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DHEA instead of prednisone. My 3 years of taking DHEA for my asthma.
Me:
Over 35 years in healthcare.
ECMO Specialist Perfusion/ Registered Respiratory Therapist. NICU/PICU Level IV. Transports(helicopter, fixed wing, ambulance).
ICU,CCU,ER.
From 2/2020 to 5/2022 I only took care of Covid 19 patients and retired then in 2022.
Age 70 and have had Asthma my whole life and been intubated and died and now have Bronchiectasis etc. etc.
Back in 2020 we were trying to figure out what to give Covid(we had 6 Covid ICUs and 160+++ ventilator's running in March 2020) patients and how much steroids. We were maxing out prednisone or "zones" in particular.
And that's when I heard of DHEA. I honestly had never really heard of it. I was scared I would get Covid because I fit the profile. Asthmatic, old, damaged lungs from a lifetime of Asthma. So I was taking 20 mgs a day of prednisone for maintenance. My life and my career was being on the front lines and I loved it.
So after retiring. Prednisone and taking it my whole life? My body couldn't take it anymore and I would get very sick.
And that's when I researched DHEA.
And that's when I started taking 50mgs. a day. It's OTC!!!!
3 years in IT'S A MIRACLE FOR ME!!! Wow. More energy. Side effects? NONE. My adrenals are working.
Last year when I was diagnosed with RA and Fibromyalgia? My Rheumatologist wanted me to start steroids. Nope I was on DHEA thank you very much. So I explained it all to her.
My Pulmonologist listened and asked questions about DHEA. I told him look at the research! I told all my Drs. about DHEA.
Now I know the reality of Drs and healthcare. They make a lot of money prescribing the newest thing(not all Drs but most). If Pulmonologists started telling their patients to try DHEA? They might lose a lot of patents. That's reality.
Anyway its working for me.
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Oh one more thing. Yes I still have Asthma attacks. Since my Asthma is environmental. Also my issue with bacterial Bronchitis is still there every year.
DHEA doesn't cure it just makes life better. And less attacks which is always awesome.
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2 ReactionsGlad to learn about your good results. Did you research this Mayo Clinic piece? It gives me pause.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199
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1 Reaction@sungal
Yes I saw that. As with ANYTHING I read, read, read.
"Experts at Harvard Health advise that doses up to 50 mg/day are generally safe for up to two years, but pregnant women, those with PCOS, or individuals with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid it." "A 2025 meta-analysis showed that taking ≥ 50 mg/day of DHEA significantly increases testosterone and estradiol (estrogen) levels in postmenopausal women."
Recent research (2025–2026) highlights the potential for DHEA-S (a natural steroid made by your adrenal glands) as a new way to help manage asthma.
Airway Relaxation: DHEA-S helps open up your airways by relaxing the muscles around them.Less Swelling: It lowers the inflammation and allergic reactions that cause asthma attacks.Protection: In a large 2026 study of over 4,000 U.S. adults, higher levels of DHEA-S were linked to lower rates of asthma and fewer asthma attacks.
Women's Health: Studies show DHEA may improve lung function and asthma control specifically in women with low starting androgen levels.Targeting Inflammation: Researchers at centers like the IU School of Medicine are studying slow-release DHEA. Unlike standard steroid inhalers, DHEA reduces swelling without causing the harsh side effects often seen with typical glucocorticosteroid medications.Delivery Methods: Clinical trials are investigating an inhaled mist form of DHEA, which delivers the hormone straight to the lungs.
Link to 2019 study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6967310/
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1 ReactionI'm a test subject. LOL on myself.
It works for me. A miracle.
And to my fellow Asthmatics? Wouldn't it be cool to have something that won't break the bank? And JUST MIGHT lower Asthma attacks and doesn't have side effects like prednisone?
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