DHEA
A hormone precursor the body converts to estrogen and testosterone. It is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement, not as an FDA-approved drug.
Not for
- Anyone with a hormone-sensitive cancer, including breast, ovarian or prostate cancer.
- Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Anyone with liver disease.
Common effects
- Acne and oily skin.
- Unwanted hair growth, and in some people scalp hair thinning.
- A deeper voice, which may not reverse.
- Irritability or trouble sleeping.
Serious effects
- Because DHEA converts to estrogen and testosterone, it can act on hormone-sensitive tissue, including hormone-sensitive cancers.
- Changes in cholesterol, including a fall in HDL.
- Liver problems have been reported.
Get medical help if
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain in the upper right abdomen.
- Chest pain, or an irregular heartbeat.
- New, heavy or continuing vaginal bleeding.
Tell your provider
- Any personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancer.
- That evidence for DHEA in menopausal symptoms and libido is limited and inconsistent.
- Every other supplement you take: supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for effectiveness before sale.
Sources
- Dietary supplements: what the FDA does and does not review. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA dietary supplement guidance
- The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. NASEM consensus study report, 2020