Dehydroepiandrosterone

Posted , 10 users are following.

I have been reading about DHEA and wondered if anyone has any experience with this. I am currently on 3 mg per day after 2 1/2 years with PMR. I struggle with fatigue and dizziness. I have not had the adrenal gland test.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi floramac, 

    Elieen, would the dizziness be the adrenaline glands not working for Floramac?? I'm curious because I'm on 2.5mg a day and I'm getting awful dizziness too.

    many thanks

    Andrea xx

    • Posted

      Low adrenal function can lead to dizzy spells yes. When did it start?
  • Posted

    My holistic MD tested my blood for DHEA knowing I was on high doses of Prednisone and I was low as expected.  I'm currently taking 35 mg DHEA each day to keep my value in the normal range.  

  • Posted

    Hi Eileen,

    ive had dizziness off and on since I started on prednisolone 3 years ago. When I was on a high dose (20mg) I blamed the side effects of that. Then off and on while coming down on prednisolone, I blamed tapering. Now I'm getting it for no real reason only I'm taking 2 and a half mg! During the 3 years I've had different side effects, they come and go then come back again! I had the synacthen test at 7mg of prednisolone and had an allergic reaction to the substance and  passed out, so I can't have that test again! My rheumatologist has asked me to take a '9.00am blood test' that can indicate if adrenaline glands are functioning. I haven't yet taken it as I'm not feeling too well of late, and really need to be 'Tip Top' incase they pick up something else I'd need medication for 🙄 

    Many thanks 

    Andrea.x

     

    • Posted

      H  Andrea,

      I asked my G.P if I could have the Synacthen test, I am on 4mgs of Pred. and he said no, I had to be off Prednisone altogether for 2 weeks before I could have it, as it would not be a correct test. 

      I would like to know if others have had the same response from their Drs?

      Also I would like to know about the 9.00am blood test to see if Adrenalin glands are functioning correctly, I thought only the Synacthen test could do this.

      keep well,

      Track

    • Posted

      He's talking rubbish. It can be and is done on patients still on pred - as it should be, someone with absolutely zero adrenal gland function could be dead by then if they suffered an adrenal crisis during the final stages of reduction!  The results aren't quite the same - but you can tell if there is the capability to make cortisol which is what you need to know to continue the reduction to see if they do produce it. That isn't the only criterion of course - just like there are a lot of different things required as well as a full fuel tank to get your car to start!

      The "9am blood test" is part of the synacthen test. It shows the basal level of cortisol - then they give an injection to stimulate the adrenal glands and take another blood test about half an hour later to see if they have worked when the cortisol level should be significantly higher. Your GP sounds confused actually - the 9am cortisol level won't give a true reflection of adrenal function when you are still on pred, even without having taken any for the previous 24 hours, but the relative increase in the levels between 9am and 9.30am is still valid.

      I'd tell him I'd like a referral to an endocrinologist...

    • Posted

      Oh crikey, I don't want anything else to stimulate my adrenaline glands incase I pass out again, it took me a month to recover from that. I thought the '9.00am blood test' was going to be straight forward. The result from my synacthan test when on 7mg of prednisolone was ZERO! The endocrinologist said I was on too high a dose for an accurate test.

       

    • Posted

      Hmmm - I know endos who would disagree. You SHOULD have produced some - and reducing further will mean very slow and with great awareness. 
    • Posted

      I have been down as low as 1mg for 6 to 8 weeks, but had to increase to 5mg last June because of a rise in CRP. But I've been 5mg or under for almost 2 years now and I'm functioning well, on 2.5mg at present, lots of energy and only a little stiffness sometimes. So I'd very surprised if my adrenaline glands aren't working at all! 

    • Posted

      Thanks Eileen for the information, I will take it on board and talk to my Dr.
  • Posted

    I took 5mg of DHEA some years ago as I had read that it had been proved with elderly women to increase muscle .  I did not expect it to work but it did.  I had also read that it was a form of Testosterone. However, I was taking combined HRT.

    I felt so good on DHEA that I doubled the dosage to 10mg per day.  I was also delighted at my new curves not only in my legs but also my body.

    So I was disappointed when one breast became painful and lumpy - was not cancer but an overload of Oestragen which caused fibrous tissue.  I stopped taking the DHEA and HRT until my breasr lumps disappeared.  

    Some years later and older, I decided to try the low dosage of DHEA again but nothing happened this time.

    That was my experience of DHEA.

    The trial had been 30 mg of DHEA given to  women aged 75 made a significant improvement in strength and stamina but higher doses made no further improvement.  But also no adverse side effects reported.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.