DHEA

[Guest guest]

I've been taking DHEA at varying doses between 25-100mg/day for the past four

years. The other day I bought Twin Lab brand for the first time and was

interested to read the warning on the label:

Warning:

This product should not be taken by any person under 40 years of age. Not for

use by children. Also, this product should not be used by pregnant or

nursing women or women capable of bearing children. Do not use if you are a

woman at risk or being treated for heart disease. Do not use this product if

you have breast, uterine, ovarian or prostate cancer or prostate problems.

Persons suffering from or at risk for any disease should consult a physician

before using this product.

This is the first time that I've seen such an extensive warning on a DHEA

bottle. I bet there is research behind the warning that might be worth

looking at.

Barb

[Guest guest]

Theresa,

I took DHEA for about four years. I varied my dose from 25mg/day to

100mg/day, most of the time took 50mg/day. From what I've been told by docs,

people under 40 shouldn't take it, and everyone over 40 should discuss it

with their docs before taking it. DHEA blood levels can be helpful, and

there are several books you can browse at the bookstore or library about how

to interpret the blood levels, and decide on dosage. There are some serious

side effects and possible ties to cancer; testicular cancer in men, ovarian

cancer in women.

I liked it, felt it gave me a bit more energy and improved on my feelings of

being so sick. Now that I've been off it for several months I don't miss it.

When I was very sick, if I missed a few days I crashed. Now that I'm just

moderately sick I just don't think that I need it anymore, in view of the

risks associated with taking it.

Barb

<< For those of you who take DHEA, how much do you take (did you work up to

this dose) and at what time of day? Does it affect sleep if taken too late?

How soon did you feel any better? I have tried supplementing with thyroid

but only felt really wired and anxious. I want to try DHEA and see if it

will help my energy levels at all.

Thanks!

-Theresa

>>

[Guest guest]

Dear Barb,

Thank you for the information! I'll be 41 in October, so I guess that

part is ok ; ) . I'll check out my library/bookstores. What I have is in

25mg tablets. Was there a particular time of day that you found best to take

it?

-Theresa

>Theresa,

>I took DHEA for about four years. I varied my dose from 25mg/day to

>100mg/day, most of the time took 50mg/day. From what I've been told by

docs,

>people under 40 shouldn't take it, and everyone over 40 should discuss it

>with their docs before taking it. DHEA blood levels can be helpful, and

>there are several books you can browse at the bookstore or library about

how

>to interpret the blood levels, and decide on dosage. There are some serious

>side effects and possible ties to cancer; testicular cancer in men, ovarian

>cancer in women.

> I liked it, felt it gave me a bit more energy and improved on my feelings

of

>being so sick. Now that I've been off it for several months I don't miss

it.

> When I was very sick, if I missed a few days I crashed. Now that I'm just

>moderately sick I just don't think that I need it anymore, in view of the

>risks associated with taking it.

>

>Barb

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa -

I take 10mg of DHEA in the morning. I started at 4mg,

then built up. At first I had some acne from the

increased hormone when I went to 8 mg so backed off

for awhile, then increased slowly with no problems. I

do notice an increase in energy and believe I could

take more, but I'm trying some other energy

supplements like NADH and Ginseng which are also

working well for me so I'm staying at this level for

now.

Best, Jennie

--- Theresa Romani <tromani@...> wrote:

> For those of you who take DHEA, how much do you

> take (did you work up to

> this dose) and at what time of day? Does it affect

> sleep if taken too late?

> How soon did you feel any better? I have tried

> supplementing with thyroid

> but only felt really wired and anxious. I want to

> try DHEA and see if it

> will help my energy levels at all.

>

> Thanks!

