Pregnenolone

[Tanyaking]

Does anyone take pregnenolone for very low DHEA ...how have you found it? What dose do you take? Thank you in advance .xxx

[Maryh1]

I take pregnenolone for memory issues. I have been taking 200 mgs, and I can feel a difference as soon as I take it. My doctor thinks I should only take 100 mg, but that just doesn't do it for me, so I'm back to 200.

[Sid_Arthur in reply to Maryh1]

I wonder what happens when you forget ?

( - given the reason you take it ! ;~)): )

More seriously, 200mg seems like a large dose . . . . . but you're the best judge of the effect that has on you. The 10mg tablets I'd got (but no longer taking) have the direction, rather conservatively, perhaps:

"As a dietary supplement, take one capsule per day, with water"

On quantity: horses for courses, up to a point ?

Cheers,

Sid_Arthur X

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Tanyaking in reply to Maryh1]

Did you have an adrenal test which showed low levels of DHEA? Can I ask what benifitial you noticed with supplementing with the pregnenolone .

[Maryh1 in reply to Tanyaking]

I don't believe I did. However I use a DHEA cream every day that comes from a compounding pharmacy, so my doctor at the time seemed to think I needed it. I am 68 and can't remember words at times, and it seems to be getting worse, I call it My "old timers" disease. Anyway, when I take the pregnenolone I don't seem to have the problem. In fact within 15 minutes I notice the difference.

[Maryh1 in reply to Maryh1]

By the way, Pregnenolone was recommended in a book I was reading. So I took 100 mgs daily and didn't notice any difference. Then a friend said she was taking 200 mgs. So I tried it and got great results. My lab results said I was at the upper end of normal.

[Tanyaking in reply to Maryh1]

Well if it helps you then that's amazing...thanks for sharing.xx

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Maryh1]

Can I ask which pregnenolone product you take please?

Ive done lots of research into pregnenolone and have read that sublingual or lipid matrix pregnenolone will give the best results.

I can definitely confirm that the normal tablets do nothing for me as I ordered them by mistake (same company, but a higher dose) after I had run out of the sub lingual ones.

[Maryh1 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Not to many stores carry Pregnenolone as it's a hormone. As I recall your body made this at one time, but as we get older we make less. I believe I got my last bottle on Amazon. It's by Life Extension. To tell you the truth I haven't noticed a big difference of late. So because you asked I took only Pregnenolone first thing this morning to see if I notice a difference. I take about 12 pills every day. I put them in a pill box and after awile I kind of forget to notice what these pills are doing for me. I take lemon flavored cod liver oil every morning. It made a big difference in how I felt when I first took it, now I'm so use to it, it's just the norm. The Pregnenolone has always been a capsule. But as I said before 100 mgs did nothing. When I upped the dose to 200 I was shocked at what a difference it made.

[Maryh1 in reply to Maryh1]

How many mgs do you take?

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Maryh1]

I was up to 125mg of the sublingual when I ordered the wrong one. Was off it a few weeks and really noticed the difference, now on 100mg. I wil do weekly increases though to see if I get any better than this.

Fingers crossed!

I take Source Naturals cherry flavoured sublingual, unfortunately, they dont go higher than 25mg.

[Tanyaking in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Do you have a copy of you're results you could share! No preasure of course.xx

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Tanyaking]

Im afraid I have gone purely by how I feel as opposed to the results of a test. I definitely do not advise that route but as money is tight it's sadly the way I personally have to go.

[Tanyaking in reply to Maryh1]

So you use the DHEA cream daily as well as taking the pregnenolone ? Thank you for sharing it's very helpfull.x Maryh1?

[Sid_Arthur]

Hi Tanya,

Has your low DHEA been confirmed by a DHEA-S test, I wonder ? This test is NOT often done by GPs, and I requested it specifically in the end.

I looked into these adrenal hormone issues earlier this year, thinking raising levels by supplementation would help . . . . . . and ended up trying both pregnenolone and DHEA ( - as separate trials) : either were of much benefit to me ( - but that does not mean it'll also be the case for you, of course). I now have several unopened bottles of Swanson 10mg pregnenolone as a result . . . . and also some DHEA too.

I've read DHEA ( and therefore, by inference pregnenolone which is a source of it) can provide significantly beneficial effects in some, . . . . . and the only way to find out in any one case, given clear indications it is/may be low, is by a trial. This was in a book by a Harvard endo, (I seem to recall) on Men's Health.

If you decide to take pregnenolone or DHEA on considered grounds, it will be interesting to see how you respond. A DHEA-S test may (or may not) be worth doing, depending on the specifics of your personal circumstances.

