Sublingual DHEA: Hello - I’m currently treating... - Thyroid UK

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Sublingual DHEA

Jamima profile image
32 Replies

Hello - I’m currently treating low cortisol and associated symptoms using DHEA. I’m interested in finding a micronised or sublingual product. I understand we’re not allowed to promote or advertise on here so I’m happy to receive pm’s with any recommendations.

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Jamima
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32 Replies
Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30

Have you considered eating more meat - as it contains cortisol

milupa profile image
milupa in reply to Lizzo30

Those high levels of stress hormones are not naturally present, they are the result of stressful handling before and during slaughter.

google.com/amp/s/amp.theatl...

Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30 in reply to milupa

Oh how awful

milupa profile image
milupa in reply to Lizzo30

Hi, I hope my comment didn’t come across as rude! It is something I am quite passionate about - I like meat and feed my dog a raw diet but want the animals to have a decent life, for their and our sake!

Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30 in reply to milupa

I always try to buy free range chicken , I wish we didn't need meat but my daughter developed hypothyroidism after going on a vegan gluten free diet

Life is cruel

milupa profile image
milupa

Hi! I have not come across those, but is a topical cream not an option for you?

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to milupa

Thank you milupa, I’ve managed to find both sublingual and topical online. Just looking for feedback from anyone with experience of the product using non oral administration.

milupa profile image
milupa in reply to Jamima

This is a strange one - I spoke to my compounding pharmacy (in Germany) about getting DHEA, Pregnenolone and Progesterone cream (with a prescription) and she told me that yes, they can make it but that the prices will be multiples of those bought online and that I should continue to buy there. All are prescription only here...

Anyway, I had rock bottom cortisol and all other hormones for ages but not quite Addisons's. I sorted thyroid first, vitamins, amino acids, diet etc next but had to resort to taking hydrocortisone for about a year. After carefully stopping I still cary hc with me at all times for stressful situations - almost accident or unpleasant phone call, anything.

Ostrogen doesn't suit me. Testosterone does - but at some point my hair falls out and acne develops.

So reading Dr Myhill and with guidance from my doc I now rotate through minute amounts of progesterone DHEA pregnenolone and testosterone and, at 56, I am finally ok-ish. Oral supplementation was a disaster for me.

Sorry about the long story but maybe someone else reads it and knows there's light at the end of the (long) tunnel.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to milupa

Hi Milupa - thank you. I’d been using hrt - oestrogen and various progestin/utrogestan for almost 10 years until early last year. The oestrogen was giving me hypothyroid symptoms but 3 separate consultants have told me my thyroid is ‘healthy’ so I’ve not received any treatment for it despite, my hair falling out, ridged nails, extreme fatigue and freezing cold symptoms. So... I’m left with dealing with adrenals, all vits and iron etc is now optimal. Oestrogen makes me hypo so, with the advice of my consultant, I’ve started low dose progesterone and DHEA. I’m slowly beginning to see the light, and will continue to use this with regular home testing. So did your compounding pharmacist suggest that online products ie, prog and DHEA are pretty much the same as compounded? I’m interested because have considered the compounded route when funds allow.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to Jamima

Also, do you find a difference between progesterone and pregnenolone?

milupa profile image
milupa in reply to Jamima

I LOVED utrogestan when I was in perimenopause, my gyno called it 'happy pill'...

Interesting that oestrogen made you hypo, that's how I felt (or better: even more hypo). I am now stable on T3 and have been thinking of trying a tad of oestrogen again.

I 'believe' that pregnenolone is converted more widely; too much progesterone makes me put on weight, too much pregnenolone has more of a mood effect but that's just me.

I would like to quote what my pharmacist said but would you allow me to pm you with that?

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to milupa

Yes, of course, go ahead and pm me.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

DHEA is a Controlled Drug with considerably stricter rules applying than ordinary prescription-only medicines. That is, it is illegal to import (even for personal use) or just possess the product without an appropriate prescription.

It is listed in Schedule C Part 2 under the name Prasterone (Dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA)

gov.uk/government/publicati...

milupa profile image
milupa in reply to helvella

Oops, sorry, should have realised! I hope my reply was within guidelines...?!

MirandaIV profile image
MirandaIV in reply to helvella

Any idea why it is controlled?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to MirandaIV

No - I don't actually know. But you might care to read this letter - which recommends NOT extending the ban to 7-keto and 7-hydroxy variants of DHEA:

assets.publishing.service.g...

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to helvella

DHEA has been classified as an anabolic steroid :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...

All anabolic steroids are controlled drugs in the UK as far as I know. Whether any of this is justified I have no idea - I don't know enough about the subject.

There is just one form of DHEA referred to in the British National Formulary (BNF), and I doubt very much whether it would be helpful for many people :

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/praste...

