Drug & supplement interaction

Dhea + Vilazodone

Vilazodone brand name: Viibryd.

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

Vilazodone 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?
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Interaction report

Dhea and Vilazodone

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. Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone

Vilazodone 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 gist: Viibryd (vilazodone) raises serotonin in your brain to lift your mood. DHEA isn't broken down by the same pathway, so this isn't really a metabolism problem. Instead, the worry is that DHEA acts as a hormone and may stir up mood on its own. Stacked on top of an antidepressant, that combination could, in theory, tip some people toward an overly elevated or agitated mood (think racing thoughts, less need for sleep, or feeling 'wired').

I'll be honest with you, this is mostly theoretical, drawn from lab work plus a single case report with an SSRI, not strong human evidence. The concern may be a bit higher in younger folks. Please don't stop either one on your own. Just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up before adding DHEA.

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

Vilazodone 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 these two together. Your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to break down and clear vilazodone (Viibryd). There's some early, fairly thin evidence that DHEA may slow that enzyme down a bit. If that happens, vilazodone could clear more slowly and build up slightly higher than expected. With a little extra vilazodone hanging around, you might notice more of its usual side effects, things like nausea, diarrhea, headache, trouble sleeping, or feeling jittery.

I want to be honest, though: this is mostly theoretical and based on weak, anecdotal data, so we really don't know how meaningful it is in real life. I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but before you add DHEA, run it by your pharmacist or doctor so they can keep an eye on how you're feeling.

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 Vilazodone 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. Vilazodone)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Vilazodone

This page covers Dhea only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Vilazodone page lists 176 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), St. John's Wort (major) and 1,3-dmaa (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 131 moderate · 41 minor.

Open the Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone
Top 25%

#591 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 Vilazodone

What Is Vilazodone Used For?

Brand name: Viibryd

Vilazodone hydrochloride tablets — sold as the brand Viibryd and as generic vilazodone hydrochloride — are approved to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. MDD is more than just feeling sad; it's a clinical condition involving persistent low mood, loss of interest, and other symptoms that significantly affect daily life.

Vilazodone is not approved for use in children or teenagers. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.

See full Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone, 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 Vilazodone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Vilazodone, ranked by severity Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dhea with Vilazodone?
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 Vilazodone?
Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone 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 Vilazodone 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.