Cheers,

Sid_Arthur X

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Tanyaking in reply to Sid_Arthur]

Yes I borrowed the money too test and there we're apparelling in the drs word...it's just I'm extremely poorly and worrying too add such a dose of 100 mg of pregnenolone will make matters worse ,I'd like too give it a conservative trial and the DHEA also ,In the hope it may help even a teeny tiny bit.x

[Sid_Arthur in reply to Tanyaking]

Hi Tanya,

I'm unclear on what test you had done - was it the 24hr saliva cortisol, or other ? If appropriate, a blood DHEA-S test can also be done by the NHS . . . . . . but most GPs don't know about it. Would you like to post your test result figures on here, with the given range . . . . and see what people make of them ?

The DHEA-S test is recommended, if appropriate in a particular case by Martin Budd, a naturopathic doctor who has written 3 (or so) book - it might be worth checking if any of your local libraries has copies of these.

It could be that a blood test ( - if available) does not shown a low or deficient result . . . . in which case, the inclination to/benefits of supplement obviously need to be reconsidered. What a high DHEA-S result means, then requires consideration, given a chronic condition.

Hope that's helpful . . . . many of us on here are aware (from personal experience or otherwise) of the difficulties caused by long term medical conditions; it can only help to stay as calm as possible . . . . . while continuing to seek what might help: it takes a certain rational resolve and practice.

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Tanyaking]

Maybe start really low (I cut the 25mg tablets into 8 then increased once a week) keep a diary and get tested once you start to feel any results?

[Tanyaking in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Was it the sublingual ones you chopped up into eight silver - fairy? Must of taken you forever to reach the 125 mg you take now.

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Tanyaking]

Yes it was. The first weeks I went slowly, in between I probably raised my dose every 5 days, but yes it took a while!

The problem was there were two quite conflicting sides.

The websites and some products that recommended between 10 and 20 mg per day and those that said up to 200mg daily. Maybe because I am in/past menopause I need more for it to produce the other hormones I need.

Regarding DHEA, I personally would not take it without testing first as I think, it has more of a tendency to turn into androgens in women (hence deep voice, facial hair etc)

Again, either test regularly, if you can, or do lots of research

[Tanyaking]

Sid Arthur,

Thank you for you're help,I have managed too load the results in my first post now ..yes it was the 24 hour saliva test too measure cortisol and DHEA levels I had done.

[Sid_Arthur in reply to Tanyaking]

You're welcome, Tanya !

( - I've only just realised you posted this comment to me; best to use the "Reply" link in the post you're addressing).

It will be interesting to see how you respond to the DHEA or pregnenolone, now that I've seen your results.

There is a summary interpretation of these saliva cortisol profiles at: stopthethyroidmadness.com/s... - however, I note your profile does not exactly fit any of the Seven Stages outlined.

I would suggest you take a copy of these results to your GP, for insertion in your notes ( - I'd be interested to know whether anyone has been able to claim the cost of these tests back from the NHS; want to try ? Perhaps in time, if not immediately !).

Do you have reactive glycaemia, or glucose intolerance ? - ask GP !

If so, books by Martin Budd, N.D. may be useful.

Take it slow and easy.

As has been said, "By the inch, its a cinch, . . . . . by the yard, its 'ard !"

Another cheap intervention worth trying to help maintain cortisol levels ( - which in you are dropping too fast) is to said to be liquorice, perhaps as a tea; try Sainsburys (- have own brand?) . . . and similar outlets. A good clean product, with no additives, usually. Check if the blood pressure indication for this ( - on box) applies to you. Too much not recommended for those with hypertension, I believe. You're making progress !

Wishing you better days soon !

Cheers,

Sid_Arthur X

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Silver_Fairy]

I must have missed this post as I asked the same!!

[topaz1]

I took the 24 hr saliva cortisol test thru Dr Myhill and she advised me to take pregnenolone - Swanson Ultra super strength P 50 mg caps. 1 capsule taken sublingually on waking

[Tanyaking in reply to topaz1]

Do you get these from dr myhill or get them youreself? Have you noticed a difference? Do you remember you're results you could share?

[topaz1 in reply to Tanyaking]

Yes, I get them from Dr Myhill. Unfortunately I cant say I've noticed any difference but then I am absolutely loaded with heavy metals and am trying to get rid of them. I dont think there will be any improvement until that happens - and next year I'm going to deal with mercury fillings.

Adrenal stress profile : post awakening 37.0 (12-22), +4-5 hrs 3.4 (5.0-9.0),+4-5 hrs 2.9 (3.0-7.0), prior to sleep 2.8 (1.0-3.0),total daily cortisol 46.1 (21-41), salivary DHEA mean level 0.06 (0.10-0.50).

[Silver_Fairy in reply to topaz1]

I cannot seem to find the sublingual one topaz1, can you please provide a link?

[topaz1 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Sorry, I cant provide a link as I get them from Dr Myhill.