Drug & supplement interaction

Dhea + Raltegravir

Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Dhea and Raltegravir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Dhea and Raltegravir

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Raltegravir and Dhea in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Dhea safety at a glance

Dhea overall Use caution As a hormone, DHEA can cause hormonal side effects and should be used only with medical guidance.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. DHEA can cause higher than normal androgen levels, which might adversely affect pregnancy or a nursing infant. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally. DHEA can cause higher than normal androgen levels, which might adversely affect pregnancy or a nursing infant. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Raltegravir and Dhea? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Dhea has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), antidepressant drugs (moderate) and aromatase inhibitors (moderate) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Dhea Does Interact With Other Medications

Dhea has 768 moderate, 8 minor known drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

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.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Dhea and Raltegravir May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Low mood Worth acting on reported in 10.5% of FDA reports for Raltegravir Additional detail

    Dhea

    “DHEA-induced mania has been reported. Clinical studies have also reported anxiety, nervousness, irritability, emotional change, and depression in patients receiving DHEA.”

    Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anxiety.

    6 sources cited
    1. 5870. Kline MD, Jaggers ED. Mania onset while using dehydroepiandrosterone (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1999;156:971. PubMed
    2. 6102. Markowitz JS, Carson WH, Jackson CW. Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45:241-2. PubMed
    3. 7023. Dean CE. Prasterone (DHEA) and mania. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1419-22. PubMed
    4. 21383. Vacheron-Trystram, M. N., Cheref, S., Gauillard, J., Plas, J. [A case report of mania precipitated by use of DHEA]. Encephale 2002;28(6 Pt 1):563-6.
    5. 2114. Van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGurie JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arth Rheum 1995;38:1826-31. DOI
    6. 21358. Pillemer, S. R., Brennan, M. T., Sankar, V., Leakan, R. A., Smith, J. A., Grisius, M., Ligier, S., Radfar, L., Kok, M. R., Kingman, A., Fox, P. C. Pilot clinical trial of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) versus placebo for Sjogren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheum

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Trouble sleeping Additional detail

    Dhea

    “In humans, dizziness, fatigue, malaise, sleep disturbances, increased dreaming, night sweats, restlessness, "painful spots," and a crawling scalp sensation have been reported. There is a case of seizure associated with DHEA use in a 30 year-old female with fragile X syndrome and no history of convulsive disorder who used DHEA to try to improve ovarian production.”

    Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    1 source cited
    1. 47344. Karp, G., Bentov, Y., Masalha, R., and Ifergane, G. Onset of late posttraumatic seizure after dehydroepiandrosterone treatment. Fertil.Steril. 2009;91(3):931-932. PubMed

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Tiredness Additional detail

    Dhea

    “Incidences of asthenia, arthralgia, and myalgia, including calf cramps, have been reported.”

    Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in myalgia.

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness Additional detail

    Dhea

    Recorded for Dhea in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Trouble sleeping above.

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    Dhea

    “Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort have been noted in human research.”

    Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Headache Additional detail

    Dhea

    Recorded for Dhea in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Trouble sleeping above.

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea Additional detail

    Dhea

    Recorded for Dhea in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Trouble sleeping above.

    Raltegravir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Raltegravir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Dhea but not commonly for Raltegravir: stomach upset, breast tenderness, a stuffy or runny nose and anxiety or restlessness.

Effects for Raltegravir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Dhea come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 16,361 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Raltegravir that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Dhea in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. DHEA can cause higher than normal androgen levels, which might adversely affect pregnancy or a nursing infant.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Raltegravir

This page covers Dhea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page

“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Raltegravir 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. Even though Dhea itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Dhea and Raltegravir 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%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Raltegravir
Steady interest

#1,505 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Dhea reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Dhea and Raltegravir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
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.

DHEA is a hormone made by the body; supplements are made synthetically, often from compounds found in wild yam or soy · Capsules, tablets, sublingual drops, topical creams, vaginal inserts (prasterone)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Dhea is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Dhea record says about it on its own.

Dhea: dosing

There is no single standard dose of DHEA, and the right amount depends on the reason for use, the person, and the product. Doses used in research vary widely.If you and your healthcare provider decide DHEA is appropriate, follow the directions on the product label and use the lowest amount that meets your needs. The prescription vaginal product (prasterone) has its own specific dosing set by a doctor.Because DHEA is a hormone, it is wise to have a pharmacist or doctor guide your dose rather than self-prescribing. Do not assume a higher dose is safer or more effective.

From our Dhea monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Dhea monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Raltegravir

What Is Raltegravir Used For?

Brand name: Isentress

Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.

Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Foetal exposure during pregnancy 1,078 reports
Depression 1,017 reports
Anxiety 966 reports
Emotional distress 789 reports
Anhedonia 708 reports
See full Raltegravir 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
768Moderate
8Minor
2,053No known interaction
Moderate

768 interactions

Showing 60 of 768 moderate interactions — see all 768 on the Dhea page.

Minor

8 interactions

No interaction 2,053 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Dhea References

The 98 references that drive our Dhea monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  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).
  2. Kuritzky L. DHEA: Science or wishful thinking? Hosp Pract 1998;33:85-6. PubMed
  3. Van Vollenhoven RF, Morabito LM, Engleman EG, et al. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with dehydroepiandrosterone: 50 patients treated up to 12 months. J Rheumatol 1998;25:285-9.
  4. Van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGurie JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arth Rheum 1995;38:1826-31. DOI
  5. Ebeling P, Koivisto VA. Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone. Lancet 1994;343:1479-81. PubMed
  6. Yen SS, Morales AJ, Khorram O. Replacement of DHEA in aging men and women. Potential remedial effects. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995;774:128-42. PubMed
  7. Labrie F, Diamond P, Cusan L, et al. Effect of 12 month dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone, vagina, and endometrium in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:3498-505. PubMed
  8. Casson PR, Faquin LC, Stentz FB. Replacement of dehydroepiandrosterone enhances T-lymphocyte insulin binding in postmenopausal women. (abstract) Fertil Steril 1995;63:1027-31. DOI
  9. Morales AJ, Haubrich RH, Hwang JY, et al. The effect of six months treatment with a 100 mg daily dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on circulating sex steroids, body composition and muscle strength in age-advanced men and women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)1 PubMed
  10. Arlt W, Justl H, Callies F, et al. Oral dehydroepiandrosterone for adrenal androgen replacement: pharmacokinetics and peripheral conversion to androgens and estrogens in young healthy females after dexamethasone suppression. [Abstract] J Clin Endocrinol PubMed
  11. Kline MD, Jaggers ED. Mania onset while using dehydroepiandrosterone (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1999;156:971. PubMed
  12. 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. PubMed
  13. Markowitz JS, Carson WH, Jackson CW. Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45:241-2. PubMed
  14. Stoll BA. Dietary supplements of dehydroepiandrosterone in relation to breast cancer risk. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53:771-5. PubMed
  15. Dean CE. Prasterone (DHEA) and mania. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1419-22. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dhea and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Dhea with Raltegravir?
We do not list a known interaction between Dhea and Raltegravir. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Dhea and Raltegravir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Dhea and Raltegravir combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications, and Dhea has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — none of Raltegravir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Dhea interact with any other medications?
Yes. Dhea has 776 documented drug interactions in our database — Raltegravir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Raltegravir has documented interactions with 33 supplements in our database — Dhea is not one of them. The Raltegravir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Raltegravir and Dhea?

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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.