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Dietary supplement

Pregnenolone Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Sunshine

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

Pregnenolone is a dietary supplement by Nature's Sunshine 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 by Nature's Sunshine

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 is a single-ingredient supplement: pregnenolone, a hormone precursor your body naturally produces. The capsule itself contains cellulose (an inert filler) and the capsule shell.

Does it work?

Not established
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
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Pregnenolone's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: memory, mood and joint health support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Memory, Depression, Stress, Menopausal symptoms, Fatigue, cognitive function — and 2 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Pregnenolone is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Depression (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Pregnenolone is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Fatigue, Memory, Menopausal symptoms, Stress.

The evidence we hold on pregnenolone is insufficient to rate how well it works for any condition — including alcohol use disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, back pain, and bipolar disorder. That means studies either don't exist, are too small, or are too preliminary to establish whether it actually works for these purposes.

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. The most commonly reported side effects in trials include acne, agitation, diarrhea, drowsiness, excitement, hair loss, sweating, and tremor.

A few people have experienced skin rashes with a burning sensation on the hands, which may have been a light-sensitivity reaction; the rash cleared on its own. Because pregnenolone is a hormone with limited human safety data, the safety notes advise using it only under guidance from a healthcare professional.

Pregnenolone should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding — the safety data advises against it in both cases due to unknown risks.

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 start, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take estrogens, progestins, progesterone, testosterone, or any benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety or sedative medications like diazepam). Pregnenolone may enhance hormone effects or reduce how well benzodiazepines work.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Pregnenolone is a hormone precursor with limited evidence for its effectiveness and a profile of interactions mainly with other hormone-based medications and benzodiazepines. If you're on any hormone therapy or take an anti-anxiety medication, talk it through with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this supplement.

Given that it's a hormone with sparse safety data, their input is important.

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 Jan 25, 2012.

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, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Sunshine
Barcode (UPC) 099904018242
Net contents 60 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 25, 2012
DSLD ID 4595
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Women (not pregnant or lactating)
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 by Nature's Sunshine, 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:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
099904018242
IngredientAmount% DV
Pregnenolone20 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Capsule

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

RECOMMENDATION Take one or two capsules daily with a meal. Drink one glass (8 oz) of water with the capsules.

Precautions

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR NURSING.

Consult a physician or licensed qualified health care professional before using the product if you have, or have a family history of, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, heart disease, low "good" cholesterol (HDL), or if you are using any other dietary supplement, prescription drug, or over-the-counter, drug. Do not exceed recommended serving. Exceeding recommended serving may cause serious adverse health effects. Possible side effects include acne, hair loss, hair growth on the face (in women), aggressiveness, irritability, and increased levels of estrogen. Discontinue use and call a physician or licensed qualified health care professional immediately if you are experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, blurred vision, or other similar symptoms.

This bottle was sealed for your protection. Do not use if inner seal is missing or damaged.

Warning: NOT FOR USE BY INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS.

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.

General Statements

- Supports Memory, Mood and Joint Health* - Supports Female Glandular Balance*

©2011

01001824011111

GUARANTEED PURE

LOT:

Nature's Sunshine uses natural source materials in its products that are subject to color variation.

Nervous, Structural, and Glandular System Support

Pregnenolone is derived from Wild Yam root and supports brain health, memory, mood and energy production, hormonal balance, and joint health.*

Product of U.S.A.

Since 1972

Seals/Symbols

QUALITY, SERVICE, INTEGRITY

General

Stock No. 1824-4

See for yourself

Pregnenolone by Nature's Sunshine label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Pregnenolone by Nature's Sunshine

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 container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Pregnenolone

Interacts with
82 drugs
20 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: Cellulose, Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Pregnenolone by Nature's Sunshine Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Pregnenolone?

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 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, from the product label.

Nature's Sunshine

See all Nature's Sunshine products
Name
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc
City
Spanish Fork
State
Utah
ZipCode
84660
Phone Number
1-800-223-8225
Web Address
www.naturessunshine.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Pregnenolone by Nature's Sunshine: Common Questions

Does Pregnenolone by Nature's Sunshine interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Pregnenolone 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 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 this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — the safety data advises against pregnenolone during pregnancy and while breastfeeding due to unknown risks. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this is right for you in these situations.
What side effects should I watch for?
The most common ones reported in trials are acne, agitation, diarrhea, drowsiness, excitement, hair loss, sweating, and tremor. A few people have had skin rashes with a burning sensation on the hands, which cleared without treatment. If you notice any of these, let your healthcare provider know.
Is pregnenolone proven to work for Alzheimer's disease or bipolar disorder?
Not yet. The evidence we have is insufficient to rate how well it works for these conditions, as well as autism spectrum disorder, back pain, or alcohol use disorder. More research is needed.
Why is there a caution about healthcare professional guidance?
Pregnenolone is a hormone with limited human safety data, so it's important to use it only under a healthcare professional's supervision. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits for your situation.
What does it mean that pregnenolone is a 'hormone precursor'?
Your body can convert pregnenolone into other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This is why it interacts with hormone-based medications — it may boost their effects.

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

Not sure if Pregnenolone is safe with your meds?

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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 label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Pregnenolone'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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