> -Theresa

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

http://www.ceri.com/dhea.htm

This article commments on a variety of effects that DHEA has had on

experimental animals. At one point, the article comments on DHEA's

relationship with appetite, stating:

" DHEA and Appetite

In different experiments, DHEA supplementation has resulted in

increased, decreased and unchanged food consumption. Dr. Schwartz

found that it is the level of dietary fat influences food

consumption. DHEA-treated rats on a high-fat diet ate less food than

control rats while those on a low-fat diet ate more.

Since DHEA inhibits G6PDH activity and suppresses the body's ability

to synthesize fat from carbohydrate, dietary sources of fat become

more important. This can affect changes in appetite. But despite

possible increases in food intake, DHEA-treated animals consistently

weighed less than control animals. In other words, increases in

appetite, when indulged, did not negate the anti-obesity property of

DHEA. "

As stated in the article, use DHEA supplements causes glucose

utilization to decrease and force fat consumption to increase. While

DHEA is known to help reduce weight, I feel that supplementing DHEA

into one's diet would increase LDL and cholesterol intake, which can

increase the chance for heart problems. This is just an opinion, any

comments or references supporting or negating this inference?

ph Munaretto

Cornell University

[Guest guest]

Hi, n,

>then my result was for DHEA-S (not DHEA) = 2.1 vs range of 1.8-15. So my

>DHEA-S was low.

Free DHEA is more variable, so less meaningful, than DHEA-S. DHEA-S is the

number that should be used for determining whether you are low in DHEA.

Jerry

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know what time of day and frequency one should

supplement with either dhea or keto-7. I'm confused whether to take this

stuff at night or in the morning, empty stomach or full. Tell me, when

does dhea naturally peak in the body, and does it correlate at all with

when gh is released?

[Guest guest]

Dhea, like T, is highest in the morning, though not so dramatic as cortisol

is normally. Therefore, taking DHEA first thing in the AM,

and perhaps again before sleep, is the most common recommendation.

We at RxforWellness prefer low dose sublingual and transdermal applications

where possible.

Also, we often recommend DHEA be taken along w/ pregnenalone in a 3 or 4 to

1 ratio,

respectively, based on the research if Dr Bill Timmons.

Without saliva testing, DHEA supplementation in women not yet post

menopausal

should likely stick to the 7 Keto form.

DHEA supplementation is NOT an effective way to raise T in men, in my

experience,

but it is useful in androgen deficiency syndromes in post menopausal

females.

Finally, high cortisol levelsd are generally more problematic and common

than low

DHEA levels as such. DHEA is often relativelty low, as a ten to one ratio of

AM

DHEA to cortisol is considered ideal.

See my post, " Dhea: Fad or Folly " to learn more

http://www.rxforwellness.com/articlearchives/rxstresswellness_0.shtml

Vitally yours,

Dr. H. Maher, A.B.A.A.H.P.

Editor, " Longevity News "

subscribe@...

http://www.RxforWellness.com

" Your FREE Anti-Aging Home Study Course On-Line! "

Re: dhea

> Does anyone know what time of day and frequency one should

> supplement with either dhea or keto-7. I'm confused whether to take this

> stuff at night or in the morning, empty stomach or full. Tell me, when

> does dhea naturally peak in the body, and does it correlate at all with

> when gh is released?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good eve one and all. I have been subscribed to this list for sometime, but

this is

the first time I have posted. I have MS, FM, arthritis, bursitis, and the list

goes

on As with most, the symptoms have been around for about 15 yrs or so, but

only

started getting some diagnoses the last 3 years and am on the " typical " type

meds.

Now, to my question. Would there be anyone from Canada on this list who could

tell me

where i could get DHEA? I have several US friends who are taking it for FM and

CFS

and find it helps them considerably. I talked with my doc and she said if I can

find

a Canadian source, she will do whatever is required, Rx or whatever, so that I

can

give it a try. When I contacted London Drugs, I was advised they used to carry

it,

but the pharmasist said to try a health food store instead. So tried that too

but no

luck.

May you all find peace this night.

Vampyra

--------------------------------------

I have seen the truth and it makes absolutely no sense!

