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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is turned into male and female sex hormones in the body. Prescription DHEA is used to treat thin vaginal tissue.
DHEA is made by the adrenal glands and by the liver. DHEA levels seem to go down as people get older. DHEA levels seem to be lower in people with depression and after menopause.
People commonly use prescription DHEA for vaginal tissue thinning. DHEA supplements are used for aging skin, depression, infertility, muscle strength, heart disease, erectile dysfunction (ED), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.
DHEA is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the International Olympic Committee, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Don't confuse DHEA with 7-alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, 7-beta-hydroxy-DHEA, and 7-keto-DHEA. These are all different forms of DHEA but are not the same as DHEA.
- Vaginal atrophy. Intravaginal DHEA can reduce pain during intercourse and improve vaginal health in patients with this condition.
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- Aging skin. Oral and topical DHEA have been evaluated for treating aging skin, with promising results.
Login for details - Depression. Oral DHEA 30-500 mg daily for up to 8 weeks seems to improve symptoms of depression and dysthymia in patients with depression.
Login for details - Infertility. Oral DHEA appears to improve fertility outcomes, including pregnancy and live birth rates, in females undergoing assisted reproduction. However, it is unclear if oral DHEA can reduce the risk for miscarriage after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
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- Aging. Oral DHEA, taken for up to 2 years, does not appear to improve bone health, quality of life, or sexual function in older adults.
Login for details - Muscle strength. Oral DHEA does not seem to improve muscle strength in adults.
Login for details - Physical performance. Oral DHEA does not seem to improve physical performance in elderly patients.
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- Cognitive function. Oral DHEA does not improve cognitive function or prevent cognitive decline in most populations.
Login for details - Sjogren syndrome. Oral DHEA does not appear to improve symptoms with this condition.
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- Addison disease. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with this condition.
Login for details - Adrenal insufficiency. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Login for details - Athletic performance. It is unclear if oral DHEA can improve sprint performance.
Login for details - Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Observational research has found that low DHEA levels are linked to a greater risk for CVD, but it is unclear if supplementation with oral DHEA is beneficial.
Login for details - Cervical dysplasia. It is unclear if intravaginal DHEA is beneficial in patients with cervical dysplasia.
Login for details - Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with CFS.
Login for details - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with COPD.
Login for details - Cocaine dependence. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for reducing cocaine cravings.
Login for details - Crohn disease. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for inducing Crohn disease remission.
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- Erectile dysfunction (ED). It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with ED.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle damage. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for reducing muscle damage from exercise.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for improving fibromyalgia symptoms.
Login for details - HIV/AIDS. Small clinical studies suggest that oral DHEA may improve mental health and quality of life in patients with HIV/AIDS, but DHEA does not seem to improve CD4 counts or body composition.
Login for details - Menopausal symptoms. Oral DHEA might reduce hot flashes and intravaginal DHEA might improve vaginal atrophy and sexual activity; however, oral DHEA does not seem to improve psychological symptoms associated with menopause.
Login for details - Metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for reducing risk for metabolic syndrome.
Login for details - Muscular dystrophy. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with myotonic dystrophy type I.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for reducing body weight in patients who are obese or overweight.
Login for details - Opioid withdrawal. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with heroin withdrawal.
Login for details - Osteoporosis. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with osteoporosis; any benefit may depend on individual patient characteristics.
Login for details - Parkinson disease. Login for details
- Partial androgen deficiency. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for symptom improvement in patients with this condition.
Login for details - Parturition. Intravenous DHEA before the onset of labor may shorten the time to labor onset and shorten labor duration.
Login for details - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with RA.
Login for details - Schizophrenia. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial in patients with schizophrenia.
Login for details - Sexual dysfunction. It is unclear if oral or intravaginal DHEA is beneficial for improving sexual dysfunction in males or females.
Login for details - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Most small clinical studies suggest that oral DHEA may modestly improve symptoms in patients with SLE, but some conflicting research exists.
