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Dietary supplement

Pregnenolone 50 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Life Extension

Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Pregnenolone 50 mg is a dietary supplement by Life Extension with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for memory and cognitive support, anxiety and stress, anti-aging.Based on those ingredients, 82 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Pregnenolone. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: pregnenolone 50 mg per capsule. Pregnenolone is a hormone precursor—your body naturally makes small amounts of it, and it serves as a chemical starting point for producing other steroid hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

The capsule itself also contains inactive ingredients (rice flour, gelatin, and vegetable stearate) that help form and deliver the active ingredient.

Does it work?

Insufficient evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Insufficient

There isn't enough reliable clinical evidence to rate this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: supports memory and hormonal balance.
  • We looked for evidence on: Memory, Aging, Stress, Menopausal symptoms, cognitive function, hormone regulation.
  • The closest evidence on file: Pregnenolone is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Memory (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Pregnenolone is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Menopausal symptoms, Stress, Aging.

The evidence for pregnenolone isn't established in the data we hold. Our information shows insufficient reliable evidence to rate its effectiveness for alcohol use disorder, Alzheimer disease, autism spectrum disorder, back pain, bipolar disorder, and several other conditions.

If you're considering it for a specific health concern, talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist to see what the current research actually supports.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Pregnenolone

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Pregnenolone is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth, but it is a hormone with limited human safety data—use it only under guidance from a healthcare professional. The most commonly reported side effects include acne, agitation, diarrhea, drowsiness, excitement, hair loss, sweating, and tremor.

A few people have reported skin rashes (possibly linked to sun sensitivity) and changes in mood or appetite, though it's unclear whether pregnenolone was directly responsible in all cases. Pregnancy and breastfeeding safety data is insufficient—the facts advise against use during pregnancy due to unknown risks, and not enough safety information exists to recommend it while breastfeeding.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this is right for you in either situation.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Pregnenolone

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Pregnenolone.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 82 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you take this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on estrogens, progestins, testosterone, progesterone, or benzodiazepines (sedatives). Pregnenolone may strengthen the effects of the first four and may weaken the effects of benzodiazepines.

These are Moderate-severity interactions, and your prescriber needs to know before you start.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with insufficient evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Pregnenolone is a hormone precursor with limited safety evidence, so it's not a casual supplement—you'll want to use it only under professional guidance. If you take any hormone-based medications (birth control, hormone therapy, testosterone) or benzodiazepines (anxiety or sleep medications), check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding this product, as it may change how those drugs work.

The evidence for most health conditions isn't established yet.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 25, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Pregnenolone 50 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Life Extension
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 25, 2013
DSLD ID 26180
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
100
IngredientAmount% DV
Pregnenolone50 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Vegetable Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Item Catalog Number: 00302

It is made directly from cholesterol within the mitochondria of the adrenal glands and, to a lesser degree, the nervous system, with the help of the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, p450scc. Pregnenolone is a precursor to various hormones, such as progesterone, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. So it can help the body maintain normal hormone levels, which in turn helps numerous body functions.23-32 References

Supports Memory and Hormonal Balance

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Dosage and Use Take one capsule daily preferably early in the day on an empty stomach, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner.

Precautions

Caution Pregnenolone may affect levels of other hormones, such as progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and/or DHEA. Do not take this product if you have a history of seizures. Do not take this product if you have breast cancer, prostate cancer, or other hormone-sensitive diseases.

Warnings KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

When using nutritional supplements, please consult with your physician if you are undergoing treatment for a medical condition or if you are pregnant or lactating.

DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE.

Do not purchase if outer seal is broken or damaged.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Brand IP Statement(s)

For Longer Life(R)

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Contains rice.

Formulation

This product contains NO milk, egg, fish, peanuts, crustacean shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp), soybeans, tree nuts, wheat, yeast, gluten, or corn. Contains NO sugar, and no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.

See for yourself

Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container100 Amounts shown are per serving.

Pregnenolone

Interacts with
82 drugs
50 mg per serving

Pregnenolone is a hormone your body makes naturally and a building block for other hormones like cortisol, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone. It is sol...

