Does DHEA Cause Side Effects? 

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a naturally occurring hormone that is sold as a dietary supplement. Even though it is "natural" and available without a prescription, it can still cause  side effects, including some potentially serious ones.
  
Possible Side Effects of  DHEA

It appears that low doses of DHEA  are generally well tolerated (although more studies are necessary  in order to know this for sure). Higher doses, such as 200 mg daily  or more, have been reported to cause a variety of different side effects. These possible DHEA  side effects include: 

• Acne  
• Facial or body hair growth 
• Hair loss 
• Deepening  of the voice 
• Menstrual changes 
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain) 
• High  blood pressure (hypertension) 
• Liver dysfunction (which might cause problems such as yellow eyes  or skin, dark urine, or upper right abdominal pain) 
• Insomnia  
• Nasal congestion 
• Fatigue  
• Headaches  
• Decreased levels  of HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) 
• Mania symptoms (such as racing thoughts, careless spending, or risky sexual activity). 

DHEA Side Effects to Report 

It  is a good idea to let your healthcare provider know if you experience any possible DHEA side effects, however minor they  may seem. DHEA can affect your hormonal balance, and even  side effects that might seem insignificant (such as acne) can be signs of a hormone imbalance. Definitely be sure  to report any serious, unusual,  or distressing side effects.
 
Theoretically, DHEA might increase the risk of cancer when taken long-term, although much  more research is needed before it is known if this really is a potential problem.
 
Unpredictable DHEA  side effects are also possible due to contaminants  in DHEA products. Because supplements are not as tightly regulated as prescription  or non-prescription drugs, they are sometimes contaminated with  other supplements, medications, or even toxins such as heavy metals. In order to avoid such problems, it is important to choose  a high quality supplement from a trustworthy manufacturer.
 
Final Thoughts on DHEA Side Effects 

It is possible that you  may experience some  or none of the side effects explained above. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider  to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you  have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking DHEA or if something "just does not seem right" during treatment. While it  may not be a side effect of DHEA, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem. 

Notes: FCbinderMD

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EditText of this page (last edited March 31, 2010)