Steroid hormone precursor
DHEA
White cream or capsule
Typical Strength
per prescriber
Formulations
1 compounds
Formula
C₁₉H₂₈O₂
Mol. Weight
288.42 g/mol
How It Works
Mechanism of action
Adrenal steroid precursor that converts to both androgens and estrogens peripherally. Vaginal DHEA (prasterone) is converted to estrogens and androgens within vaginal tissue; it is used for vulvovaginal atrophy.
What compounding can change
When DHEA is compounded for one patient, your prescriber can choose the concentration, combine it with other ingredients, and pick the base. Commercial products come in fixed strengths and bases.
Safety Considerations
Please note: Compounded medications require a prescription from a licensed prescriber for an individual patient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality. A compounded medication is not the same as, or a generic version of, any FDA-approved drug. This page is general information, not medical advice. Your prescriber decides whether a treatment is right for you and sets the final ingredients, strength and dosage form.