Comparison
DHEA vs Low-Dose Naltrexone
Side-by-side of DHEA and Low-Dose Naltrexone. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Low dose naltrexone at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, one-tenth the 50 mg addiction dose. Compounded Rx. Small trials in fibromyalgia, Crohn's, Hashimoto's.
Effects at a glance
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
Low-Dose Naltrexone
- •Off-label use at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, roughly one-tenth the FDA-approved 50 mg addiction-treatment dose
- •Proposed mechanisms include brief opioid receptor blockade triggering rebound endogenous opioid release, plus TLR4 antagonism
- •Compounded prescription only; insurance rarely covers; cash prices 20 to 80 USD per month
- •Younger 2013 reported ~30% pain reduction in fibromyalgia at 4.5 mg in a small crossover trial
- •Smith 2011 reported endoscopic improvement in active Crohn's disease (n=40 placebo-controlled)
- •Vivid dreams affect 20 to 40% in first 2 weeks; manageable by switching to morning dosing
Side-by-side
| Attribute | DHEA | Low-Dose Naltrexone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | LDN, naltrexone (low dose) |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 4.5 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | once daily, typically at bedtime |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 341.4 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C20H23NO4 |
| Mechanism | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. | Brief mu-opioid receptor antagonism proposed to trigger compensatory upregulation of endogenous opioids; secondary TLR4 antagonism on microglia and immune cells contributes to anti-inflammatory effect. |
| Legal status | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Off-label compounded prescription (naltrexone is FDA approved for opioid and alcohol use disorder at 50 mg) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 16590-41-3 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 5360515 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q426444 |
Safety profile
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(minor)
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Common side effects
- vivid dreams
- sleep disruption
- headache
- mild GI upset
- fatigue (early)
Contraindications
- concurrent opioid use
- acute hepatitis or liver failure
- opioid dependence
- pregnancy (insufficient data)
Interactions
- opioid analgesics (oxycodone, morphine, codeine): blocks analgesic effect; precipitates withdrawal in dependent users(major)
- tramadol: blocks opioid component of analgesia(major)
- thyroid hormone replacement: may alter dose requirements after immune modulation; monitor TSH(minor)
Which Should You Take?
DHEA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Low-Dose Naltrexone is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
- → If your priority is pain modulation, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
Edge case: If you want to avoid prescription-only, DHEA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: DHEA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Low-Dose Naltrexone only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between DHEA and Low-Dose Naltrexone?
DHEA and Low-Dose Naltrexone differ in category (hormone vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, DHEA or Low-Dose Naltrexone?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; Low-Dose Naltrexone half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack DHEA with Low-Dose Naltrexone?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper