Pregnenelone
Pregnenolone and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) are upstream steroid hormones often sold OTC in some countries as “neurosteroid” or “hormone support” supplements. Pregnenolone sits near the top of the steroidogenesis pathway and can be converted downstream into progesterone, cortisol, DHEA, and ultimately androgens/estrogens depending on enzymes and tissue context. DHEA is a downstream adrenal steroid that can convert into androstenedione → testosterone → estradiol (and in some tissues into DHT-related metabolites). Because they can shift multiple hormonal lanes at once, they’re not simple “vitamins,” and effects can be subtle in some people and surprisingly strong in others.
In PFS/PSSD/PAS communities, these two show up because they might influence neurosteroid balance (including pathways adjacent to allopregnanolone/GABA-A) and broader stress/hormone signaling. But community reports tend to describe high variability, and for pregnenolone in particular, many discussions emphasize that crash/worsening reports are easier to find than clear, durable improvement stories. DHEA is often framed as slightly more predictable in the sense that it can push androgen/estrogen tone, but that can still be destabilizing in sensitized individuals (especially if someone is prone to mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, or sexual volatility when hormones shift).
Crash Anecdotes (Community Reports):
https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/1lzxk1q/pregnenolone_recovery/
https://www.reddit.com/r/FinasterideSyndrome/comments/11ntftj/warning_do_not_try_pregnenolone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/FinasterideSyndrome/comments/1l9amoj/is_pregnenolone_100mg_safe/
Community Reports: Mixed Outcomes & Variable Risk Signal
Pregnenolone: In community anecdotes, pregnenolone is often described as higher-risk than people expect. While a minority report mild benefits (sometimes framed as slightly improved stress tolerance, sleep, or “mental steadiness”), many reports describe flares/crashes—commonly worsening anhedonia/emotional blunting, anxiety/inner agitation, insomnia, brain fog, fatigue, and sexual symptoms. The way people interpret this is that pregnenolone can “feed into” multiple downstream hormones and neurosteroids, so if someone’s system is already unstable, it may push the wrong pathway or create an abrupt shift rather than a gentle correction. Because strong positive outcomes appear less consistently reported than negative reactions, many treat pregnenolone as a cautious/avoid item during stabilization, especially for crash-prone individuals.
DHEA: DHEA tends to be discussed as variable but sometimes less crash-heavy than pregnenolone, though reactions still range widely. Some report modest improvements (energy, mood, libido) while others report worsening (anxiety, irritability, insomnia, sexual instability, feeling “hormonally off”). A common theme is that DHEA can convert into androgens/estrogens differently person-to-person, so the same dose can feel “stimulating” for one person and destabilizing for another. It’s not commonly described as a cure, and benefits—when reported—are usually partial and sometimes transient.
Practical caution signal: Because both pregnenolone and DHEA can shift multiple downstream steroid pathways, many community members treat them as high-uncertainty trials rather than “safe supports.” If someone is already unstable, mid-recovery attempt, or historically crash-prone, many choose avoidance rather than experimentation—especially with pregnenolone.
Evidence basis
Established steroidogenesis physiology; general neurosteroid concepts; anecdotal reports (online forums/self-reports). No controlled studies demonstrating benefit for PFS/PSSD/PAS specifically.
*informational — not medical advice.
Summarizes community reports; not a recommendation to try or avoid