Drug & supplement interaction

Dhea + Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Dhea and Valproic Acid 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 label for Valproic Acid states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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 Valproic Acid

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 Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid and Dhea? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Valproic Acid

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Valproic Acid is filed under 8 classifications — including valproate, anticonvulsants, serotonergic 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 Valproic Acid’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 — Valproic Acid isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 768 Minor 8 No known interaction 2,054 (incl. Valproic Acid)

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 Valproic Acid 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. 6 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Mania or an unusually elevated mood / Low mood Worth acting on reported in 3.9% of FDA reports for Valproic Acid 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

5870. Kline MD, Jaggers ED. Mania onset while using dehydroepiandrosterone (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1999;156:971. PubMed

6102. Markowitz JS, Carson WH, Jackson CW. Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45:241-2. PubMed

7023. Dean CE. Prasterone (DHEA) and mania. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1419-22. PubMed

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.

2114. Van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGurie JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arth Rheum 1995;38:1826-31. DOI

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
Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Seizures Worth acting on reported in 6.1% of FDA reports for Valproic Acid 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

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
Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Chest pain / Raised blood pressure Worth acting on Additional detail
Dhea
“Incidences of arrhythmia, chest pain, palpitations, hypertension, and transient ischemic attacks have been reported. DHEA has also been found to decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and increase triglycerides.”

Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in arrhythmia.
6 sources cited

21334. Penisson-Besnier, I., Devillers, M., Porcher, R., Orlikowski, D., Doppler, V., Desnuelle, C., Ferrer, X., Bes, M. C., Bouhour, F., Tranchant, C., Lagrange, E., Vershueren, A., Uzenot, D., Cintas, P., Sole, G., Hogrel, J. Y., Laforet, P., Vial, C., Vila, A

47540. Sahelian, R. and Borken, S. Dehydroepiandrosterone and cardiac arrhythmia. Ann Intern.Med 10-1-1998;129(7):588. PubMed

21332. von Muhlen D., Laughlin, G. A., Kritz-Silverstein, D., Bergstrom, J., Bettencourt, R. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on bone mineral density, bone markers, and body composition in older adults: the DAWN trial. Osteoporos Int 2008;19(5):

21333. Kritz-Silverstein, D., von, Muhlen D., Laughlin, G. A., Bettencourt, R. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and quality of life: the DHEA and Well-Ness (DAWN) Trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008;56(7):1292-8. PubMed

21353. Jankowski, C. M., Gozansky, W. S., Schwartz, R. S., Dahl, D. J., Kittelson, J. M., Scott, S. M., Van Pelt, R. E., Kohrt, W. M. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. J PubMed

21354. Forsblad-d'Elia, H., Carlsten, H., Labrie, F., Konttinen, Y. T., Ohlsson, C. Low serum levels of sex steroids are associated with disease characteristics in primary Sjogren's syndrome; supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone restores the concentration
Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail
Dhea
“In older adults, elevated and severe urinary symptoms (as evidenced by scores of more than 20, using the American Urological Association Symptom Index for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [International Prostate Symptom Score]) and urinary tract infection were reported. Rare incidences of abnormal menses and increased discharge have been reported. DHEA has been associated with hematuria.”

Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph).
4 sources cited

21353. Jankowski, C. M., Gozansky, W. S., Schwartz, R. S., Dahl, D. J., Kittelson, J. M., Scott, S. M., Van Pelt, R. E., Kohrt, W. M. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. J PubMed

2114. Van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGurie JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arth Rheum 1995;38:1826-31. DOI

21415. Artini, P. G., Simi, G., Ruggiero, M., Pinelli, S., Di Berardino, O. M., Papini, F., Papini, S., Monteleone, P., Cela, V. DHEA supplementation improves follicular microenviroment in poor responder patients. Gynecol Endocrinol 2012;28(9):669-73. PubMed

47300. Kocis, P. Prasterone. Am J Health Syst.Pharm. 11-15-2006;63(22):2201-2210.
Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Breast tenderness Additional detail

Dhea

“Orally and topically, DHEA seems to be well tolerated when used in typical doses, short-term. However, there is some concern that long-term oral use of DHEA may be linked to a greater risk for cancer.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Acne, headache, insomnia, mood changes, and nausea.”

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

Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Mood changes or irritability Additional detail

Dhea

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

Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A stuffy or runny nose Additional detail
Dhea
“Increased cough and nasal congestion have been noted in human research. A report of acute respiratory failure was made in clinical study evaluating the use of DHEA in patients with myotonic dystrophy (type 1).”