--------------------------------------

Web: http://vampyra.com

Web: http://spiritbytes.com

Web: http://bytesbydesign.net

Coming Soon: WolfenDreams.com

-------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

All health food stores in these parts sell it, COSTCO also sells it, I can

get it at just about any grocery store.

erik

Re: DHEA

> Good eve one and all. I have been subscribed to this list for sometime,

but this is

> the first time I have posted. I have MS, FM, arthritis, bursitis, and the

list goes

> on As with most, the symptoms have been around for about 15 yrs or so,

but only

> started getting some diagnoses the last 3 years and am on the " typical "

type meds.

>

> Now, to my question. Would there be anyone from Canada on this list who

could tell me

> where i could get DHEA? I have several US friends who are taking it for

FM and CFS

> and find it helps them considerably. I talked with my doc and she said if

I can find

> a Canadian source, she will do whatever is required, Rx or whatever, so

that I can

> give it a try. When I contacted London Drugs, I was advised they used to

carry it,

> but the pharmasist said to try a health food store instead. So tried that

too but no

> luck.

>

> May you all find peace this night.

> Vampyra

> --------------------------------------

> I have seen the truth and it makes absolutely no sense!

> --------------------------------------

> Web: http://vampyra.com

> Web: http://spiritbytes.com

> Web: http://bytesbydesign.net

> Coming Soon: WolfenDreams.com

> -------------------------------------------------------

>

>

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

>

[Guest guest]

on 8/28/01 8:03 pm, vampyra at vampyra@... wrote:

> Now, to my question. Would there be anyone from Canada on this list who could

> tell me where i could get DHEA? I have several US friends who are taking it

> for FM and CFS and find it helps them considerably. I talked with my doc and

> she said if I can find a Canadian source, she will do whatever is required, Rx

> or whatever, so that I can give it a try. When I contacted London Drugs, I was

> advised they used to carry it, but the pharmasist said to try a health food

> store instead. So tried that too but no luck.

I'm in Canada--near toronto--and I can tell you pretty certainly that DHEA

is a controlled substance in Canada and so it is is illegal to sell it here

and illegal to import from other countries. unbelieveable, huh? They

consider it a form of anabolic-androgenic steroid, at Health Canada.

However that said, I know of at least one pharmacist in Toronto who carries

DHEA. Myself, I order it in powder from Beyond-a-century.com and have them

ship it to an American contact who then forwards it to me after putting a

different label on the bottle. You can get like 25 grams for around 20 USD,

if I recall correctly.

--

Hud (8 >{D)

[Guest guest]

I confirm from discussions with suppliers that DHEA is a controlled

substance in Canada as it is in Australia where I live. However it might

pay to investigate 7-Keto DHEA which in Australia is NOT a controlled

substance and which I am allowed to import. The same may apply in Canada.

n

At 13:26 29/08/01, you wrote:

>on 8/28/01 8:03 pm, vampyra at vampyra@... wrote:

>

> > Now, to my question. Would there be anyone from Canada on this list who

> could

> > tell me where i could get DHEA? I have several US friends who are

> taking it

> > for FM and CFS and find it helps them considerably. I talked with my

> doc and

> > she said if I can find a Canadian source, she will do whatever is

> required, Rx

> > or whatever, so that I can give it a try. When I contacted London

> Drugs, I was

> > advised they used to carry it, but the pharmasist said to try a health food

> > store instead. So tried that too but no luck.

[Guest guest]

Hi!

7-Keto is advised to be better form of DHEA for woman.Just keep in mind.

Thanks.

