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DHEA is a hormone that is naturally made by the body. DHEA works in the body to make other male and female sex hormones within the body. A prescription DHEA product is available to treat thinning of vaginal tissue.
People use DHEA supplements for slowing signs of aging, improving muscle strength and athletic performance, inability to become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (infertility), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
- 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.
Login for details - Diabetes. Login for details
- 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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DHEA is a "hormone" naturally made in the body by the adrenal glands near the kidneys and by the liver. DHEA helps to make male and female sex hormones within the body.
DHEA levels seem to go down as people get older. DHEA levels seem to be lower in people with depression, postmenopausal patients, and many other conditions.
When taken by mouth: DHEA is POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately. DHEA has been taken by mouth safely for up to 2 years, usually in doses of 50 mg daily. DHEA is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in high doses or long-term. Do not use DHEA in doses higher than 50-100 mg a day or for a long period of time. Using higher doses or using for a long time period can increase the chance of potentially serious side effects.
When applied to the skin: DHEA is POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately. DHEA cream has been safely applied to the skin 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.
When given as a shot: There isn't enough reliable information to know if DHEA is safe.
The most common side effects of DHEA are generally mild and can include acne and upset stomach. Some females can have changes in menstrual cycle, abnormal hair growth, and a deeper voice after taking DHEA. Males can experience breast pain or breast growth.
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 "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, be sure to discuss DHEA with your healthcare provider before you start taking it. Also, pay close attention to any changes in how you feel.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Taking DHEA might make this condition worse. Don't use DHEA if you have PCOS.
Anastrozole (Arimidex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body changes DHEA to estrogen in the body. Anastrozole (Arimidex) is used to help decrease estrogen in the body. Taking DHEA along with anastrozole (Arimidex) might decrease the effectiveness of anastrozole (Arimidex). Do not take DHEA if you are taking anastrozole (Arimidex).
Exemestane (Aromasin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body changes DHEA to estrogen in the body. Exemestane (Aromasin) is used to help decrease estrogen in the body. Taking DHEA along with exemestane (Aromasin) might decrease the effectiveness of exemestane (Aromasin). Do not take DHEA if you are taking exemestane (Aromasin).
Fulvestrant (Faslodex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some types of cancer are affected by hormones in the body. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Fulvestrant (Faslodex) is used for this type of estrogen cancer. DHEA might increase estrogen in the body and decrease the effectiveness of fulvestrant for treating cancer. Do not take DHEA if you are taking fulvestrant.
Insulin
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Insulin is used to decrease blood sugar. Insulin can also decrease the amount of DHEA in the body. By decreasing DHEA in the body insulin might decrease the effectiveness of DHEA supplements.
Letrozole (Femara)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some types of cancer are affected by hormones in the body. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Letrozole (Femara) is used for this type of estrogen cancer. DHEA might increase estrogen in the body and decrease the effectiveness of letrozole (Femara) for treating cancer. Do not take DHEA if you are taking letrozole (Femara).
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 decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking DHEA along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking DHEA, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
Medications for inflammation (Corticosteroids)
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
The body naturally makes DHEA. Some medications for inflammation might decrease how much DHEA the body makes. Taking some medications for inflammation might decrease the effects of taking DHEA pills.
Some medications for inflammation include dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone), and others.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some types of cancer are affected by hormones in the body. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is used to help treat and prevent these types of cancer. DHEA increases estrogen levels in the body. By increasing estrogen in the body, DHEA might decrease the effectiveness of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Do not take DHEA if you are taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
Triazolam (Halcion)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
The body breaks down triazolam (Halcion) to get rid of it. DHEA might decrease how quickly the body breaks down triazolam (Halcion). Taking DHEA along with triazolam (Halcion) might increase the effects and side effects of triazolam (Halcion).
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Using DHEA along with herbs that can slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. These herbs include angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.
Licorice: Taking licorice increases levels of DHEA in the body. Taking licorice with DHEA might increase the side effects of DHEA.
Soy: Soy might decrease DHEA levels in the body. Taking soy with DHEA might decrease the effects of DHEA.
Fiber-containing foods: Eating fiber seems to decrease levels of DHEA in the body. Eating fiber while taking DHEA might decrease the effects of DHEA.
Soy: Soy might decrease DHEA levels in the body. Taking soy with DHEA might decrease the effects of DHEA.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For aging skin: 50 mg of DHEA taken daily for 1 year.
- For depression: 30-500 mg of DHEA taken daily for 6-8 weeks, either alone or together with antidepressant drugs.
- For inability to become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (infertility): 75 mg of DHEA taken daily for 2-3 months before and during IVF treatment.
- For aging skin: A 1% DHEA cream has been applied to the face and hands twice daily for up to 4 months.
- For thinning of vaginal tissue (vaginal atrophy): Vaginal inserts containing 0.25% to 1% DHEA have been used once daily for 12 weeks. A specific vaginal insert containing 0.5% DHEA (Intrarosa, Endoceutics Inc.) is a prescription medicine used for this 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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