There are multiple interactions reported between these two agents.

Interaction Details

Oestrogen is classified as belonging to the following category: Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, DHEA might increase the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Some preliminary evidence shows that DHEA may inhibit CYP3A4; however, the clinical significance of this potential interaction is not known.

Interaction Rating

Moderate

Likelihood of Occurrence

Possible

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists

References

  • Frye RF, Kroboth PD, Folan MM, et al. Effect of DHEA on CYP3A-mediated metabolism of triazolam. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:109 (abstract PI-82).

Interaction Details

Oestrogen is classified as belonging to the following category: Estrogens

Theoretically, DHEA might increase the effects and adverse effects of estrogen therapy.
DHEA is a precursor to estrogen and androgen and is metabolized into those substances. In clinical research, DHEA supplements increase the levels of these hormones. Also, in clinical research, estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives and conjugated estrogens reduce blood levels of DHEA and DHEA-S. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear.

Interaction Rating

Minor

Likelihood of Occurrence

Possible

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists

References

  • Callies F, Arlt W, Siekmann L, et al. Influence of oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on urinary steroid metabolites in males and females. Steroids 2000;65:98-102.
  • Hunt PJ, Gurnell EM, Huppert FA, et al. Improvement in mood and fatigue after dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in Addison's disease in a randomized, double blind trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:4650-6..
  • Johannsson G, Burman P, Wiren L, et al. Low dose dehydroepiandrosterone affects behavior in hypopituitary androgen-deficient women: a placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:2046-52.
  • Stomati M, Monteleone P, Casarosa E, et al. Six-month oral dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in early and late postmenopause. Gynecol Endocrinol 2000;14:342-63..
  • Villareal DT, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Effects of DHEA replacement on bone mineral density and body composition in elderly women and men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2000;53:561-8.
  • Pino JA, Marbot R. Volatile flavor constituents of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit. J Agric Food Chem 2001;49:5880-2.
  • Nair KS, Rizza RA, O'Brien P, et al. DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men. N Engl J Med 2006;355:1647-59.
  • Aisaka, K., Mori, H., Ogawa, T., Kigawa, T. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) administration on puerperal lactation and maternal prolactin and estradiol levels. Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 1984;36(10):1935-42.
  • Lauritzen, C. [Therapeutic attempts with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in threatened pregnancies]. Arch Gynakol 1971;211(1):247-9.
  • Mortola, J. F. Yen, S. S. The effects of oral dehydroepiandrosterone on endocrine-metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;71(3):696-704.
  • Rabijewski, M., Zgliczynski, W. [Positive effects of DHEA therapy on insulin resistance and lipids in men with angiographically verified coronary heart disease--preliminary study]. Endokrynol Pol 2005;56(6):904-10.
  • Weiss, E. P., Shah, K., Fontana, L., Lambert, C. P., Holloszy, J. O., Villareal, D. T. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in older adults: 1- and 2-y effects on bone. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89(5):1459-67.
  • Jankowski, C. M., Gozansky, W. S., Kittelson, J. M., Van Pelt, R. E., Schwartz, R. S., Kohrt, W. M. Increases in bone mineral density in response to oral dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in older adults appear to be mediated by serum estrogens. J Clin E
  • Poretsky, L., Song, L., Brillon, D. J., Ferrando, S., Chiu, J., McElhiney, M., Ferenczi, A., Sison, C., Haller, I., Rabkin, J. Metabolic and hormonal effects of oral DHEA in premenopausal women with HIV infection: a randomized, prospective, placebo-contro
  • Libe, R., Barbetta, L., Dall'Asta, C., Salvaggio, F., Gala, C., Beck-Peccoz, P., Ambrosi, B. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on hormonal, metabolic and behavioral status in patients with hypoadrenalism. J Endocrinol Invest 2004;27
  • Genazzani, A. R., Inglese, S., Lombardi, I., Pieri, M., Bernardi, F., Genazzani, A. D., Rovati, L., Luisi, M. Long-term low-dose dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in aging males with partial androgen deficiency. Aging Male 2004;7(2):133-43.
  • Gebre-Medhin, G., Husebye, E. S., Mallmin, H., Helstrom, L., Berne, C., Karlsson, F. A., Kampe, O. Oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) replacement therapy in women with Addison's disease. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2000;52(6):775-80.
  • Yeung, T. W., Li, R. H., Lee, V. C., Ho, P. C., Ng, E. H. A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial on the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone for 16 weeks on ovarian response markers in women with primary ovarian insufficiency. J Clin Endocrinol
  • Klove, K. L., Roy, S., Lobo, R. A. The effect of different contraceptive treatments on the serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Contraception 1984;29(4):319-24.
