Why the medication is only half the plan
GLP-1 medications like compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide work in large part by quieting appetite. That is the point. But eating less means taking in less of everything: less water, less fiber, less protein, fewer vitamins. Most of the day-to-day complaints we hear from patients in their first few months trace back to one of those four gaps, not to the medication itself.
The pattern shows up in the trial data. In the SURMOUNT-1 tirzepatide trial, constipation was reported by roughly 12 to 17 percent of participants on treatment versus about 6 percent on placebo, and nausea by 25 to 33 percent, according to Lilly's published SURMOUNT-1 results. Those are common, mostly mild, and mostly manageable with basics you can buy for a few dollars a week.
This guide covers the four supplements we most often suggest patients ask their clinician about, plus one over-the-counter product for the days when fiber alone is not cutting it. None of these are exotic. None are required. They are the boring, well-studied tools that make the journey more comfortable.
How we picked these five products
Every product below was chosen on September 8, 2026 using three filters: the lowest cost per serving among well-known brands, a very large number of verified customer ratings (every pick has more than 20,000), and a rating of 4.6 stars or higher. We did not accept payment from any brand. We don’t sell supplements and we earn nothing if you buy any of these. We picked them on cost per serving and evidence, and we’d tell you the same thing in a consult. If you already have a version of any of these at home, use what you have.
One rule before you buy anything: mention it to your clinician first. Supplements can interact with prescription medications, and a few of the products below need to be spaced away from other pills. Your care team can tell you what applies to you.
1. Electrolytes: for the low-energy, headachy days
Our pick: Ultima Replenisher Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Packets, 20 count — about $21, roughly $1.05 per serving, 4.6 stars from over 20,000 ratings.
Why it earns a spot. GLP-1 medications reduce hunger, and many patients notice they feel less thirsty too. Add in a stretch of nausea, and it is easy to drift through a day on a fraction of the fluid you used to drink. Headaches, fatigue, lightheadedness when you stand up, and muscle cramps are the usual signals. Healthline's hydration guidance for GLP-1 patients recommends drinking on a schedule rather than waiting for thirst, and an electrolyte packet makes plain water easier to finish.
How patients typically use it. One packet in 16 to 20 ounces of water, once a day, often first thing in the morning or on the day after an injection. Ultima is sugar-free and contains no stimulants, which matters if you are already eating very little. The variety pack lets you find a flavor you will actually drink.
Who should ask first. Anyone with kidney disease, heart failure, or a prescription for blood pressure medication or a diuretic should confirm with a clinician before adding a daily electrolyte product, since potassium and sodium intake may need to be managed.
2. Fiber: the first move against constipation
Our pick: NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Capsules 500 mg, 200 count — about $11, roughly 11 cents per two-capsule serving, 4.6 stars from nearly 32,000 ratings.
Why it earns a spot. GLP-1 medications slow how quickly the stomach and intestines move food along. Combine that with eating less bulk, and constipation becomes one of the most common complaints after the first dose increase. Psyllium is a gel-forming soluble fiber that holds water through the entire colon, which is why it softens stool rather than just adding bulk. A review in the American Journal of Gastroenterology notes that psyllium is one of the few fibers with consistent clinical evidence for constipation relief, and a 2022 systematic review found fiber supplementation improved stool frequency and consistency in adults with chronic constipation.
How patients typically use it. Start low: two capsules with a full glass of water once a day for several days, then increase gradually if needed. Going from zero to a large dose overnight is the classic mistake and produces the bloating people complain about. Capsules are easier for most GLP-1 patients than powders because a thick fiber drink can be hard to finish when appetite is low.
Who should ask first. Psyllium can reduce absorption of some oral medications, so it is generally taken at least two hours apart from other pills. If you have a history of bowel obstruction, difficulty swallowing, or you are not able to drink enough water with it, talk to your clinician before starting.
3. Protein: protecting muscle while the scale moves
Our pick: Dymatize ISO100 Whey Protein Isolate, Gourmet Vanilla, 5 lb (76 servings) — about $107, roughly $1.41 per 25-gram serving, 4.6 stars from over 20,000 ratings.
Why it earns a spot. When appetite drops, protein is usually the first thing to fall off the plate, and protein is the nutrient most responsible for preserving lean tissue during weight loss. A 2026 review on medical nutrition in the GLP-1 era recommends daily protein intakes of at least 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight, up to 1.6 g/kg for appropriate adults, during active weight loss. For a 160-pound woman, that works out to roughly 87 to 116 grams a day. Hitting that number from food alone is hard when a single chicken breast feels like a full meal. We cover the exercise side of this in our guide to preventing muscle loss on tirzepatide.
How patients typically use it. One scoop mixed with water or milk delivers 25 grams of protein in a volume most people can tolerate even on a low-appetite day. Many patients use it as breakfast on injection day, or as the meal they would otherwise skip. Whey isolate is chosen here over a standard whey blend because it is lower in lactose and fat and tends to sit more easily on a sensitive stomach.
