Drug & supplement interaction

Dhea + Clomipramine

Clomipramine brand names: Anafranil, Anafranil SR.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Clomipramine falls into 2 drug categories that Dhea can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, DHEA might increase the risk of psychiatric adverse events when used with antidepressants.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Dhea and Clomipramine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Dhea interacts with whole categories of medication. Clomipramine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Dhea in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Clomipramine

Clomipramine falls under ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS — the group Dhea interacts with.

Theoretically, DHEA might increase the risk of psychiatric adverse events when used with antidepressants.
In a human case report, the use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with DHEA caused a manic episode. Concern for this interaction may be greater in younger individuals with higher baseline DHEA levels.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing to know if you take clomipramine (Anafranil) for OCD and you're eyeing DHEA: because DHEA is a hormone your body can turn into testosterone and estrogen, it may nudge mood and brain chemistry. Paired with an antidepressant like clomipramine, the worry is that the two could push too hard in the same direction and trigger psychiatric side effects, such as agitation, racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, or in rare cases a manic-type swing.

I want to be honest about the evidence here. This is mostly theoretical, drawn from lab work plus a single human case report involving a different antidepressant. So it's a low-likelihood concern, not a sure thing. The flag may be a bit higher in younger folks with naturally higher DHEA. Please don't start or stop anything on your own. Just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Dean CE. Prasterone (DHEA) and mania. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1419-22. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Clomipramine also falls under 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.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist with Clomipramine and DHEA. Your body uses an enzyme called CYP3A4 to help clear clomipramine out of your system. Some early lab-style evidence hints that DHEA might slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happens, clomipramine could build up a little more than usual, which in theory might nudge up its typical side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, blurry vision, dizziness, or a faster heartbeat.

I want to be honest, though: this one is mostly theoretical and based on weak, anecdotal evidence, so we don't really know if it matters in real life. It's not a reason to panic. Just loop in your pharmacist or doctor before adding DHEA so they can keep an eye on how you feel.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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).

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction 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.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Dhea Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dhea has 767 moderate, 8 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Clomipramine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 767 Minor 8 No known interaction 2,055 (incl. Clomipramine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dhea

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dhea. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Dhea or Clomipramine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Dhea or Clomipramine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Clomipramine

This page covers Dhea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clomipramine page lists 236 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Henbane (major), Scopolia (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 179 moderate · 52 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Clomipramine page

“A tricyclic antidepressant used mostly for OCD, clomipramine (Anafranil) is unforgiving of shifts in its blood level, which is why its 236 supplement interactions deserve genuine wariness. Most of the list involves metabolism: herbs that speed up or slow down the liver enzymes handling clomipramine can drag its level too low or push it…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Clomipramine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Dhea as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 945 real supplement products containing Dhea, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Dhea. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Clomipramine too, on top of Dhea — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Dhea and Clomipramine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Dhea
Top 25%

#224 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Clomipramine
Steady interest

#1,870 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Dhea

What is Dhea?

Dhea
  • Anti-aging and low DHEA levels
  • Mood and depression
  • Vaginal dryness and sexual health
  • Fertility support
  • Muscle mass and athletic performance
  • Adrenal insufficiency

DHEA is a natural hormone that the body makes and that declines with age, and it is sold as a supplement claiming many benefits. The evidence is mixed and limited for most uses, and because it acts as a hormone it can cause real side effects. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have a hormone-sensitive condition.

Read the full Dhea monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Clomipramine

What Is Clomipramine Used For?

Brand names: Anafranil, Anafranil SR

Clomipramine — sold as Anafranil and under the generic name Clomipramine Hydrochloride — is approved to treat obsessions and compulsions in people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This includes adults and children/adolescents ages 10 to 17.

To qualify for treatment, the obsessions or compulsions must cause significant distress, take up a lot of time, or noticeably interfere with work, school, or social life.

See full Clomipramine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dhea

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dhea — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
767Moderate
8Minor
2,054No known interaction
767 Moderate 8 Minor 2,054 No interaction
Moderate

767 interactions

Showing 60 of 767 moderate interactions — see all 767 on the Dhea page.

Minor

8 interactions

No interaction 2,054 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Dhea against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,054 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dhea list.

See the full Dhea interactions page
See every supplement checked against Clomipramine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

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

Keep exploring
Dhea monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Clomipramine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Clomipramine, ranked by severity Clomipramine drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dhea and Clomipramine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dhea with Clomipramine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Dhea and Clomipramine?
Clomipramine belongs to more than one drug category, and Dhea interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Dhea and Clomipramine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Clomipramine and Dhea?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.