Nil

DHEA

| Donna

| Keats Publishing has a good cheap book on DHEA and several methods of

| increasing it in the body..... plus the importance of testing to see where

| your level of DHEA is currently.

| Because of cost alone, I've been taking 50 mg of DHEA about 5 times

a

| week and am seeing some nice results. Will increase to 75 mg tomorrow....

| 50mg am and 25 mg before 4pm.

| I also tried the Pro-Gest 3% cream and did not see as much effect,

but

| I may have not been using enough since it is $30.00 a tube.

| the book has two other methods of increasing DHEA also.....

| mjh

|

|

|

| In a message dated 8/18/02 8:21:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

| writes:

|

|

| > Nil,

| > How much pregnenolone do you take? I just bought some, but don't really

know

| > where to start. I take 10 mg DHEA/day, but don't really think it is

doing

| > anything. It is not the 7-keto DHEA, perhaps that is why.

| > Donna in NC

| >

|

|

|

|

|

[Guest guest]

DHEA

Hi--

(I'm a new person in here) You can get the progesterone

creams for a lot less at Vitacost.com. That's where I

get all my Atkins drinks that are helping me stay high protein.

Got severe hypoglycemia. Soon, it will be my turn for the Progest too,

ha ha!

June

I also tried the Pro-Gest 3% cream and did not see as much effect, but

I may have not been using enough since it is $30.00 a tube.

the book has two other methods of increasing DHEA also.....

mjh

In a message dated 8/18/02 8:21:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

[Guest guest]

What is the safest max dosage for DHEA? 75 mg sounds little too high for

me.Are you sure it is safe?

Nil

DHEA

| Donna

| Keats Publishing has a good cheap book on DHEA and several methods of

| increasing it in the body..... plus the importance of testing to see where

| your level of DHEA is currently.

| Because of cost alone, I've been taking 50 mg of DHEA about 5 times

a

| week and am seeing some nice results. Will increase to 75 mg tomorrow....

| 50mg am and 25 mg before 4pm.

| I also tried the Pro-Gest 3% cream and did not see as much effect,

but

| I may have not been using enough since it is $30.00 a tube.

| the book has two other methods of increasing DHEA also.....

| mjh

|

|

|

| In a message dated 8/18/02 8:21:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

| writes:

|

|

| > Nil,

| > How much pregnenolone do you take? I just bought some, but don't really

know

| > where to start. I take 10 mg DHEA/day, but don't really think it is

doing

| > anything. It is not the 7-keto DHEA, perhaps that is why.

| > Donna in NC

| >

|

|

|

|

|

[Guest guest]

Thanks mj, I'll look into it. I was taking 50 mg when I first crashed, and

it helped a lot, I think. Then I switched doctors, and he bumped me from 50

to 5 mg, then up to 10 mg after my GSDL saliva test showed it below normal.

I also see Dr. Cheney, who for some reason which I don't understand or

remember, except something about a potential negative feedback loop, doesn't

think too much of it. He does say that my 10 mg won't hurt, so maybe my doc

who bumped me down has the same reasoning as Dr. Cheney. Who knows.

I have just started Ray Peat's Pro-Gest Complex, which is a 10% solution in

Vitamin E, and is very economical. I take 3 drops/day at the moment, which

is more or less equal to a physiologic dose, sublingual. My GYN ok'd it, as

he would have put me on a compounded natural progesterone pill anyway in

attempts to reduce a painful fibroid.

My testosterone levels (all of these tests are now two years old) were/are

at the bottom end of normal, so I think I might benefit from pregnenolone,

if my body can make the proper conversions.

Donna in NC

DHEA

> Donna

> Keats Publishing has a good cheap book on DHEA and several methods of

increasing it in the body..... plus the importance of testing to see where

your level of DHEA is currently.

> Because of cost alone, I've been taking 50 mg of DHEA about 5 times

a week and am seeing some nice results. Will increase to 75 mg

tomorrow.... 50mg am and 25 mg before 4pm.

> I also tried the Pro-Gest 3% cream and did not see as much effect,

but I may have not been using enough since it is $30.00 a tube.

> the book has two other methods of increasing DHEA also.....

> mjh

[Guest guest]

Nil

There is a scale in the booklet, one for men and another for women, of

optimal levels of DHEA, and please remember that there is more than one way

to increase DHEA in our bodies. The only way to tell where your DHEA level

stands is to have a blood test now and then every few months as you work to

increase DHEA no matter by what route.

Optimal levels via DHEA blood test:

men --- 750 to 1250

women -- 550 to 980

Mine tested at 140.

Hope this helps

mjh

In a message dated 8/19/02 10:20:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

writes:

>

> Sorry!This dosage still sounds too much for me.It might be fine for men but

> for woman.Don't know!I would make more research on this.Sorry for

> insisting..Thanks.. Nil

>

[Guest guest]

I've tried DHEA bec I too have very low DHEAS in blood. Supplemental DHEA

turns me into an aggressive, edgy, wired person, so it is not for me. Bear

in mind that supplemental DHEA is a very blunt weapon and it is not clear

what the result of supplementing any of these hormones is likely to be,

since the pathways are complex and there are many feedback paths and

alternative paths. Somewhere I saw an excellent diagram on the web showing

some of the hormonal pathways; it was very interesting reading. I'll post

the address if I can find it.

How is your testosterone level? Mine are very high which doesn't make a

lot of sense with low DHEA when you look at the above pathways. But maybe

if your testosterone is not high then DHEA supp might work for you???

n

At 08:36 06/08/03, you wrote:

>Hello,

>Has anybody had success with DHEA? Dr. Baulieu from France has done

>long-term studies on its use

>and has this web site:

>http://biorganic.ifrance.com/biorganic/dhea-eng.htm

>

>My DHEA levels are always very low. I noticed that the Santa

>Homeopathic Pharmacy has a

>sublingual product with DHEA & Pregnenolone. I have also heard that timed

>release form is available from

>some companies.

> Du Pre

>Website: http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/isaiah40soaringeagle/index.html

> " By words the mind is winged. " Aristophanes

n

Canberra, Australia

http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~julian/photo-an/photo-an.htm

[Guest guest]

My dhea has been so low for a very long time but even miniscule amts

per oral make me so wired I can't tolerate it. I just learned that

my testosterone was low and when I saw the new doc he ordered

testosterone cream and also dhea cream. When I called the

compounding pharmacy they said that folks who get wired on dhea in

pill/capsule form seem to get the very same reaction from the skin

cream form! Gingerly, I will try the testosterone cream as I fear

getting a mustache or acne!!!! If the dhea cream is cheap enuf I'll

also order it and try a very tiny tad on my arm but I'm somewhat

pessimistic given what the compounding pharmacy said.

Judith Wisdom

The doc said I should ask my endo to test aldosterone and renin but

I'm not sure if I'll have time for an appt this century.

> >Hello,

> >Has anybody had success with DHEA? Dr. Baulieu from France has

done

> >long-term studies on its use

> >and has this web site:

> >http://biorganic.ifrance.com/biorganic/dhea-eng.htm

> >

> >My DHEA levels are always very low. I noticed that the Santa

> >Homeopathic Pharmacy has a

> >sublingual product with DHEA & Pregnenolone. I have also heard

that timed

> >release form is available from

> >some companies.

> > Du Pre

> >Website:

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/isaiah40soaringeagle/index.html

> > " By words the mind is winged. " Aristophanes

>

>

> n

> Canberra, Australia

> http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~julian/photo-an/photo-an.htm

[Guest guest]

n,

I had a similar experience. DHEA can function as a GABA antagonist.

Maybe this is why it made you wired?

Zippy

===========================================================

> I've tried DHEA bec I too have very low DHEAS in blood.

Supplemental DHEA

> turns me into an aggressive, edgy, wired person, so it is not for

me. Bear

> in mind that supplemental DHEA is a very blunt weapon and it is not

clear

> what the result of supplementing any of these hormones is likely to

be,

> since the pathways are complex and there are many feedback paths

and

> alternative paths. Somewhere I saw an excellent diagram on the web

showing

> some of the hormonal pathways; it was very interesting reading.

