Herb & supplement monograph

Dhea Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Dhea interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Dhea is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Dhea is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Dhea Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Dhea drug interaction appears low for most people, though a few specific medicines deserve real caution. None of the hundreds of listed interactions are rated major, and nearly all rest on theoretical or preliminary evidence rather than proven harm in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The clearest concern is with anti-estrogen cancer treatments such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and fulvestrant, because DHEA acts like estrogen in the body and may work against these drugs. The best-documented interaction is with triazolam, a sleep medicine, since a human study showed DHEA raised its blood levels. There is also a theoretical bleeding concern with blood thinners, based on research showing DHEA may affect how platelets clump, and a single case report of a manic episode when DHEA was combined with an antidepressant.

What the rest of the list means

The long list of interacting medications looks daunting, but most entries come from one theoretical mechanism: DHEA may slow an enzyme the body uses to clear many common drugs. For most of these, the effect has only been seen in early research, and its real-world significance is unknown. A long list here signals caution, not proven harm.

Check your medications against Dhea

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Dhea interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Dhea

777 medications have a known interaction with Dhea, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Dhea using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Dhea interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction 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.
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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Dhea combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Dhea affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Dhea is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 10 drug categories Dhea interacts with

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet DrugsAntidepressant DrugsAromatase InhibitorsCytochrome P450 3a4 (cyp3a4) SubstratesFulvestrant (faslodex)Tamoxifen (nolvadex)Triazolam (halcion)Tuberculosis VaccineEstrogensTestosterone

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, DHEA might increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Human and laboratory research show that DHEA and DHEA-S can inhibit platelet aggregation.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Antidepressant Drugs

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.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Aromatase Inhibitors

Theoretically, DHEA might interfere with the clinical effects of aromatase inhibitors.
DHEA is a potent estrogen agonist, which may antagonize the anti-estrogen activity of aromatase inhibitors.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Fulvestrant (Faslodex)

Theoretically, DHEA might interfere with the anti-estrogen effects of fulvestrant.
DHEA is a potent estrogen agonist. Some research shows that it can overcome the estrogen receptor antagonist action of fulvestrant in estrogen-receptor positive cancer cells.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Theoretically, DHEA might interfere with the anti-estrogen effects of tamoxifen.
DHEA is a potent estrogen agonist. Some research shows that it can overcome the estrogen receptor antagonist activity of tamoxifen in estrogen-receptor positive cancer cells.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Triazolam (Halcion)

DHEA can increase blood levels of triazolam.
Administration of DHEA 200 mg daily for two weeks was shown to inhibit the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) metabolism of triazolam. This inhibition appears to be due to DHEA-S, rather than DHEA.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Tuberculosis Vaccine

DHEA might reduce the effectiveness of the tuberculosis vaccine.
Animal research shows that high doses of DHEA can reduce the efficacy of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccine.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

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.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Testosterone

Theoretically, DHEA might increase the effects and side effects of testosterone 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. The clinical significance of these findings is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Dhea: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

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.

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

People commonly use it for

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

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

As a hormone, DHEA can cause hormonal side effects and should be used only with medical guidance.

PregnancyPossibly 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

BreastfeedingPossibly 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). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Jump to a section

Overview

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone made naturally by your adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys. It is one of the most plentiful steroid hormones in the body and serves as a building block that the body can turn into other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen.

DHEA levels are highest in young adulthood and slowly drop as people get older. Because of this natural decline, DHEA has become a popular over-the-counter supplement marketed for anti-aging, energy, mood, and sexual health.

Supplement DHEA is made in a laboratory, often starting from compounds found in wild yam or soy. Importantly, your body cannot make DHEA from eating wild yam itself, so a wild yam product is not the same as a DHEA supplement.

How it works

DHEA is a precursor hormone, meaning the body can convert it into other hormones, mainly testosterone and estrogen. By raising the supply of these sex hormones, DHEA may influence mood, sex drive, bone, muscle, and tissue health.

Because hormone levels fall with age, the idea behind supplementing is to restore some of what is lost. However, more hormone is not always better, and the body's hormone systems are complex.

Much of what we understand about DHEA's effects comes from laboratory and animal studies, and the way it works in the human body is not fully understood. Effects can vary a lot between men and women and between individuals.

Effectiveness

Does Dhea work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 37 uses evaluated

1 Likely effective 2 Possibly effective 6 Leans ineffective 28 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

Likely Effective Vaginal atrophy