Login for details - Ulcerative colitis. It is unclear if oral DHEA is beneficial for inducing ulcerative colitis remission.
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When taken by mouth: DHEA is possibly safe when used short-term. DHEA has been used safely for up to 2 years, usually in doses of 50 mg daily. DHEA side effects are usually mild and might include acne and upset stomach.
DHEA is possibly unsafe when used in high doses or long-term. Do not use DHEA in doses higher than 50-100 mg daily or for a long period of time. Using higher doses or using it long-term can increase the risk of serious side effects including cancer.
When applied to the skin: DHEA is possibly safe when used appropriately. DHEA cream has been used safely for up to 1 year.
When applied into the vagina: DHEA is possibly safe when used appropriately. DHEA vaginal inserts have been safely used for up to 3 months.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: DHEA is possibly unsafe when taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It can cause higher than normal levels of a male hormone called androgen. This might be harmful to the baby. Do not use DHEA if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.Diabetes: DHEA can affect how insulin works in the body. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully if you are taking DHEA.
Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: DHEA is a hormone that can affect how estrogen works in the body. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, do not use DHEA.
High cholesterol: DHEA might lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol, especially in females. If you have high cholesterol or heart disease, talk with your healthcare provider before taking DHEA.
Liver problems: DHEA might make liver problems worse. Do not use DHEA if you have liver problems.
Depression and mood disorders: DHEA might cause excitability, impulsiveness, and irritability in people with mood disorders. If you have a mood disorder, talk to your healthcare provider before taking DHEA.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Taking DHEA might make this condition worse. Don't use DHEA if you have PCOS.
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
DHEA might increase estrogen levels in the body. Taking DHEA along with estrogen might cause too much estrogen in the body.
Fulvestrant (Faslodex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Fulvestrant is used for these types of cancer. DHEA might increase estrogen in the body and decrease the effects of fulvestrant for treating cancer. Do not take DHEA if you are taking fulvestrant.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. DHEA might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for depression (Antidepressant drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
There is some concern that taking DHEA along with antidepressant drugs might increase the risk for serious side effects. Speak with a healthcare provider before taking DHEA if you are taking an antidepressant.
Medications for estrogen sensitive cancers (Aromatase inhibitors)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body changes DHEA to estrogen in the body. Aromatase inhibitors are used to help lower estrogen levels in the body. Taking DHEA might decrease the effects of aromatase inhibitors.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
DHEA might slow blood clotting. Taking DHEA along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Tamoxifen is used to help treat and prevent these types of cancer. DHEA increases estrogen levels in the body and might decrease the effects of tamoxifen. Do not take DHEA if you are taking tamoxifen.
Testosterone
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Taking DHEA with testosterone might cause there to be too much testosterone in the body. This might increase the effects and side effects of testosterone.
Triazolam (Halcion)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
DHEA might decrease how quickly the body breaks down triazolam. Taking DHEA with triazolam might increase the effects and side effects of triazolam.
Tuberculosis Vaccine
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking DHEA might reduce the effects of the tuberculosis vaccine. Do not take DHEA if you are receiving a tuberculosis vaccine.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: DHEA might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Licorice: Taking licorice increases levels of DHEA in the body. Taking licorice with DHEA might increase the side effects of DHEA.
Soy: It was previously thought that soy might decrease the effects of DHEA, but this doesn't seem to be a major concern.
It was previously thought that eating soy or a high fiber diet might decrease the effects of DHEA, but this doesn't seem to be a major concern.
DHEA has most often been used by adults at a dose of 50 mg by mouth daily for up to 1 year. DHEA is also available in topical creams and vaginal products. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
3b-Hydroxy-Androst-5-Ene-17-One, 3BetaHydroxy-Androst-5-Ene-17-One, Androstenolone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Déhydroépiandrostérone, DHEA-S, GL701, Prasterone, Prasterone.
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