Comparison
DHEA vs Tirzepatide
Side-by-side of DHEA and Tirzepatide. 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.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide for weight loss: dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound. SURMOUNT-1 showed 22.5% mean body-weight loss at 15 mg over 72 weeks.
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
Tirzepatide
- •Dual GIP plus GLP-1 receptor agonist with a ~5-day half-life supporting once-weekly subcutaneous dosing
- •SURMOUNT-1 reported ~22.5% mean body-weight loss at 15 mg over 72 weeks versus 2.4% on placebo
- •Lowers HbA1c by ~1.9 to 2.6 percentage points in type 2 diabetes across SURPASS trials
- •Outperformed semaglutide 1.0 mg head-to-head on weight loss and HbA1c in SURPASS-2
- •GI effects (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) drive most discontinuations and ease with slow titration
- •Lean-mass loss observed in body-composition substudies; resistance training and protein intake mitigate this
Side-by-side
| Attribute | DHEA | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | Mounjaro, Zepbound, LY3298176 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 120 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 10 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | weekly |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 24 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 72 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 4813.45 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C225H348N48O68 |
| 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 39-amino-acid peptide that activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and acts on hypothalamic and brainstem satiety circuits. |
| Legal status | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Prescription only; FDA-approved 2022 (T2DM, Mounjaro) and 2023 (chronic weight management, Zepbound) |
| 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 | Not recommended; discontinue 2 months before planned pregnancy |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 2023788-19-2 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 156588324 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q105099794 |
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)
Tirzepatide
Common side effects
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- injection-site reactions
- fatigue
- abdominal pain
Contraindications
- personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
- pregnancy
- history of pancreatitis (use caution)
- severe gastroparesis
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)
- oral contraceptives: reduced exposure after first dose; backup contraception recommended for 4 weeks after initiation and each dose escalation(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. Tirzepatide 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 Tirzepatide.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick Tirzepatide.
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 Tirzepatide 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 Tirzepatide?
DHEA and Tirzepatide 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 Tirzepatide?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; Tirzepatide half-life is 120 hours.
Can you stack DHEA with Tirzepatide?
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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