DHEA or Pregnenolone?

[Clara62]

Hello, is anyone here using DHEA? I have low levels but I am in doubt whether to use DHEA directly or, as I read a few times, supplementing with Pregnenolone.

I am also on HRT.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Just be aware that, in the UK, DHEA is technically a Controlled Drug - with legal restrictions on even possessing it or buying it from abroad.

This is not meant to be an opinion on the matter - just to advise you so that you can make your own informed choices and not inadvertently do something that could be a problem.

[Clara62 in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella 🙏 a friend of mine bought it on <online shopping>!! 😳

[Clara62 in reply to Clara62]

Sorry, it was <a USA site>not Uk ...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Clara62]

I cannot find it available. Would you send me a Private Message with the actual product?

[babycometrue in reply to helvella]

pls message me where can i find it. Today was told to take it

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to babycometrue]

Are you in the UK?

If so, you buying DHEA is illegal. You must contact the doctor who advised you and discuss with them how to get it.

It might seem silly that it is illegal. But right now, if I point you at a supplier it would be like telling you where to get cannabis!

[Karen09]

I buy DHEA from <an online source> online. I take the 25 mg a few times a week. I think it helps in general to keep fit and feel better.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Karen09]

Please do not post places where you can buy products which are illegal in the UK.

[Gingernut44 in reply to helvella]

You only have to enter DHEA into that well known search engine and you’ll see lots 😱

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Gingernut44]

Which is very different to posting links here.

[Clara62 in reply to Karen09]

Thank you Karen09 🙏

[Clara62 in reply to Clara62]

I might do the same

[Tuscansun]

I would say be careful with Pregnenolone as it can convert to many hormones and you cannot predict and control to which one. I took it probably 10 years ago and it gave me lots of energy - and took it around a month ago for 3 days and had horrible fatigue and returned nasty night sweat and hot flushes. I am not on HRT.

[Clara62 in reply to Tuscansun]

Yeah... I was thinking about this. Many say Pregnenolone is better and more bio available others say what you wrote .... thank you 🙏

[Carys21]

Tried both and did not notice any difference (62 years old and not on HRT)

[Clara62 in reply to Carys21]

Thank you Carys21 🙏 I am on 200 Progesterone and 1mg estradiol. Maybe I ll try to source a tiny amount of DHEA somewhere

[Hidden]

I was advised by a doctor to go off HRT and try DHEA and pregnenolone instead as they would convert into sex hormones as needed (according to doctor). It turned out not to be a good idea. The night sweats returned with a vengeance, and I also developed other symptoms such as greasy skin (like a teenager), acne, mood swings, and increased facial hair. Not sure if related, but my blood pressure ended up harder to control on blood pressure meds. I later read that you have no way of controlling how much of these supplements is converted into which hormones, so you could end up with too much testosterone or too much progesterone, or an imbalance between various sex hormones. I am now back on HRT and feeling much better. The doctor who put me on HRT said bioidentical HRT is not dangerous, that transdermal estradiol does not carry the same risks as oral E, and that the benefits outweigh the risks if started early enough.

[Clara62 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much PurpleCat71. Good information and eye opening. I think that if I am going to try I will only add a very low amount of DHEA, something like 5mg and see if it helps. My levels have been quite low for years ...

[Hidden in reply to Clara62]

If you decide to try it, I think it would be a good idea to only take one of the two and start on a low dose.

[Clara62 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, thank you. Agree👍

[Hidden]

I take DHEA however it is prescribed by my Endo as my adrenal glands don't produce it. I have adrenal insufficiency though due to surgery to remove a pituitary tumour, I don't make either ACTH or cortisol.

[Clara62 in reply to Hidden]

Hi PaulineS, thank you🌸 I hope it helps you 🙏

[Angel_of_the_North]

I am prescribed DHEA. Although some websites will sell it to you, you are breaking the law by importing it as it is a class C drug. The problem with pregnenolone is that you can't tell what it will convert to, and as we know, our bodies don't always produce the hormones we need in the amounts we need them. Same with DHEA but no to the same extent. I have it as I need more testosterone, but get 'roid rage if I take testosterone directly. The further back you go in the hormone chain, the less control you have over what you'll end up with.

[Clara62 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you very much. Useful info about pregnenolone. I think I ll start with a very low dose of DHEA, hopefully without any problems ( legal etc)🙏

[socratesanne in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

"The further back you go in the hormone chain, the less control you have over what you'll end up with." What does this mean, if I may ask. This post was very informative but still baffled somewhat as to the ramification of balance, means to control the hormonal balance as to symptoms as they occur and any concerns.

Appreciate all the responses and the post. Like being informed. Have used natural compounding hormones for years but lately wondered if a change or an addition might be in order as the skin, weight and water retention seems to be more effected lately.

DHEA was suggested but cannot see main doc for over a month. My doc of many years retired, so feel sort of lost in this new quandary This doctor is not as thorough as my prior doc. When a doctor knows you for so long these new symptoms seem to have no solution when the person who prescribed is long gone and knew your history. Medical records are not always pinpointing her reasoning as has become clear in this new world situation and clinics being in personal treatment.

It has been appalling that they give vaccine without your personal doctor available for guidance if a patient has a serious complicated medical history. My son was given the vaccine without a doctor monitoring, He had had four open heart surgeries from infancy to adulthood. Even doing the testing of covid, putting a stick down you nostrils goes against what multiple surgeons and cardiologist warned against for life. I just do not understand.

Life is so complicated and this has been worrying me. The DHEA I just took for the past week and noted no changes but no drawbacks. Not sure it is cumulative and not aware that the skin might have gotten worse as this post has opened up some education for me until I can get in to see a doctor. Appreciate all the help you have given Clara. What increased on contraindicated symptoms might one watch for?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to socratesanne]

All hormones are originally made from cholesterol. After that, lots of interactions and reactions are necessary to make steroid and sex hormones. If you take pregnenolone, you can't tell whether it'll go to make mostly progesterone or cortisol, or DHEA. All oestrogen are actually made from androgenic ("male") hormones, so if you take DHEA directly you don't know if it'll mostly go towards making testosterone and stop there or whether it'll end up as an oestrogen. There's a diagram at metabolichealing.com/the-en... But, a bit like t4 to t3 conversion, there are many interactions needed to make a sex hormone

[socratesanne in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

So sound like it get not to use DHEA and just let the HRT do its job for now. I am not sure what most affects the skin as that seems to be my main daily problems and cannot tell if when I added the DHEA came before the skin but I have to assume it made it worse. which hormone would to that? I have lost a lot of hair ad that seems to be improving since I added an increase in D recommended. My skin has aged behind belief but think the Quarantine did that. And my lack of mobility defeating my improved health. My job is to sedentary and full of stress so I did add Bs to help but I do not think that would cause skin issues. I do not recognize my skin anymore almost over hight or so it seemed? THANKS FOR THE INFO.. Any other ideas, let me know.

[socratesanne in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Does seem to be helping and more like an additional testosterone which is probably better for me given my age and recent dive into depression. But how do these affect hair loss if testosterone is more prevalent and the affects on my skin which both I need to monitor to see the effects of just adding one DHEA a day and tweek where to go from here.

I know the docs where I live could care less about a seniors health as discrimination has been rampant in my profession for decades. Before I was just added on a GMHS addition to my credentials, but first hand I knew what to expect just not to this extent of poor coordination among providers. I think the grief lies in between.

Appreciate your wonderful candor and expertise. Need better guidance than in my own clinic. Our docs resigned when a new administrator came on board and I miss the old collaborative regime.

Feel like hope is rekindling and would it be nice be nice that the DHEA is playing a part with watching the scientific monitoring of one's own body. I added, just yesterday, ashwanda and feel better already thanks to two different research, one a doctor who recommended it,. That gives me hope that change is imminent with patience and research. Think in many ways this pandemic enlightened us all in hope of renewed truths and health instead of this steady decline that was growing pervasively fatalistic.

[LindaC in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you for this info, especially:

"The further back you go in the hormone chain, the less control you have over what you'll end up with."

I think I recall you saying in the past that something IRO ?? mg?? of pregnenolone was needed to make a difference? I take v small amounts < 5 mg a day - likely wasting my time. I have wondered about taking DHEA and my testosterone levels too - where on earth can such a doctor be found to test!?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to LindaC]

Don't know about amounts. Generally you need only a small amount of DHEA, but I'm sure it depends on what your personal conversion is like. My DHEA seems to boost my testosterone, which is why I have it. Excess androgens can cause bad skin, but so can excess vitamin A, not enough omega 3s and a host of other things. I get DHEA as part of my HRT - Marion Gluck clinic, you can do a video consultation and get bloods done at Superdrug for the Doctor's Lab

[LindaC in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you! I thought about DHEA way back but - never wanting to take any hormones aye! - was too unsure. I've never had 'bad skin' until now - weird spots at an age... [although I first got spots at 34 on stopping the contraceptive pill] - there's some strange hormonal issues going on. Oh thank you for that M G clinic info! 😇

So sad that hormones aren't GPs first port of call... would help so many people.

[sue_b in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thats some good info I use a different HRT Clinic and blood testing company - didn't know superdrug will do it and havent come across Doctors Lab, I'll check them out

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to sue_b]

Superdrug and The Doctors Lab have an arrangement with MG Clinic, so don't know if it is available to others

[socratesanne in reply to LindaC]

What is IMO?

[sue_b in reply to socratesanne]

I think it is short for in my opinion

[socratesanne in reply to sue_b]

Sorry, I wrote the wrong letters, my eyes get tired when I am up late---it is IRO. She wrote "I think I recall you saying in the past that something IRO ?? mg?? of pregnenolone was needed to make a difference? "

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to socratesanne]

Grossly unsatisfactory for a doctor to use abbreviations like that.

IRO could be in the region of. But could alternatively be in respect of or even in receipt of.

[LindaC in reply to helvella]

Apologies, it wasn't a dr - although nothing much would now surprise me - I was trying to recall something re an amount, so used IRO! 😆😅🍀

[LindaC in reply to socratesanne]

IRO - In Region Of xox

[Hidden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Interesting! I was actually taking a supplement containing both DHEA and preg. It was the only one I could find with intra-EU delivery. But, as you say, it´s impossible to control how much is converted and into what....my own experience is that it´s not a good idea to combine DHEA and preg, or at least not start on both at the same time.

[Clara62 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you PurpleCat71🙏

[detomaso]

I take a small amount of DHEA, about 12.5mg per day, and 50mg of pregnenolone. I've arrived at these doses by trial and error and with some testing. I fare badly without adrenal support, so some some supplementation is essential. If I stop the DHEA, I seem to to lose energy, but increasing beyond 10-12.5 mg doesn't add any benefits. I found the 'micronized' versions better, though they are almost impossible to get at the moment. I'm a man, so these doses may not tally for others. With pregnenolone, I've also found that the micronized, lipid versions are more effective, though these are also harder to get and more expensive.

[Clara62 in reply to detomaso]

Thank you very much. Good to know you found your right dosage🙏