Comparison
DHEA vs PT-141
Side-by-side of DHEA and PT-141. 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.
PT-141
PT-141 peptide (bremelanotide, Vyleesi): MC4R agonist for libido and erectile dysfunction. 1.75 mg subcutaneous, 30 to 60 min onset, 2 to 4 h half-life.
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
PT-141
- •Cyclic 7-amino-acid synthetic peptide and melanocortin receptor agonist (MC4R-preferring)
- •FDA approved in 2019 as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pre-menopausal women
- •Acts centrally on hypothalamic sexual-desire circuits rather than peripherally on vasculature
- •On-demand dosing: subcutaneous 1.75 mg approximately 45 minutes before sexual activity
- •Common adverse effects: nausea (~40%), flushing, headache, injection-site reactions, hyperpigmentation
- •Off-label male ED use is documented but not FDA approved; mechanism is distinct from PDE5 inhibitors
Side-by-side
| Attribute | DHEA | PT-141 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | peptide |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | Bremelanotide, Vyleesi |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 2.7 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 1.75 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | as needed (max once per 24 hours, max 8 per month) |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 0.75 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 1025.18 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C50H68N14O10 |
| 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. | Synthetic agonist of melanocortin receptors with preference for MC4R, expressed in hypothalamic and limbic circuits regulating sexual motivation. Engages central pathways distinct from peripheral PDE5-mediated vasodilation. |
| Legal status | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Prescription only as Vyleesi; FDA-approved 2019 for HSDD in pre-menopausal women. Compounded versions sold off-label for male sexual function are research-use-only grey market. |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Rx only (not a controlled substance) for the FDA-approved Vyleesi formulation |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy | Not recommended; contraindicated during pregnancy per Vyleesi label |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 189691-06-3 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 9941379 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q422059 |
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)
PT-141
Common side effects
- nausea (~40%)
- flushing
- headache
- injection-site reactions
- hyperpigmentation (focal, gums, face, breasts)
- transient blood pressure increase (~6 mmHg systolic)
Contraindications
- uncontrolled hypertension
- established cardiovascular disease
- pregnancy
- naltrexone co-administration (reduces opioid efficacy due to MC receptor crosstalk)
Interactions
- naltrexone (oral): bremelanotide reduces oral naltrexone exposure significantly; avoid co-administration(major)
- antihypertensives: transient BP rise after bremelanotide can offset BP control(moderate)
- PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): no documented adverse interaction; mechanisms are non-overlapping(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. PT-141 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 sexual function, pick PT-141.
- → If your priority is libido, pick PT-141.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, 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 PT-141 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 PT-141?
DHEA and PT-141 differ in category (hormone vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, DHEA or PT-141?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; PT-141 half-life is 2.7 hours.
Can you stack DHEA with PT-141?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper