DHEA vs Nolvadex for hormones
Short answer: For hormones, more users report improvement with Nolvadex — 97% of 37 reports, versus 91% of 44 for DHEA.
DHEA has 215 meta-analyses and 637 randomized trials on PubMed; Nolvadex has 6 and 22.
Based on 306 reports about DHEA and 219 about Nolvadex. Not medical advice.
| DHEA Supplement | Nolvadex Medication | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 56%helped98 reports · medium confidence | 67%helped53 reports · medium confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 215 / 637 | 6 / 22 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 91% (44) | 97% (37) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 91% (32) | 67% (3) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 87% (30) | — |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 92% (26) | 100% (3) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 86% (7) | — |
| Common side effects | acne, vivid dreams, rage, virilization | fatigue, depression, mood swings, brain fog |
| Typical dose reported | 25 mg / 1 hour before bed | Not listed |
Vaginal estrogen, vaginal DHEA, oral ospemifene, and vaginal moisturizers may improve some GSM symptoms in the short term. Few long-term data exist on efficacy, comparative effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of GSM treatments.
Ann Intern Med, 2024 ↗“DHEA, minimum 50 mg was a huge game changer for my wife. More energy, libido, dopamine/happy mood, concentration- everything.”
The current debate is centered on whether the optimal strategy is to give an aromatase inhibitor initially or after several years of tamoxifen treatment. Multiple important questions remain, including the predictive value of molecular markers such as progesterone receptor, the optimal duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy, the long-term adverse effects, and the relative efficacy and toxicity of the different aromatase inhibitors.
Clin Cancer Res, 2006 ↗“This is now 2nd day on nolva and I swaer my balls are about back to normal. Energy is a bit better”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate