Name
DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE
Mode of Action
DHEA IS AN ENDOGENOUS STEROID HORMONE, PRODUCED BY THE ADRENAL GLANDS, GONADS, LIVER AND BRAIN. ITS ROLE IS NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN SYNTHENSIZING ESTROGEN AND ANDROGEN.
Dosage
- INFERTILITY: 75 MG OF DHEA TAKEN DAILY FOR 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE AND DURING IVF TREATMENT. - DEPRESSION: 30 - 500 MG DAILY ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANOTHER ANTIDEPRESSANTS. - FOR AGING SKIN: 50 MG OF DHEA TAKEN DAILY FOR 1 YEAR. - A 1% DHEA CREAM HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE FACE AND HANDS TWICE DAILY FOR UP TO 4 MONTHS. - VAGINAL ATROPHY: VAGINAL INSERTS CONTAINING 0.25% TO 1% DHEA HAVE BEEN USED ONCE DAILY FOR 12 WEEKS.
Drug Group
Cross Reaction
THE BODY CHANGES DHEA TO ESTROGEN IN THE BODY. ANASTROZOLE & EXEMESTANE IS USED TO HELP DECREASE ESTROGEN IN THE BODY. TAKING DHEA MIGHT DECREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANASTROZOLE & EXEMESTANE. FULVESTRANT, TAMOXIFEN & LETROZOLE WHICH IS USED IN ESTROGEN SENSITIVE CANCERS MAY LOOSE EFFECTIVENESS WHEN GIVEN WITH DHEA SINCE DHEA CHANES INTO ESTROGEN IN THE BODY INCREASING ITS PLASMA LEVELS. INSULIN DECREASES BODY LEVELS OD DHEA SO DOSE OF DHEA SUPPLIMENTS SHOULD BE INCREASED. DHEA IMPAIRS TRIAZOLAM METABOLISM HENCE ITS PLASMA CONC. MAY INCREASE LEADING TO ITS SIDE EFFECTS. STEROIDS DECREASES IN HOUSE PRODUCTION OF DHEA IN THE BODY HENCE EFFECTS OF OUTSIDE TAKING OF SUPPLIMENTAL DHEA IS REDUCED, SO INCREASE ITS DOSEWHEN CO-ADMINISTERED WITH STEROIDS.
Drug Interaction
Drugs Side Effect
Drug Categories
Special Precaution
Drug Safety
Monograph