I'll post

> the address if I can find it.

>

> How is your testosterone level? Mine are very high which doesn't

make a

> lot of sense with low DHEA when you look at the above pathways.

But maybe

> if your testosterone is not high then DHEA supp might work for

you???

>

> n

>

[Guest guest]

I dunno, I assumed it was pushing my testosterone levels even higher, but

you could well be right. Since I don't have access to any doctor who is

even slightly interested in this aspect, it probably is not much use me

spending time on it. But it is interesting that you, me and a number of

other people feel this very strongly, and yet quite a few people seem to

have no probs whatsover. You would think that finding out why would be a

useful and informative study.

Cheers.

n

>n,

>

>I had a similar experience. DHEA can function as a GABA antagonist.

>Maybe this is why it made you wired?

>

>Zippy

n

Canberra, Australia

http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~julian/photo-an/photo-an.htm

[Guest guest]

I did DHEA for a long time.

It was absolutely the greatest. I had tons more energy. Felt lean and

strong.

But something took a terrible turn for the worst.

It makes no since, but it got so that any bed I sleep in felt hard as

cement.

I had to quite taking the DHEA, and sleep on an air mattrice for about 3

months.

One day I hope to try it again, but I'll go super slow maybe 2 1/2 mgs every

4 days to start.

Ron

(but I wasn't monitoring it. If yours is low and you keep it at normal,

maybe it will be fine.

I don't know if my poor immune system was part of the trouble, so I will

probably wait until its in better shape before I try it again.)

DHEA

In recent bloodwork done by my new CFIDS doctor, my DHEA levels were low. I

bought some DHEA to try, but then began reading up on it and became confused

as to whether ot not it's a good idea. I read some DHEA horror stories on

the

web, and I'm also not certain why one would choose DHEA (which raises

testosterone but can also raise estrogen) instead of low-dose oral

testosterone. Any

thoughts?

Peggy

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

Peggomatic@... wrote:

> In recent bloodwork done by my new CFIDS doctor, my DHEA levels were

> low. I

> bought some DHEA to try, but then began reading up on it and became

> confused

> as to whether ot not it's a good idea. I read some DHEA horror

> stories on the

> web, and I'm also not certain why one would choose DHEA (which raises

> testosterone but can also raise estrogen) instead of low-dose oral

> testosterone. Any

> thoughts?

The horror stories I've read re DHEA all had to do with the effect of

raising sex hormones too high. For this reason, I switched to the

7-Keto form of DHEA. It does the other stuff (such as fighting

inflammation) that DHEA does without affecting the sex hormones as

much. I tried taking low-dose oral testosterone a few years back, when

I was entering menopause, but found out that I didn't like the side

effects* even at low doses. However, Pregnenolone did a bang-up job of

raising my testosterone level and balancing out some of the other

hormones, without any side effects (for me - YMMV, of course!).

(*testosterone side effects in women: oily face, acne, moustache

(darker, heavier), and EXTREME irritability with some aggressiveness,

not a pleasant or familiar state of mind!)

--

el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net)

" wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... "

[Guest guest]

hi i took prescriptoin dhea years ago think about 5 units and it messed

up my menstral cycle badly so topped within a wek of starting it... ...

then a few years later an altnerative person put me on sublingual dhea

which i tolearted and then when i chagned again to another alternative

person they put me on a dhea cream which i used up to 50 units daily for a

long time without any promblems( combination dhea sublingual and dhea

cream: i rubbed into my skin and it gets absorbed) ..i stopped just as i

had been on it for a long time and developed fiborids while on it .... more

recently i started dhea cream , more transdermal like aliva @ 15 mg in the

am when i wake up then middle of the day/early afternoon take it again with

my other homrones. as my dhea sulfate levels are low in the 200s while most

alternative people feel it should be in the 300s and now have a low

testerone level also ...( dont think their is any hormone i havent been low

in with this dd )..btw ; my ob /gyn doesnt like cream products as they

feel you dont get as accurate amounts or standardiztion while my

alternative person has claimed good resluts on the cream.

