DHEA

Skinny_Mocha

So, I did a topic search and found very little on the subject. When I Google DHEA, the information appears to be mostly guesses and not at all helpful.

Has anyone had experience with DHEA?

My HRM seems to think I'm burning way more calories than I'm consuming overall. Even the treats I have every couple of days aren't putting me over my calorie goal, and I'm exercising off the ones that do. The HRM says I burn a minimum of 1920 calories a day (that's if I were to sit in a chair for 16 hours; it's calculated well more than that every day I've worn it). I just did a report for the last 90 days, and only four or five were over 1800 calories. This means by all rights and means I should be losing weight. I swear to you, MFP, that I am not cheating. I log all the crap foods along with the good stuff. I may miss a morsel here and there, but it's maybe one thing a week that I've forgotten or didn't notice. So, what gives? Yesterday morning (prior to all the junk I ate) I was so swollen, I could barely fit into my pants. Something's not right (I have a previous post about inexplicably gaining weight after decreasing calories).

Could it be the DHEA? I started taking it a few months ago, thinking it would increase my energy and help with the weight loss. I was only taking half a 25mg pill per day, until recently when I went to a whole one. Cue the swelling and irritability (in restrospect). A-ha! Could this little *kitten* have been the culprit all this time? I stopped taking it the day before yesterday, but was curious if any other folks had tried it.

Edited to add: I asked my doctor before trying it. She hadn't heard anything either way, and said to give it a shot. Maybe not the best doctor...

smuehlbauer

I was doing some reading the other day.
Doesn't sound all that wonderful. There are a lot of bad side effects and not enough backing for me to beleive that it's a good thing for weight loss. One of the side effects is hair loss - yes, for women too.
It surpirses me that you started taking it with out doing some research first....

If you think that you should be losing weight and you're not - I would consult your doctor. There may be other issues on why you aren't losing the weight. Then - ask your doc their thoughts on DHEA......
Also - they say to stay at 5mg a day....you would be at 5x's what is reccomended if I read correctly....

I'm not a doc and have only read a few articles on it, so don't take my opinion as 100% fact, just opinion.
Steph

smuehlbauer

DHEA Side Effects and Safety
DHEA is a hormone, so it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Pregnant or nursing women or children should not use DHEA. There have been no studies on the long-term safety of DHEA.
One of the more common side effects of DHEA supplements is acne. Other side effects include abdominal pain, hair loss, insomnia, nasal congestion, fatigue, oily skin, rapid or irregular heartbeats, or heart palpitations.

DHEA supplements may alter liver function, so people with liver disease shouldn't use DHEA. People with mood disorders such as depression should only use DHEA under the supervision of their health-care provider, as DHEA supplementation may worsen mood. High levels of the body's natural DHEA has been associated with psychotic disorders, so people with or at risk for psychotic disorders shouldn't use DHEA unless under the supervision of their health-care provider.

Since DHEA supplements may influence the production of male and female hormones, acne, greasy skin, facial hair growth, hair loss, weight gain around the waist, a deepening of the voice and other signs of masculinization may occur in women. Men may develop high blood pressure, male pattern baldness, aggressiveness, breast enlargement (gynecomastia), breast tenderness and shrinkage of the testicles.

DHEA supplements may also affect the levels of other hormones, such as insulin and thyroid hormone, and affect cholesterol levels. People with diabetes or hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, Cushing's disease or other hormonal disorders should be particularly cautious.

DHEA supplements may alter the levels estrogen and testosterone, which can theoretically increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. It's also not known whether DHEA supplements may inhibit the body's ability to make DHEA.

People taking DHEA supplements may be more likely to develop blood clots, so people with clotting disorders, heart disease and those with a history of stroke should avoid DHEA supplements.

Possible Drug Interactions
Theoretically, DHEA supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin) and prochlorperazine (Compazine).


DHEA supplements may increase the effects of the following medications:

•AZT (Zidovudine) -- HIV medication

•Barbiturates -- medications for sleep disorders

•Cisplatic -- cancer medication

•Estrogen and oral contraceptives

•Testosterone

•Benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion), alprazolam and dizaepam for anxiety and sleeping disorders
DHEA may interact in unpredicatable ways with the following drugs:

•Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and skin infections.