Who should ask first. Patients with kidney disease or a history of kidney stones should confirm a protein target with a clinician rather than guessing. If you are dairy-sensitive even to isolate, a plant-based option is a reasonable swap; the principle is the same.
4. B-complex: covering the gaps when you eat less
Our pick: Nature's Bounty Super B Complex with Vitamin C and Folic Acid, 150 tablets — about $14, roughly 9 cents per tablet, 4.7 stars from over 60,000 ratings.
Why it earns a spot. B vitamins are involved in how the body converts food into usable energy, and they come mostly from the foods that shrink first on a GLP-1: meat, eggs, dairy, whole grains, and legumes. GLP-1 medications are not known to cause B-vitamin deficiency directly. The concern is simpler than that: when total intake drops for months, micronutrient intake drops with it. The same 2026 nutrition review specifically recommends micronutrient monitoring during GLP-1 therapy for that reason. A basic B-complex is inexpensive insurance, not a treatment.
How patients typically use it. One tablet a day with food. Taking B vitamins on an empty stomach can add to nausea, so pair it with whatever meal you are most reliably eating. Expect bright yellow urine; that is riboflavin and it is harmless.
Who should ask first. If fatigue is your main complaint, check hydration and protein before assuming vitamins are the answer. Persistent fatigue, numbness, or tingling deserve a conversation with your clinician and possibly bloodwork, not a bigger supplement dose.
5. MiraLAX: the OTC step-up when fiber is not enough
Our pick: MiraLAX Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Laxative Powder, 45 doses — about $30, roughly 67 cents per dose, 4.8 stars from over 43,000 ratings. Store-brand polyethylene glycol 3350 is the generic version at a lower price if you prefer.
Why it earns a spot. This one is not a supplement. It is an over-the-counter medication, and it is on this list because it is what patients on GLP-1 forums reach for when fiber and water have not done the job. Polyethylene glycol 3350 is an osmotic laxative: it draws water into the colon and softens stool without stimulating cramping. In a systematic review of over-the-counter constipation therapies, PEG received the strongest evidence grade of any OTC option. The FDA-approved MiraLAX label states that it relieves occasional constipation and generally produces a bowel movement in one to three days.
How patients typically use it. One capful (17 grams) dissolved in 4 to 8 ounces of any beverage, once a day. It is tasteless and dissolves clear, so it disappears into coffee, juice, or an electrolyte drink. Give it two or three days before judging whether it is working.
Who should ask first. The label says not to use it for more than seven days unless a clinician directs you to, and that is the rule worth respecting. If you have gone three or more days without a bowel movement, have significant abdominal pain, vomiting, or blood in your stool, stop guessing and contact your clinician the same day. Those can be signs of something that needs evaluation rather than another laxative.
Quick reference: symptom, first move, when to call
Save this section. It is the version to pull up on your phone on a rough day.
- Headache, lightheadedness, low energy First move: electrolyte packet in a full glass of water, then keep sipping through the day. Call your clinician if you cannot keep fluids down for 24 hours or feel faint.
- Constipation, mild (two or three days) First move: psyllium with plenty of water, a daily walk, and more fluid. Step-up: add MiraLAX once daily if there is no change after a few days. Call if you pass day three with pain, bloating that will not ease, or vomiting.
- Losing strength, feeling soft rather than lean First move: count protein for three days. If you are under about 1.2 g/kg, add a protein shake as one meal. Call if you notice unexplained weakness or muscle pain.
- Fatigue that hydration and protein do not fix First move: a daily B-complex with food. Call if fatigue persists more than two weeks or comes with numbness, tingling, or shortness of breath.
- Nausea that interferes with eating or drinking Supplements are not the answer here. Small bland meals, cold fluids, and ginger help some patients. SkinnyVIP patients can request a clinician review for a supportive anti-nausea prescription; see the nausea FAQ on our tirzepatide page.
What we deliberately left off this list
You will see plenty of products marketed alongside GLP-1 medications: fat burners, metabolism boosters, appetite-support blends, detox teas, and proprietary formulas with a dozen ingredients. We left all of them off on purpose. The medication is already doing the appetite work. Adding a stimulant on top of reduced food intake is a recipe for jitters, poor sleep, and worse nausea. Proprietary blends also make it impossible to know what dose of anything you are taking, which is the opposite of what a clinician wants when reviewing your medication list.
The five products above have one thing in common: each addresses a specific, predictable gap created by eating less, and each has a plain-language answer to the question "why would I take this?" If a product cannot pass that test, it does not belong in your routine while you are on a GLP-1.
If you are a SkinnyVIP patient
You do not need to buy anything on this page. If you are feeling fine, keep doing what you are doing. If one of the symptoms above is bothering you, the fastest path is to message your care team through your patient portal, tell them which symptom it is and how long it has lasted, and ask whether the product listed here makes sense for you. That is a two-minute message, and it means the recommendation is coming from a clinician who knows your history rather than from a blog post.
We wrote this guide because these questions come up constantly, and because the answers are mostly inexpensive and low-risk. It is not a sales program and you will not receive marketing emails about supplements from us. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies under physician supervision. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved products. Individual results vary.