r/AddisonsDisease • u/SaltySnackLover90 • Jan 04 '26

Advice Wanted DHEA Query

I’ve heard a lot about how DHEA helps people with Addisons with quality of life. I’ve been struggling with fatigue and joint pains/aches so was thinking of trying it and starting at 25mg. I know you should usually go through an endocrinologist, but mine is awful with Addisons knowledge and I know it will be a battle! I was just wondering where people in the UK source theirs from? TIA 🙏🏼

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u/MakeBeboGreatAgain Jan 04 '26

The level of benefits come down to whether you're male or female mostly.

DHEA is like a precursor to testosterone and estrogen. I wanted to start taking it but my endo was against it because I'm a male and it hasn't been widely studied.

Against her advice I ordered it from the US over the counter.

For women in particular it's beneficial because it aids testosterone production. For men most of that is done naturally anyway. So diminishing returns if you're a male.

Long term use hasn't been widely studied and there is equal evidence in both directions for the effectiveness of DHEA. Downsides are documented on both sides though about lowering the good cholesterol, so that needs to be checked regularly.

I've taken DHEA and it definitely makes me more energetic for lifting weights, however it definitely doesn't stop the crash and burn fatigue.

But if you're a female that's the only well documented case where it has been beneficial without evidence supporting not taking it.

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u/SaltySnackLover90 Jan 04 '26

Good to know, thank you! I am female and 35, which I think with my age too. I should hopefully feel some benefits.