dehydroepiandrosterone

Reported Uses

• NOTE: see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table
• Addison dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• adrenal insufficiency [Insufficient Evidence]
• androgen deficiency, partial [Insufficient Evidence]
• athletic performance [Insufficient Evidence]
• cardiovascular dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• cervical dysplasia [Insufficient Evidence]
• chronic fatigue syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• cocaine dependence [Insufficient Evidence]
• cognitive function [Likely Ineffective]
• COPD [Insufficient Evidence]
• Crohn dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• depression [Possibly Effective]
• diabetes mellitus [Insufficient Evidence]
• erectile dysfxn [Insufficient Evidence]
• exercise-induced muscle damage [Insufficient Evidence]
• fibromyalgia [Insufficient Evidence]
• HIV/AIDS [Insufficient Evidence]
• infertility [Possibly Effective]
• menopausal sx [Insufficient Evidence]
• metabolic syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• muscle strength [Possibly Ineffective]
• muscular dystrophy [Insufficient Evidence]
• obesity [Insufficient Evidence]
• opioid withdrawal sx [Insufficient Evidence]
• osteoporosis [Insufficient Evidence]
• parturition [Insufficient Evidence]
• Parkinson dz [Insufficient Evidence]
• physical performance [Possibly Ineffective]
• rheumatoid arthritis [Insufficient Evidence]
• schizophrenia [Insufficient Evidence]
• sexual dysfxn [Insufficient Evidence]
• Sjogren syndrome [Likely Ineffective]
• skin aging [Possibly Effective]
• SLE [Insufficient Evidence]
• slowing/reversing aging [Possibly Ineffective]
• ulcerative colitis [Insufficient Evidence]
• vaginal atrophy [Likely Effective]

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: may incl. DHEA, DHEA-S metabolite; see prasterone vaginal for FDA-approved Rx product; all other preparations are not FDA-approved

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

Addison dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg PO qd

adrenal insufficiency

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20-50 mg PO qd

androgen deficiency, partial

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 25 mg PO qd

cervical dysplasia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 150 mg PV qd

chronic fatigue syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 25-100 mg PO qd

COPD

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 200 mg PO qd

Crohn dz

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 200 mg PO qd

depression

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 30-500 mg PO qd

erectile dysfxn

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg PO qd

exercise-induced muscle damage

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg PO bid

HIV/AIDS

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-500 mg PO qd

infertility

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 50-75 mg PO qd; Alt: 30 mg PO tid; Start: 3-4mo before IVF

menopausal sx

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 10-25 mg PO qd; Alt: 3.5-13 mg PV qd

metabolic syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-100 mg PO qd

muscular dystrophy

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 200 mg IV qd

osteoporosis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-100 mg PO qd

parturition

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50-200 mg IV 1-2x/wk; Alt: 100 mg IV qd x3 days; Start: after 37 wk gestation

schizophrenia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 50 mg PO bid; Start: 25 mg PO qd x2wk, then 25 mg PO bid x2wk, then 50 mg PO bid

sexual dysfxn

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 300 mg PO x1; Alt 50-500 mg PO qd; 0.25-1% cream or supp PV qd

skin aging

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 50 mg PO qd; Alt: apply 1% cream topically qd

SLE

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20-200 mg PO qd

ulcerative colitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 200 mg PO qd

vaginal atrophy

[Likely Effective]

Dose: 0.25-1% supp PV qd; Alt; apply 10% cream to inner thighs qd