DHEA, Herbal

• DHEA, herbal is considered possibly ineffective for Alzheimer's disease, muscle strength, and sexual arousal disorder.
• DHEA, herbal is available under the following different brands and other names: dehydroepiandrosterone, herbal and prasterone, herbal.
• DHEA, herbal suggested uses include Addison's disease, adrenal insufficiency, cognitive disorders, depression, erectile dysfunction, immunostimulant, slowing/reversing aging, systemic lupus erythematosus, vaginal atrophy (postmenopausal), menopausal hot flashes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and weight loss.
• DHEA, herbal has shown some positive results (Am J Psychiatry 1999 Apr;156(4):646-9; Ann Med Interne (Paris) 1996; 147(4):276-80) in terms of efficacy.

Dosages of DHEA, Herbal:

• See package label

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Suggested Dosing

Adrenal Insufficiency

• 20-50 mg orally once daily

Osteoporosis

• 50-100 mg orally once daily

Depression

• 30-90 mg orally once daily

Erectile Dysfunction

• 50 mg orally once daily

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• 200 mg orally once daily
• Up to 600 mg/day has been used

Alzheimer's Disease

• 50 mg orally twice daily

Menopausal Hot Flashes

• 25-50 mg orally once daily

Vaginal Atrophy

• See FDA approved prescription product: prasterone, intravaginal

Side effects of DHEA, herbal include:

• Abdominal pain
• Acne
• Decreased HDL cholesterol
• Excess hair growth
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Headache
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Increased risk of hormone-sensitive tumors (very high dose)
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Liver dysfunction
• Low or high blood sugar (hypo/hyperglycemia)
• Mania
• Menstrual irregularities
• Mild mania (hypomania)
• Nasal congestion
• Psychosis
• Sexual inappropriateness
• Voice deepening (high dose)

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• DHEA, herbal has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Serious interactions of DHEA, herbal include:
  • dihydroergotamine
  • dihydroergotamine intranasal
  • dronedarone
  • ergotamine
  • erythromycin base
  • erythromycin ethylsuccinate
  • erythromycin lactobionate
  • erythromycin stearate
  • everolimus
  • pimozide
  • ranolazine
  • silodosin
  • sirolimus
  • tolvaptan
• DHEA, herbal has moderate interactions with at least 77 different drugs.
• DHEA, herbal has mild interactions with at least 54 different drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains DHEA, herbal. Do not take dehydroepiandrosterone, herbal or prasterone, herbal if you are allergic to DHEA, herbal or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Breast cancer, endometriosis, hormone-sensitive conditions, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroids

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using DHEA, Herbal?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using DHEA, Herbal?”

Cautions

• Bipolar disorder, concurrent CYP3A4 substrates, depression, diabetes mellitus, history of mood disorder, impaired liver function

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Avoid the use of DHEA, herbal during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.