DHEA & Pregnenolone

[Forest]

Been on TRT for long time and have periodically supplemented with DHEA & PREG. In the early days it was so difficult to "dial" things in that I am unsure whether the supplements were working or not.

For those of you that have finally found your sweet spot for Test and HCG dosage, do you still use the supplements, and if so, can it upset the balance that you have worked so hard to achieve?

[kelkel]

BW will tell you whether the supp's are working or not. DHEA at least. Don't bother testing preg as it's stored mostly in tissue. These supp's are important, IMHO, as they back fill cholesterol pathways pretty much shut down by supplemental testosterone. For some guys DHEA supplementation can/will impact estrogen levels. Also keep in mind that your numbers will always fluctuate, even with exogenous T, and that's ok.

[Forest]

Thanks for your reply...do you use said supplements and if so what is your daily dosage?

[kelkel]

Yes, both at 50 mg in the am. They can act as mild stimulants so morning is best. Always use micronized products which helps them survive the first pass through the liver, therefore better absorption. Check Bloods first if possible for DHEA-S

[MArz123]

I have learned the hard way that just arbitrarily starting a supplement without checking labs to see if you actually need it...IS A BAD IDEA!! I started DHEA and Preg because of all the people here who advocate it, but i never checked to see if i needed it...after supplementing for a while i felt like crap, fatigued, lousy recovery, achey joints...after advising doc of the supps i was taking she did labs that included preg and dhea , DHEA came back way above range, she asked to stop taking it for a month, and after a few weeks all of the ailments mentioned above went away...moral of the story is just because you come to a forum and hear all these people saying how great something does not mean you should start taking it ...unless you have validated the need with labs! IMO

[MArz123]

Further more doc thinks the excessive amount DHEA was overloading and burning out my Adrenals.

[kelkel]

I have learned the hard way that just arbitrarily starting a supplement without checking labs to see if you actually need it...IS A BAD IDEA!! I started DHEA and Preg because of all the people here who advocate it, but i never checked to see if i needed it...after supplementing for a while i felt like crap, fatigued, lousy recovery, achey joints...after advising doc of the supps i was taking she did labs that included preg and dhea , DHEA came back way above range, she asked to stop taking it for a month, and after a few weeks all of the ailments mentioned above went away...moral of the story is just because you come to a forum and hear all these people saying how great something does not mean you should start taking it ...unless you have validated the need with labs! IMO

I did say to do that. And stress is the biggest factor in adrenal adrenal fatigue, not dhea. Yes, DHEA can play a part but cortisol plays a much bigger one. Lifestyle, sleep, fitness, nutrition all play a part. Keep in mind DHEA is quite often used to help in treating adrenal fatigue. The HPA Axis is a balancing act, much like your HPTA.

[Trevtrev]

What is the ideal DHEA level for someone who is on trt?

I recently checked my DHEA and it came back 125 (range 102 a 416).

Also, what preg do most people use? The creams?

Thx

[kelkel]

Keep it near the top of the range. Most tend to use micronized preg as well.

Read this. Really a great article on DHEA.

DHEA Restoration Therapy - Hormone Replacement, Estrogens, Androgens - Life Extension Health Concern

[jomamma007]

What is the ideal DHEA level for someone who is on trt?

I recently checked my DHEA and it came back 125 (range 102 a 416).

Also, what preg do most people use? The creams?

Thx

was that a DHEA level or DHEA-S?

[Trevtrev]

DHEA Sulfate