Has anyone taken DHEA for energy?

[worried878]

A friend of mine was told to begin DHEA 25 mg daily for energy....I have always taken smaller doses off and for anti-aging benefits as the production of DHEA declines with age...I was thinking about adding it to my ton of pills on a daily basis...just curious if anyone had tried it on a regular basis

[poetrygirl1960]

No but if it stops that aging process I'm already in line!!

What exactly are the components of it?

[worried878]

Well it is a hormone precursor..google it...boosts levels of testosterone in men and estrogen and testosterone in women...I do know that if you have a reproductive gland tumor like prostate cance u r not supposed to take it...anyway i have been taking 10 mg for years but have never been diligent with it everyday...then my friend went to the doctor and she is worn out and he told her to take it....she is also a recovering addict...I was always scared it would make me grow hair on my chest so i took it in small doses...it decreases with age and the older you are the more u should take...peak levels are at ages 20-30....I think I may up my dose and see how it does...i saw that some people who are older take 50 mgs

[kimmieb]

i'm the friend who was told to take it! (hi worried!)  i was told to take it because i had a total and complete hysterectomy almost a year ago....and all of my hormones are still way unbalanced and out of whack -- estradiol, estrone, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, cortisol -- you name it, they're out of balance because my organs which normally produce most of those hormones were taken out....so far, only estrogen (n the form of biest cream) and progesterone have been replaced (using specially compounded bioidentical creams)....and many of my post-surgical symptoms have gotten better....but not the energy part....and i just don't feel like the same "me" since the surgery....  this doctor (he's an ob/gyn who specializes in hormonal issues especially after hysterectomy, etc.) explained to me that DHEA is the precursor to testosterone in our bodies....both men and women have it....but men obviously more than women....my DHEA is zero....therefore, i have zero energy and libido,and i've been that way since the surgery....i am to take DHEA, 25 mg per day to help with the energy and libido....any more than 25 mg and a female runs the very obvious risk of developing excess facial hair, acne, and even possible deepening of the voice....that's why females who've had hysterectomies are not given replacement DHEA in any dose greater than 25 mg....and as you can imagine, the entire balancing out and replacing missing hormones is an extremely delicate balancing act....and every BODY is different....so that throws another wrench into an already tricky situation....anybody who's ever had a hysterectomy (both ovaries removed also) about 10 years prior to when her normal menopause would have been can, i'm sure, relate to most if not all of what i'm saying here....so, that's a long-winded explanation about the DHEA....i'm not sure, if you haven't had a hysterectomy and therefore the hormone hasn't completely been wiped out of your body, i'm just not sure that taking DHEA in a larger dose would be such a great idea, as a female, i mean....but just my opinion from doing research for a year and talking to a myriad of doctors in the field and experiencing it first-hand myself....i haven't started on the DHEA yet....but plan to pick some up tomorrow....funny thing about DHEA, it IS a hormone, but with all other hormones in our body, we can't just go to a GNC or a Walgreens or Wal-Mart and buy the hormone....yet with DHEA, we can....odd, i know....even the doctor agreed with that one...but that's why you have to be careful and typically only supplement with that hormone after consulting with a doctor...you really have to know WHY you need to replace it in your body....and you have to know you're deficient before you start adding it into your body....or you could be playing with fire....as all hormones are all interrelated, and you mess one up, and you mess the rest up....i can sure attest to that!!!!  for someone who has her hormones fairly intact, there are more efficient ways of getting energy than supplementing with DHEA, a pretty potent hormone....i am also currently taking 4-5 hydros a day for chronic daily head and neck pain, but that is neither here nor there in this scenario with the DHEA....prior to my surgery, had no problems with energy, hormones, or any of it....bottom line:  don't have a hysterectomy unless your actual life depends upon it!!!!!   sorry if i got a little off track here....just a long-winded answer and attempted explanation about taking DHEA "just for some extra energy".....hope it helps! :-)

[worried878]

Thanks kimmie....I know lots of people need help with this energy thing...ttyl

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I hope that you two know what you said - I take the dhea (precursor of other amino's?)
as part of my regimine.......I believe that I may just stay well away from hysterectomies though.........