PREGNENOLONE: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Pregnenolone is a chemical that comes from cholesterol. It's used to make steroid hormones in the body. It can also be made in a lab and used as medicine.

Pregnenolone affects many different chemicals in the brain and may play a role in certain psychiatric conditions.

People use pregnenolone for Alzheimer disease, autism, back pain, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse pregnenolone with progesterone or with wild yam, which is sometimes used as a source of supplemental pregnenolone. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for PREGNENOLONE overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Pregnenolone is possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. It's usually well-tolerated. Side effects might include acne, agitation, diarrhea, drowsiness, excitement, hair loss, skin rashes, sweating, and tremor. There isn't enough reliable information to know if pregnenolone is safe when used for longer than 12 weeks.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if pregnenolone is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Pregnenolone is possibly safe when taken by mouth in adolescents 11-17 years-old for up to 10 weeks. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used for longer than 10 weeks or in younger children.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Pregnenolone is converted by the body to estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don't take supplemental pregnenolone.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Estrogens interacts with PREGNENOLONE
Pregnenolone is used in the body to make hormones including estrogen. Taking estrogen along with pregnenolone might cause too much estrogen to be in the body.
Progestin interacts with PREGNENOLONE
Pregnenolone is used in the body to make hormones. Progestins are hormones. Taking pregnalone along with hormones such as progestins might cause too much hormones in the body. This could increase the effects and side effects of progestins.
Testosterone interacts with PREGNENOLONE
The body changes pregnenolone into testosterone. Taking pregnenolone along with testosterone might cause too much testosterone in the body. This might increase the chance of testosterone side effects.
Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with PREGNENOLONE
Pregnenolone may decrease the sedative effects of diazepam. It may also decrease the sedative effects of other benzodiazepines.
Progesterone interacts with PREGNENOLONE
Pregnenolone is used in the body to make hormones including progesterone. Taking progesterone along with pregnenolone might cause too much progesterone to be in the body.

Dosing

Pregnenolone has most often been used by adults in doses of 50-250 mg by mouth twice daily for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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PREGNENOLONE - Uses, Side Effects, and More

Overview

Uses & Effectiveness

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Estrogens interacts with PREGNENOLONE

Progestin interacts with PREGNENOLONE

Testosterone interacts with PREGNENOLONE

Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with PREGNENOLONE

Progesterone interacts with PREGNENOLONE

Dosing