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to humanbean

Thank you humanbean, I have already been using these pessaries but they are very low dose and not systemic but for local vaginal use. I’ve also been prescribed testosterone in the past by a gynaecologist, I believe that’s also an anabolic steroid, I find it too potent and much prefer DHEA. I don’t understand why such a fuss is being made when people all over this forum are being recommended to buy hormones from all over the world, online. The adrenal glandulars in my opinion are promoted widely on here and for me, had a much more potent effect than the low dose DHEA I’m using. They must contain hormones and yet a blind eye is turned on these. Double standards at play.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Jamima

I don’t understand why such a fuss is being made

The government and the medical profession started it, not us. :D

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to humanbean

Do the government and medical profession know about the promotion of online hormones on here? It’s either ok for all or none at all.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to Jamima

And why has my post been singled out when women on fertility boards are openly discussing very high doses of online purchased DHEA as are men in male health boards without warnings nhs of illegal behaviour?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jamima

Jamima

Quite often posts of this nature have replies turned off to prevent supplier information being posted on the forum. The Admin team didn't see the need to do this immediately with your post and left it open for discussion. With hindsight, maybe we should have closed the post.

why has my post been singled out when women on fertility boards are openly discussing very high doses of online purchased DHEA as are men in male health boards without warnings nhs of illegal behaviour?

I don't think your post has been singled out.

What other forums allow to be discussed is up to them. Discussion has been allowed on your post but as you are probably aware, as your opening post said "I understand we’re not allowed to promote or advertise on here so I’m happy to receive pm’s with any recommendations", ThyroidUK does not allow discussion of where to obtain prescription only medication without prescription openly on the forum.

I don’t understand why such a fuss is being made when people all over this forum are being recommended to buy hormones from all over the world, online.

Yes, it is suggested that some people would benefit from obtaining their own thyroid hormone but supplier information is not allowed on the forum, and we do try to ensure that the person asking for details does actually have a need for it.

The adrenal glandulars in my opinion are promoted widely on here and for me, had a much more potent effect than the low dose DHEA I’m using. They must contain hormones and yet a blind eye is turned on these. Double standards at play.

We are not promoting anything. People ask and discussion takes place. Adrenal glandulars are not a prescription item so there is no problem.

I’m puzzled and would like to know why it’s being pointed out to me that I’m doing something that’s illegal and being told to speak to my consultant about it when it was the consultant who suggested it.

It has been pointed out to you that it is illegal so that you are forewarned of possible problems. I would have thought that your consultant knows it's a controlled drug and the problem with trying to import it.

And further, that others who use the same product, are not given the same warnings.

I can't recall any posts where obtaining DHEA has been discussed openly on the forum so am unaware of any warnings being given or not.

As you now understand the risks of importing a controlled drug, there doesn't seem to be anything else to add so I will close the post to further discussion. If anyone has anything else to add they can send you a private message.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Jamima

Anyone who wants to read the posts on here just has to become a member of HU and join the forum.

You seem angry about something, and I'm not sure why. And I'm not sure who you are angry with.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to humanbean

I’m not angry, not at all, for the first time in over a year I’m able to think clearly and that seems to be because of the DHEA, rather, I’m puzzled and would like to know why it’s being pointed out to me that I’m doing something that’s illegal and being told to speak to my consultant about it when it was the consultant who suggested it. And further, that others who use the same product, are not given the same warnings.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Jamima

If you ordered DHEA and got into trouble from either customs or the police, or whichever organisation it is that deals with controlled drugs, and nobody had warned you it was illegal to import it then you would be entitled to be annoyed. At least you know the risks now. What you do with that information is up to you, and we aren't picking on you.

I don't know the other people that are buying DHEA and have never corresponded with them.

What your consultant tells you is between you and him, and nothing to do with either Thyroid UK or HU.

The people who post here are not doctors and nobody should assume anyone posting or replying on this forum has any medical training, and this is pointed out when they become members and they agree to abide by the rules.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to humanbean

Thank you, I’ll take the risks.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to helvella

Thank you helvella. It was recommended by my consultant endocrinologist but as he can’t prescribe it on nhs, he told me to buy it online.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Jamima

I suggest you contact him and discuss/explain!

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to helvella

Discuss what? He told me at my last consult that he couldn’t prescribe it but that it might be useful and I could buy it online.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Jamima

Discuss whether he could prescribe privately - if not on NHS.

Discuss his advice that you do something which could have legal consequences.

Discuss whether there is a legal loophole about which I am unaware.

Jamima profile image
Jamima in reply to helvella

He didn’t offer to prescribe it privately so I presume he can’t. He didn’t mention anything about legal consequences and, quite frankly, at this stage in the game it’s the only thing that’s working for me, probably because my levels are rock bottom. I’ve taken advice on here to get my vitamin levels optimum- they are, cut out wheat - I have, adrenal glandulars made me puffy and foggy. I’ll stick with this, and if the dhea police arrive, I’ll deal with it.

Jamima profile image
Jamima

There’s a slew of women over on the fertility boards taking high doses of online purchased dhea, I didn’t notice any of them being told it was illegal.

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