DHEA Supplementation

DHEA or Dehydroepiandrosterone is a banned substance.

This is what Gatlin tested postive for and is now looking at a life-time ban

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121501778_2.html

From the linked article:

"DHEA is not known to enhance athletic performance. On top of that, according to specialists in the field, it is easily detected."

Are you sure? Because my coach/agent told me it was legal. He also told me if I rub this clear cream on me I'll recover from workouts quicker. The B12 shots he gives me are ok right?

Any of you guys notice the harder you train the more acne you get??

My buddy and I tried it a few years ago. Not only did it make both of us "party cloudy" but it gave us both headaches and made us more agitated--symptoms the same for both of us. Our experiment lasted two weeks, and then we regained our sanity.

There's no telling what was actually in there, and neither of us felt too good about taking it even though we're both over 40. I've not been too tempted since to repeat the experiment with anything else.

I'm not a competitive runner so testing is not an issue. I would like to alleviate the mild depression and perhaps gain some energy or lean muscle.

DHEA and St. John's Wort are as effective as a placebo. See a professional, it's embarrasing but well worth it. I was never suicidal during my depresion, but I was thinking too much about death. In my case, it was depression caused by my career ambition, stuck in the office for 5-60 hours a week, and a pending drawn out divorce. After diagnosis, I wrapped up my divorce, stopped working so hard, started doing hobbies more and more, that took care of ending it. Flirting with young girls and having some ended my depression. Bounce bounce bounce bounce is the cure.

Vasco de Gama wrote:

From the linked article:

"DHEA is not known to enhance athletic performance. On top of that, according to specialists in the field, it is easily detected."

The WADA list of banned substances runs 11 pages and has hundreds of substances on it. Nearly all of them are legal in some form (i.e., prescription) and dozens are sold over-the-counter at places such as GNC.

Maybe DHEA does not enchance performance, maybe it does. Fact is it is on the banned list and Gatlin lost his career over it. To date, I've heard no one defend Gatlin by saying "DHEA does not count." No, he has been skewered as a liar, cheater and scumbag. Outrage has seen over him possible coaching high school kids. Posts have been started asking why he's not doing jail-time for taking DHEA.

Bottom line, your asking one of the most anti-doping sites in all of sports what they think about you using a banned substance. Others have responded by saying they used it.

One wonders if D1 XC and track athletes were subject to WADA testing how many would turn up positive.

I take 5mg of DHEA every day now for about 4 months (40 yr old male) -- I have no idea if it works, although I definitely have been sleeping better

my 2 cents wrote:

Do any middle age males on the board take DHEA. I am thinking about trying it out.

Do any middle age males on the board take DHEA. I am thinking about trying it out. I am 41 yrs old I experience mild depression now and then and am always a little tired. I am also sore a lot in legs. I run about 40 miles a week.

I am a 40yo guy and tried it - made me cranky, tired and gave me a headache - used it for ~2weeks.

any others out there try it? There seem to be a lot of conflickting views. There is not to much info in the literature. How about some experts weigh in.

i think it definately helps overall mood and even assists in weight loss.

When i was taking it (30-60mg/day) I had an overall better attitude, better-longer lasting energy, better sleep, and it also supressed my appetite and made me not want to drink alcohol.

Overall I liked DHEA, the only reason I am not currently taking it now is because I ran out and forget to pick some up everytime I go out to the store.

How old are you? If it was doing those things, why did you stop?

i am 25, as i stated above, the only reason i stopped was because i ran out of it...........picked up two bottles of 80 tablets each today, so i am back on tonight as of now.....should start seeing results again soon seeing how i was only off for a short period of time (week-1.5 weeks)

i think another reason it may have worked for me is because I consistently run 90-110 mile weeks. Thus some of my natural hormaonal levels are decreased.

25mg per day for several months is what I used. I'm 41 and found in increased sex drive tremendously, but also made me somewhat more aggressive. Be careful, in can enlarge the prostate and cause other prostate related problems.

Just a comment on the dosages state here -- might wanna do some medical literature review. Remember, DHEA is a precursor to hormones (think about how, e.g., birth control dosages have dropped over the years) -- docs state that useful dosage begins at 2.5mg; don't know long term effects of as high dosages as you guys are talking.

The stuff is cheap at CVS; chop the pills yourself to get down to min useful dosages. Higher = either waste or detriment over the long term.

Regarding my high dosage i have tried several different dosages and find i respond best to this dose. I also cycle dhea as well as everything else i take so i dont develop an immunity. To me the benefits i have seen in myself far outweigh the possible long term effects. Think about it there are so many outrageously healthy people out there that die from cancer just as the people who dont care about their health. God will take me when he sees fit.

Anyone else have experiences with DHEA?

Over 40, gave me a headache, made me cranky