Comparison
DHEA vs Semaglutide
Side-by-side of DHEA and Semaglutide. 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.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide for weight loss: GLP-1 agonist (Ozempic, Wegovy) drives 15-17% mean loss at 2.4 mg/week in STEP trials. Watch lean-mass loss.
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
Semaglutide
- •Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist with a ~7-day half-life that supports once-weekly subcutaneous dosing
- •STEP trials reported ~15 to 17% mean body-weight loss at 2.4 mg/week over 68 weeks in adults with obesity
- •Lowers HbA1c by ~1.0 to 1.8 percentage points in type 2 diabetes versus placebo
- •SELECT trial showed reduced major cardiovascular events in adults with prior CVD and overweight or obesity
- •Up to 25 to 40% of weight lost can be lean mass; pairing with resistance training and protein intake mitigates this
- •GI effects (nausea, vomiting, constipation) drive most discontinuations and ease with slow titration
Side-by-side
| Attribute | DHEA | Semaglutide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 168 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 2.4 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | weekly (SC); daily (oral Rybelsus) |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | subcutaneous, oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 72 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 4113.58 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | - |
| 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. | Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist; potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic satiety centers. |
| Legal status | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Prescription only (FDA-approved, EMA-approved) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Rx only (not a controlled substance); FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (2017) and chronic weight management (2021) |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy | Not recommended; discontinue 2 months before planned pregnancy |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 910463-68-2 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 56843331 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q27089394 |
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)
Semaglutide
Common side effects
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- injection-site reactions
- fatigue
Contraindications
- personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- pregnancy
- history of pancreatitis (use caution)
Interactions
- insulin: additive hypoglycemia risk; insulin dose typically reduced(major)
- sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide): hypoglycemia risk, sulfonylurea dose often reduced(major)
- oral medications (general): delayed gastric emptying can alter absorption kinetics(moderate)
- warfarin: monitor INR due to altered absorption(moderate)
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. Semaglutide 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 metabolic health and glucose control, pick Semaglutide.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick Semaglutide.
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 Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide?
DHEA and Semaglutide 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 Semaglutide?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; Semaglutide half-life is 168 hours.
Can you stack DHEA with Semaglutide?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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