Dhea · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cough.
1 source cited

21334. Penisson-Besnier, I., Devillers, M., Porcher, R., Orlikowski, D., Doppler, V., Desnuelle, C., Ferrer, X., Bes, M. C., Bouhour, F., Tranchant, C., Lagrange, E., Vershueren, A., Uzenot, D., Cintas, P., Sole, G., Hogrel, J. Y., Laforet, P., Vial, C., Vila, A
Valproic Acid

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valproic Acid. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A fast or pounding heartbeat Additional detail

Dhea

Recorded for Dhea in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Chest pain / Raised blood pressure above.

Valproic Acid

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

Showing the 10 most notable of 23 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Dhea but not commonly for Valproic Acid: sweating, an irregular heartbeat and acne.

Effects for Valproic Acid 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 30,892 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Valproic Acid 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

How to take them

Some Valproic Acid Products Have a Food Rule — Dhea Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Valproic Acid says to take it with food. If you take Dhea on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Valproic Acid with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Valproic Acid products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

irritation may benefit from administration of the drug with food or by slowly building up the dose from an initial low level.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Valproic Acid — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Valproic Acid Is Prescribed For, and What Dhea Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Valproic Acid is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Dhea is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Valproic Acid is prescribed for: Valproic acid capsules (brands Valproic and Valproic Acid) and valproic acid oral solution (brand Valproic Acid) are both used to treat epilepsy. Specifically, they are approved for complex partial seizures (either alone or with other seizure types) as monotherapy or add-on therapy, and for simple and complex absence seizures as sole therapy or add-on therapy. Both forms are intended for adults and pediatric patients. Always follow your prescriber's guidance on which product and regimen is right for you.

Dhea has been studied for:

Depression Natural Medicines rates the evidence for Dhea: Possibly Effective Read what the research shows

Dhea for depression

Oral DHEA 30-500 mg daily for up to 8 weeks seems to improve symptoms of depression and dysthymia in patients with depression.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Valproic Acid on your own; if you are taking Dhea for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Dhea or Valproic Acid

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 Valproic Acid, 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 Valproic Acid

This page covers Dhea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Valproic Acid page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 9 major · 147 moderate · 17 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Valproic Acid page

“Anyone taking valproic acid (Depakene, Depacon) for seizures or bipolar disorder should treat this list with genuine care. Of the 173 supplements and herbs on file, nine are rated major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid, 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 Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid

Top half

#1,055 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 Valproic Acid 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Dhea

What is 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 Valproic Acid

What Is Valproic Acid Used For?

Brand names: Depakene, Depacon, Valproate

Valproic acid capsules (brands Valproic and Valproic Acid) and valproic acid oral solution (brand Valproic Acid) are both used to treat epilepsy. Specifically, they are approved for complex partial seizures (either alone or with other seizure types) as monotherapy or add-on therapy, and for simple and complex absence seizures as sole therapy or add-on therapy.

Both forms are intended for adults and pediatric patients. Always follow your prescriber's guidance on which product and regimen is right for you.

See full Valproic Acid 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

768 Moderate 8 Minor 2,053 No 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

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 2,053 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dhea list.

See the full Dhea interactions page

See every supplement checked against Valproic Acid, ranked by severity

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.

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).
Kuritzky L. DHEA: Science or wishful thinking? Hosp Pract 1998;33:85-6. PubMed
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.
Van Vollenhoven RF, Engleman EG, McGurie JL. Dehydroepiandrosterone in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arth Rheum 1995;38:1826-31. DOI
Ebeling P, Koivisto VA. Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone. Lancet 1994;343:1479-81. PubMed
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
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
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
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
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
Kline MD, Jaggers ED. Mania onset while using dehydroepiandrosterone (letter). Am J Psychiatry 1999;156:971. PubMed
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
Markowitz JS, Carson WH, Jackson CW. Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45:241-2. PubMed
Stoll BA. Dietary supplements of dehydroepiandrosterone in relation to breast cancer risk. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53:771-5. PubMed
Dean CE. Prasterone (DHEA) and mania. Ann Pharmacother 2000;34:1419-22. PubMed
Himmel PB, Seligman TM. A Pilot Study Employing Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. [Abstract]. J Clin Rheumatol 1999:5:56-9. PubMed
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.. PubMed
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. PubMed
Calhoun KE, Pommier RF, Muller P, et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate causes proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells despite treatment with fulvestrant. Arch Surg 2003;138:879-83.. PubMed
Morris KT, Toth-Fejel S, Schmidt J, et al. High dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate predicts breast cancer progression during new aromatase inhibitor therapy and stimulates breast cancer cell growth in tissue culture: a renewed role for adrenalectomy. Surgery PubMed
Calhoun K, Pommier R, Cheek J, et al. The effect of high dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels on tamoxifen blockade and breast cancer progression. Am J Surg 2003;185:411-5.. PubMed
Stomati M, Monteleone P, Casarosa E, et al. Six-month oral dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in early and late postmenopause. Gynecol Endocrinol 2000;14:342-63.. PubMed
Petri MA, Mease PJ, Merrill JT, et al. Effects of prasterone on disease activity and symptoms in women with active systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 2004;50:2858-68. PubMed
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. PubMed
Acacio BD, Stanczyk FZ, Mullin P, et al. Pharmacokinetics of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites after long-term daily oral administration to healthy young men. Fertil Steril 2004;81:595-604. PubMed
Petri MA, Lahita RG, Van Vollenhoven RF, et al. Effects of prasterone on corticosteroid requirements of women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 2002;46:1820-9. PubMed
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. PubMed
Alkatib AA, Cosma M, Elamin MB, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of DHEA treatment effects on quality of life in women with adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009;94:3676-81. PubMed
Jesse, R. L., Loesser, K., Eich, D. M., Qian, Y. Z., Hess, M. L., Nestler, J. E. Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Ann N.Y.Acad Sci 1995;774:281-90.
Bertoni, A., Rastoldo, A., Sarasso, C., Di Vito C., Sampietro, S., Nalin, M., Bagarotti, A., Sinigaglia, F. Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Steroids 2012;77(3):260-8. PubMed
Cui, Y., Choi, I. S., Koh, Y. A., Lin, X. H., Cho, Y. B., Won, Y. H. Effects of combined BCG and DHEA treatment in preventing the development of asthma. Immunol Invest 2008;37(3):191-202. PubMed
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. PubMed
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. PubMed
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 PubMed
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 PubMed
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von Muhlen D., Laughlin, G. A., Kritz-Silverstein, D., Bergstrom, J., Bettencourt, R. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on bone mineral density, bone markers, and body composition in older adults: the DAWN trial. Osteoporos Int 2008;19(5):
Kritz-Silverstein, D., von, Muhlen D., Laughlin, G. A., Bettencourt, R. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and quality of life: the DHEA and Well-Ness (DAWN) Trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008;56(7):1292-8. PubMed
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Casson, P. R., Santoro, N., Elkind-Hirsch, K., Carson, S. A., Hornsby, P. J., Abraham, G., Buster, J. E. Postmenopausal dehydroepiandrosterone administration increases free insulin-like growth factor-I and decreases high-density lipoprotein: a six-month t
Araneo, B. Daynes, R. Dehydroepiandrosterone functions as more than an antiglucocorticoid in preserving immunocompetence after thermal injury. Endocrinology 1995;136(2):393-401. PubMed
Nordmark, G., Bengtsson, C., Larsson, A., Karlsson, F. A., Sturfelt, G., Ronnblom, L. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplement on health-related quality of life in glucocorticoid treated female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmunity PubMed
Srinivasan, M., Irving, B. A., Frye, R. L., O'Brien, P., Hartman, S. J., McConnell, J. P., Nair, K. S. Effects on lipoprotein particles of long-term dehydroepiandrosterone in elderly men and women and testosterone in elderly men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2 PubMed
Srinivasan, M., Irving, B. A., Dhatariya, K., Klaus, K. A., Hartman, S. J., McConnell, J. P., Nair, K. S. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement on lipoprotein profile in hypoadrenal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009;94(3):761-4. PubMed
Jankowski, C. M., Gozansky, W. S., Van Pelt, R. E., Wolfe, P., Schwartz, R. S., Kohrt, W. M. Oral dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in older adults: effects on central adiposity, glucose metabolism and blood lipids. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2011;75(4):456-6 PubMed
McHenry, C. M., Bell, P. M., Hunter, S. J., Thompson, C. J., Courtney, C. H., Ennis, C. N., Sheridan, B., McCance, D. R., Mullan, K. R., Atkinson, A. B. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) replacement on insulin action and quality of life i
Jankowski, C. M., Gozansky, W. S., Schwartz, R. S., Dahl, D. J., Kittelson, J. M., Scott, S. M., Van Pelt, R. E., Kohrt, W. M. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial. J PubMed
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Finckh, A., Berner, I. C., Aubry-Rozier, B., So, A. K. A randomized controlled trial of dehydroepiandrosterone in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 2005;32(7):1336-40.
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Lovas, K., Gebre-Medhin, G., Trovik, T. S., Fougner, K. J., Uhlving, S., Nedrebo, B. G., Myking, O. L., Kampe, O., Husebye, E. S. Replacement of dehydroepiandrosterone in adrenal failure: no benefit for subjective health status and sexuality in a 9-month,
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
Christiansen, J. J., Andersen, N. H., Sorensen, K. E., Pedersen, E. M., Bennett, P., Andersen, M., Christiansen, J. S., Jorgensen, J. O., Gravholt, C. H. Dehydroepiandrosterone substitution in female adrenal failure: no impact on endothelial function and
Panjari, M., Bell, R. J., Jane, F., Wolfe, R., Adams, J., Morrow, C., Davis, S. R. A randomized trial of oral DHEA treatment for sexual function, well-being, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with low libido. J Sex Med 2009;6(9):2579-90. PubMed
Mamas, L., Mamas, E. Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation in assisted reproduction: rationale and results. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2009;21(4):306-8. PubMed
Hartkamp, A., Geenen, R., Godaert, G. L., Bootsma, H., Kruize, A. A., Bijlsma, J. W., Derksen, R. H. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone administration on fatigue, well-being, and functioning in women with primary Sjogren syndrome: a randomised controlled tr
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 PubMed
Virkki, L. M., Porola, P., Forsblad-d'Elia, H., Valtysdottir, S., Solovieva, S. A., Konttinen, Y. T. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) substitution treatment for severe fatigue in DHEA-deficient patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Arthritis Care Res (Ho
Binder, G., Weber, S., Ehrismann, M., Zaiser, N., Meisner, C., Ranke, M. B., Maier, L., Wudy, S. A., Hartmann, M. F., Heinrich, U., Bettendorf, M., Doerr, H. G., Pfaeffle, R. W., Keller, E. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone therapy on pubic hair growth an
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. PubMed
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
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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.
Gurnell, E. M., Hunt, P. J., Curran, S. E., Conway, C. L., Pullenayegum, E. M., Huppert, F. A., Compston, J. E., Herbert, J., Chatterjee, V. K. Long-term DHEA replacement in primary adrenal insufficiency: a randomized, controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol PubMed
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 PubMed
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. PubMed
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. PubMed
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. PubMed
Artini, P. G., Simi, G., Ruggiero, M., Pinelli, S., Di Berardino, O. M., Papini, F., Papini, S., Monteleone, P., Cela, V. DHEA supplementation improves follicular microenviroment in poor responder patients. Gynecol Endocrinol 2012;28(9):669-73. PubMed
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. PubMed
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. PubMed
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. PubMed
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 DOI
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Rao, M. S., Subbarao, V., Yeldandi, A. V., and Reddy, J. K. Hepatocarcinogenicity of dehydroepiandrosterone in the rat. Cancer Res. 5-15-1992;52(10):2977-2979.
Tagliaferro, A. R., Roebuck, B. D., Ronan, A. M., and Meeker, L. D. Enhancement of pancreatic carcinogenesis by dehydroepiandrosterone. Adv.Exp.Med Biol. 1992;322:119-129. PubMed
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
Kocis, P. Prasterone. Am J Health Syst.Pharm. 11-15-2006;63(22):2201-2210.
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El-Alfy, M., Deloche, C., Azzi, L., Bernard, B. A., Bernerd, F., Coutet, J., Chaussade, V., Martel, C., Leclaire, J., and Labrie, F. Skin responses to topical dehydroepiandrosterone: implications in antiageing treatment? Br.J Dermatol. 2010;163(5):968-97 PubMed
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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.

Related: nutrient depletion

Valproic Acid Is Linked to Lower Levels of 9 Nutrients

Natural Medicines records Valproic Acid as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Dhea — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:

Read the full Valproic Acid nutrient depletion report ›

Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dhea and Valproic Acid Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Dhea with Valproic Acid?

We do not list a known interaction between Dhea and Valproic Acid. 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 Valproic Acid have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 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.

Should I take Dhea and Valproic Acid at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Valproic Acid says to take it with food. If you take Dhea on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Valproic Acid with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Valproic Acid products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

Are Dhea and Valproic Acid used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Dhea in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Valproic Acid is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Dhea and Valproic Acid combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Valproic Acid is filed under 8 classifications, and Dhea has documented interactions with 10 drug classes — none of Valproic Acid'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 — Valproic Acid 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 Valproic Acid interact with any supplements?

Yes. Valproic Acid has documented interactions with 173 supplements in our database — Dhea is not one of them. The Valproic Acid interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

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Still Have a Question About Valproic Acid 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.