•Insulin

•Lithium

•Prescription drugs that are broken down by the same liver enzymes, such as: allergy medication such as fexofenadine (Allegra), antifungal drugs such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral), cancer medications such as etoposide (VePesid), paclitaxel (Taxol), vinblastine, or vincristine, cholesterol medications, such as lovastatin, and oral contraceptives.

rileysowner

What do you mean your HRM says you are burning this many calories a day? HRM are ONLY for use in calculating calories during exercise, not for whole day use. They are not accurate for that. If you want full day calorie calculation you need a Bodymedia Fit or Bodybugg, not a HRM.

Skinny_Mocha

I was doing some reading the other day.
Doesn't sound all that wonderful. There are a lot of bad side effects and not enough backing for me to beleive that it's a good thing for weight loss. One of the side effects is hair loss - yes, for women too.
It surpirses me that you started taking it with out doing some research first....

If you think that you should be losing weight and you're not - I would consult your doctor. There may be other issues on why you aren't losing the weight. Then - ask your doc their thoughts on DHEA......
Also - they say to stay at 5mg a day....you would be at 5x's what is reccomended if I read correctly....

I'm not a doc and have only read a few articles on it, so don't take my opinion as 100% fact, just opinion.
Steph

Thank you!! I did ask my doctor before trying it. She hadn't heard anything either way, and said to give it a shot. Maybe not the best doctor...

But that information is more than what I found, so thank you!

Skinny_Mocha

DHEA Side Effects and Safety
DHEA is a hormone, so it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Pregnant or nursing women or children should not use DHEA. There have been no studies on the long-term safety of DHEA.
One of the more common side effects of DHEA supplements is acne. Other side effects include abdominal pain, hair loss, insomnia, nasal congestion, fatigue, oily skin, rapid or irregular heartbeats, or heart palpitations.

DHEA supplements may alter liver function, so people with liver disease shouldn't use DHEA. People with mood disorders such as depression should only use DHEA under the supervision of their health-care provider, as DHEA supplementation may worsen mood. High levels of the body's natural DHEA has been associated with psychotic disorders, so people with or at risk for psychotic disorders shouldn't use DHEA unless under the supervision of their health-care provider.

Since DHEA supplements may influence the production of male and female hormones, acne, greasy skin, facial hair growth, hair loss, weight gain around the waist, a deepening of the voice and other signs of masculinization may occur in women. Men may develop high blood pressure, male pattern baldness, aggressiveness, breast enlargement (gynecomastia), breast tenderness and shrinkage of the testicles.

DHEA supplements may also affect the levels of other hormones, such as insulin and thyroid hormone, and affect cholesterol levels. People with diabetes or hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, Cushing's disease or other hormonal disorders should be particularly cautious.

DHEA supplements may alter the levels estrogen and testosterone, which can theoretically increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. It's also not known whether DHEA supplements may inhibit the body's ability to make DHEA.

People taking DHEA supplements may be more likely to develop blood clots, so people with clotting disorders, heart disease and those with a history of stroke should avoid DHEA supplements.

Possible Drug Interactions
Theoretically, DHEA supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin) and prochlorperazine (Compazine).


DHEA supplements may increase the effects of the following medications:

•AZT (Zidovudine) -- HIV medication

•Barbiturates -- medications for sleep disorders

•Cisplatic -- cancer medication

•Estrogen and oral contraceptives

•Testosterone

•Benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion), alprazolam and dizaepam for anxiety and sleeping disorders
DHEA may interact in unpredicatable ways with the following drugs:

•Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and skin infections.

•Insulin

•Lithium

•Prescription drugs that are broken down by the same liver enzymes, such as: allergy medication such as fexofenadine (Allegra), antifungal drugs such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral), cancer medications such as etoposide (VePesid), paclitaxel (Taxol), vinblastine, or vincristine, cholesterol medications, such as lovastatin, and oral contraceptives.

Great - thank you very much!

Skinny_Mocha

What do you mean your HRM says you are burning this many calories a day? HRM are ONLY for use in calculating calories during exercise, not for whole day use. They are not accurate for that. If you want full day calorie calculation you need a Bodymedia Fit or Bodybugg, not a HRM.

Oh, I didn't realize that - thank you! I'll look into those.