...i just restarted hrt but very low dose with my history of fibroidds as it

seems to have been helping my bones which is the opposite of the stuff

published in the past year or so about hrt ..also still have very high hdl

levels though ldl levels higer now from using shredded coconut, butter 1x

day and some chocolate here and there ...so cutting all back and waiting to

see if my ldl levels go down or did chagning suppliment compnays mean i am

using an inferior products now to save $$$?

goodluck peggy.

> [Original Message]

> From: Ron <salesman11@...>

> < >

> Date: 10/21/2004 10:15:54 AM

> Subject: RE: DHEA

>

>

> I did DHEA for a long time.

>

> It was absolutely the greatest. I had tons more energy. Felt lean and

> strong.

>

> But something took a terrible turn for the worst.

> It makes no since, but it got so that any bed I sleep in felt hard as

> cement.

> I had to quite taking the DHEA, and sleep on an air mattrice for about 3

> months.

>

> One day I hope to try it again, but I'll go super slow maybe 2 1/2 mgs

every

> 4 days to start.

> Ron

>

> (but I wasn't monitoring it. If yours is low and you keep it at normal,

> maybe it will be fine.

> I don't know if my poor immune system was part of the trouble, so I will

> probably wait until its in better shape before I try it again.)

>

> DHEA

>

>

> In recent bloodwork done by my new CFIDS doctor, my DHEA levels were low.

I

>

> bought some DHEA to try, but then began reading up on it and became

confused

>

> as to whether ot not it's a good idea. I read some DHEA horror stories on

> the

> web, and I'm also not certain why one would choose DHEA (which raises

> testosterone but can also raise estrogen) instead of low-dose oral

> testosterone. Any

> thoughts?

>

> Peggy

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

> other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

> discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

rudedog89@... wrote:

> I have started supplementing

> my DHEA. My immunologist checked me and found out that my DHEA production

> was nil. I'm not sure what the normal numbers are for my age and sex but

> I do know zero is not consistent with life for long. Our DHEA is a

> hormone that has a great deal to do with the energy production in our

> cells...at least this is what I got from his explanation. The production

> of this hormone declines as we get past our prime years as potential

> child producers (men included). So I reluctantly started taking - (yet

> another pill)! To my surprise, it has seemed to help. I don't seem to be

> as knocked down by the fatigue, although I still have my really bad days.

> For women, 25 mg is the suggested dosage and men should take 50 mg. I'd

> love to hear if anyone else has tried or benefitted from this.

Hi, Teena!

I have been using DHEA for a couple of years now. There is a

precaution: if you have or have had any hormone-sensitive cancers or

precancerous lesions, you should not be taking the regular form of DHEA,

which serves as a precursor to all of the sex hormones. I couldn't take

more than 10 mg/day of DHEA without starting to get a mustache and acne

(at 51, I need acne like a hole in the head :@). Another supplement to

consider if you are low in sex hormones but don't want to do HRT is

Pregnenolone, the " mother hormone " .

I switched to the " 7-Keto " form of DHEA about 8 months ago (in addition

to Pregnenolone), and found I tolerated it much better (@ 25 mg/day) and

still get the energy boost from it.

Like any other energy booster, I have to be careful not to overexert

myself just because I'm feeling incrementally better! (I have a long

history of crash-n-burn from overdoing things.) Just remember Dr.

Collinge's " 50% rule " : take stock of how you are feeling, decide what

you can reasonably hope to accomplish today, do 50% of that, and stop.

Rest the remainder of the day. This simple (but hard to do!) technique

has helped me avoid crashes more than any treatment, and I've tried a

good many of them.

Hope this helps!

--

el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net)

" wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... "