  • Cibula, D., Fanta, M., Vrbikova, J., Stanicka, S., Dvorakova, K., Hill, M., Skrha, J., Zivny, J., Skrenkova, J. The effect of combination therapy with metformin and combined oral contraceptives (COC) versus COC alone on insulin sensitivity, hyperandrogena
  • White, T., Jain, J. K., Stanczyk, F. Z. Effect of oral versus transdermal steroidal contraceptives on androgenic markers. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005;192(6):2055-9.
  • Christiansen, J. J., Bruun, J. M., Christiansen, J. S., Jorgensen, J. O., Gravholt, C. H. Long-term DHEA substitution in female adrenocortical failure, body composition, muscle function, and bone metabolism: a randomized trial. Eur J Endocrinol 2011;165(2
  • Bloch, M., Ish-Shalom, S., Greenman, Y., Klein, E., Latzer, Y. Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment effects on weight, bone density, bone metabolism and mood in women suffering from anorexia nervosa-a pilot study. Psychiatry Res 2012;200(2-3):544-9.
  • Merritt, P., Stangl, B., Hirshman, E., Verbalis, J. Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increases serum levels of androgens and estrogens but does not enhance short-term memory in post-menopausal women. Brain Res 11-5-2012;1483:54-62.
  • Stangl, B., Hirshman, E., and Verbalis, J. Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) enhances visual-spatial performance in postmenopausal women. Behav Neurosci 2011;125(5):742-52.
  • Genazzani, A. R., Stomati, M., Valentino, V., Pluchino, N., Pot, E., Casarosa, E., Merlini, S., Giannini, A., Luisi, M. Effect of 1-year, low-dose DHEA therapy on climacteric symptoms and female sexuality. Climacteric 2011;14(6):661-8.
  • Dayal, M., Sammel, M. D., Zhao, J., Hummel, A. C., Vandenbourne, K., Barnhart, K. T. Supplementation with DHEA: effect on muscle size, strength, quality of life, and lipids. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2005;14(5):391-400.
  • Vogiatzi, M. G., Boeck, M. A., Vlachopapadopoulou, E., el-Rashid, R., New, M. I. Dehydroepiandrosterone in morbidly obese adolescents: effects on weight, body composition, lipids, and insulin resistance. Metabolism 1996;45(8):1011-5.
  • Bernardi, F., Pieri, M., Stomati, M., Luisi, S., Palumbo, M., Pluchino, N., Ceccarelli, C., Genazzani, A. R. Effect of different hormonal replacement therapies on circulating allopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in postmenopausal women. Gyne
  • Schlegel, W., Petersdorf, L. I., Junker, R., Schulte, H., Ebert, C., Von Eckardstein, A. The effects of six months of treatment with a low-dose of conjugated oestrogens in menopausal women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1999;51(5):643-51.
  • Buster, J. E., Casson, P. R., Straughn, A. B., Dale, D., Umstot, E. S., Chiamori, N., and Abraham, G. E. Postmenopausal steroid replacement with micronized dehydroepiandrosterone: preliminary oral bioavailability and dose proportionality studies. Am J Ob
  • Stanczyk, F. Z., Slater, C. C., Ramos, D. E., Azen, C., Cherala, G., Hakala, C., Abraham, G., and Roy, S. Pharmacokinetics of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites after long-term oral dehydroepiandrosterone treatment in postmenopausal women. Menopa
  • Liao YH, Liao KF, Kao CL, et al. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone administration on recovery from mix-type exercise training-induced muscle damage. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013;113(1):99-107.
  • Yeung TW, Chai J, Li RH, et al. A randomized, controlled, pilot trial on the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on ovarian response markers, ovarian response, and in vitro fertilization outcomes in poor responders. Fertil Steril 2014;102(1):108-115.e1.

Dhea Overview

Dhea Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural (i.e., endogenous) hormone produced by the adrenal gland and is among the most abundant steroid hormones in the human body. It is a precursor to the hormones testosterone and estrogen, and it is thought to have various effects on the body. DHEA levels naturally decline with age. It is a popular over the counter supplement that is purported to have a variety of health benefits, including increasing muscle mass, improving cognitive function, improving mood and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The scientific evidence supporting the use of DHEA for these purposes is limited and mixed. Additionally, it could potentially interact with several different medications so if you are considering taking DHEA supplements, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional. DHEA should not be confused with other supplements containing the letters 'DHEA'. 7-alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, 7-beta-hydroxy-DHEA, and 7-keto-DHEA, all contain DHEA as the parent compound with additional structures attached.
See More Information Regarding Dhea

Dhea - More Interactions

Dhea interacts with 731 drugs

Interaction Rating Key

These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Major The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur.
Moderate Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur.
Minor Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction.
Unknown No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available.

Return to the main herbal interaction checker page

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.

Ask A Pharmacist About Your Herbal Questions!

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!

Ask A Pharmacist