average natural phentermine alternative will cost about $59.99 for a one-month supply. Some products have a base price as low as $39.99, and there are some products—including some on our list—that have a base price of $69.99 or even $79.99. Be mindful that most companies offer discounts and bulk purchasing, so if you find a product that works for you, you can get a lower price.
Final Thoughts
Some critics will say that there is no such thing as a natural phentermine alternative without a prescription or even with, and that is true from a certain perspective. As mentioned in our frequently asked questions, phentermine is the most powerful weight loss pill ever designed. But not all people with a weight problem are candidates. Even people who are candidates have to be concerned with the serious side effects that are in some cases life changing and even threatening.
From the perspective of people who want to lose weight and who cannot or do not want to take phentermine, there are good OTC phentermine alternatives. We are confident in all five of the top products listed here. They are not all right for all people, but if you choose the right phentermine alternative supplement for you and make the lifestyle changes you need to, there is no doubt that these will safely work for you as well. Good luck on your journey, and we hope that the work we have done here has helped you along it.