Pregnenolone monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Vegetable Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Pregnenolone 50 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
82Drugs
82 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Pregnenolone 50 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Pregnenolone5 drug types · 82 drugs

Benzodiazepines

Concomitant use of pregnenolone may reduce the effects of benzodiazepines.
Very preliminary clinical research shows that chronic use of pregnenolone reduces sedative effects of diazepam when compared with chronic use of placebo. This effect may be related to the activity of pregnenolone at GABAA receptors.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Estrogens

Theoretically, taking pregnenolone might enhance the effects of estrogens.
Pregnenolone is a precursor for several steroid hormones, including estrogens.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Progesterone

Theoretically, taking pregnenolone might enhance the effects of progesterone.
In humans, some research shows that oral administration of pregnenolone can increase levels of progesterone. However, other research shows no effect on progesterone levels. It is possible the impact of pregnenolone on progesterone levels may be dose dependent.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Progestin

Theoretically, taking pregnenolone might enhance the effects of progestin.
Pregnenolone is a precursor for several steroid hormones, including progestin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Testosterone

Theoretically, taking pregnenolone might enhance the effects of testosterone.
Pregnenolone is a precursor for several steroid hormones, including testosterone. However, preliminary clinical research shows that taking pregnenolone 30-500 mg orally daily for up to 8 weeks does not affect testosterone levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Pregnenolone 50 mg, from the product label.

Life Extension

See all Life Extension products
Phone Number
1-866-280-2852
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension: Common Questions

Does Pregnenolone 50 mg by Life Extension interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Pregnenolone 50 mg has a known interaction with 82 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Pregnenolone 50 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take pregnenolone if I'm on birth control?
Birth control contains estrogen and/or progestin, both of which pregnenolone may enhance. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before adding this product—they'll help you decide whether it's safe for you or if any adjustments are needed.
What side effects should I watch for?
The most common ones are acne, agitation, diarrhea, drowsiness, excitement, hair loss, sweating, and tremor. A few people have reported skin rashes and mood or appetite changes. If anything bothers you, let your doctor or pharmacist know.
Is pregnenolone safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No—the safety data advises against use in pregnancy due to unknown risks, and there isn't enough information to recommend it while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your specific situation.
Does pregnenolone actually work for memory or brain health?
The evidence for that isn't established in the data we hold. Pregnenolone has been studied for Alzheimer disease and other conditions, but there's insufficient reliable evidence to say whether it works. Your doctor or pharmacist can discuss what current research actually shows.
What is pregnenolone, and why is it in this product?
Pregnenolone is a hormone your body naturally produces in small amounts—it's a chemical building block for estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other steroid hormones. The supplement is intended to provide extra pregnenolone, though the evidence for most uses isn't established yet.

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

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Pregnenolone 50 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Pregnenolone 50 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

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

The 6 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Pregnenolone 6 references
  1. Devlin TM, ed. Textbook of Biochemistry With Clinical Correlations. third ed. New York: Wiley-Liss Inc., 1992.
  2. Fung LK, Libove RA, Phillips J, Haddad F, Hardan AY.Brief report: an open-label study of the neurosteroid pregnenolone in adults with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2014;44(11):2971-7. PubMed
  3. Brown ES, Park J, Marx CE, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone for bipolar depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014;39(12):2867-73. PubMed
  4. Ritsner MS, Gibel A, Shleifer T, et al. Pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone as an adjunctive treatment in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, 2-center, parallel-group trial. J Clin Psychiatry 20 PubMed
  5. Meieran SE, Reus VI, Webster R, Shafton R, Wolkowitz OM. Chronic pregnenolone effects in normal humans: attenuation of benzodiazepine-induced sedation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2004;29(4):486-500. PubMed
  6. Marx CE, Keefe RS, Buchanan RW, et al. Proof-of-concept trial with the neurosteroid pregnenolone targeting cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009;34(8):1885-903. PubMed

See these in context on the Pregnenolone monograph →

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

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